Chocolate Kisses Biscuits

These biscuits are a bit different to what we usually bake, as they have a filling, but are a nice change when baking with kids. My daughter loved pressing the fork down on the cookie dough before we baked them – she really got into it. The recipe does say to use peppermint essence in the filling – but I didn’t bother with that as I knew my kids wouldn’t appreciate it.

The biscuits are also egg free – a handy recipe to have if anyone has egg allergies.

I made these a while ago and used a book from the library. I thought that I had a picture of the cover to credit the author, but can’t find it! I’ll update my blog when the name comes to me.

Recipe and cakemum tips below.

Ingredients:

• 100 g butter at room temperature
• 50 g castor sugar
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 150 g self raising flour
• Filling:
• 50 g butter, at room temperature (I used unsalted)
• 100 g icing sugar
• A few drops peppermint essence
• A few drops pink and green food colouring (optional)

Method:

1. For the biscuits: preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan).
2. Put the sugar and butter in a bowl. Mix with either a mixer or a wooden spoon, until light and fluffy.
3. Sift the cocoa powder and flour and mix together (with butter and sugar mixture) until smooth, squeezing with your hands when the dough becomes to stiff to stir.
4. Take teaspoons of the dough, roll into 20 balls and put on ungreased baking sheets, leaving a little space in between to allow to spread during baking.
5. Flatten the cookies slightly with the back of a fork, then bake for 10 minutes until they are slightly browned.
6. Leave to cool on the baking sheets.

1. For the filling: Beat together the butter and icing sugar (and peppermint essence if using), until smooth.
2. Spoon half the mixture into a smaller bowl and if you like, add a few drops of green food colouring. Add a a little pink into the rest of the other bowl.
3. Spread 5 of the cookies with the green filling and 5 with the pink filling and then top with the remaining cookies.
4. They can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Some @thecakemum observations/tips:

• When mixing the cookie dough, it may look like it will never come together but the heat of your hands will help it to form a dough.
• I did not use peppermint essence but am sure it would be tasty. You could also try other variations, orange essence would be nice with the chocolate biscuits – but use sparingly.
• I always line my baking tray with baking paper – saves washing the tray!

Happy Baking!

De aka thecakemum