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Jun 22, 2014

Fork Cookies (or Fork Biscuits)


Fork Cookies (or Fork Biscuits) from Karen's Kitchen Stories

Fork biscuits are, according to the interwebs, a traditional English tea time treat. They are a butter cookie made with just three ingredients: butter, sugar, and self rising flour. They are crumbly and "sandy" in all of the right ways. They are also incredibly easy to make.

Fork Cookies (or Fork Biscuits) from Karen's Kitchen Stories

The dough is rolled into balls and then pressed down with a fork, the same way we make peanut butter cookies.

"Where is the salt?" you ask. So did I. You see, I do not live in one of the lands of self rising flour. Evidently self rising flour contains pastry flour, baking powder, and salt. Fortunately, you can make your own!

I also added the zest of a tangelo to give these cookies/biscuits a faint citrusy flavor. You can also make a chocolate version.

Fork Cookies (or Fork Biscuits) from Karen's Kitchen Stories

I found these cookies on Ros's blog, The More Than Occasional Baker. It's Secret Recipe Club reveal day, and I was assigned her blog, a chronicle of her passion for baking. It is filled with an amazing number of baked treats. If you love baking, you definitely need to spend some time on her site exploring all of the goodies.

Self Rising Flour

This makes enough for this recipe, plus a little left over. 

1 1/2 C (6 ounces) pastry flour (you can mix cake flour and all purpose flour if you can't find pastry flour)
2 1/4 tsp baking powder
3/8 tsp salt

Fork Biscuits

Makes 16 cookies. Ros adapted this recipe from Mary Berry.

Ingredients

4 ounces (one stick) unsalted butter, softened
50 grams sugar
The zest of one orange, tangelo, lemon, or tangerine
150 g self rising flour

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 320 degrees F and line one cookie/baking sheet with parchment.
  2. Beat the butter until creamy and light. 
  3. Slowly beat in the sugar and zest. 
  4. Mix in the flour on low until just incorporated. Stir with a rubber spatula to finish blending. 
  5. Scrape the dough onto a piece of wax paper or plastic wrap and form it into a rectangle or log. Cut into 16 equal pieces and roll them into balls. 
  6. Press each ball down with a floured fork to flatten.
  7. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. 
  8. Cool on a wire rack. 

Would you like to comment?

  1. You had me at, butter, sugar, flour, AND orange! Oh, yeah! I so need to make these. :)

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    1. Thanks Cathy. They are so easy and so tasty.

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  2. Oh I think I might need to make these tomorrow. They look amazing! What a great pick this month!!

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  3. I'm so glad you chose these - they are absolutely delicious and so easy to make. Yours look really good and you can definitely see the fork imprint. Happy SRC reveal day!

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    1. You have so many great recipes on your site, it was a tough choice!

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  4. These are gorgeous looking biscuits, and I love your idea of flavouring with some citrus zest. Beautiful photos too.
    Sue

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  5. I know it is so simply but I love the fork design. I can picture myself snacking on these with a cup of tea and a good book.

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  6. And now I want a cookie (or four!). The fork pattern always makes me think of peanut butter cookies but these sound pretty good too :) Great choice

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  7. Such pretty pictures!! What a nice and easy tea time treat!

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  8. Very interesting cookies, I love the use of orange zest, but imagine that tangerine zest could be pretty wonderful too!

    Have a great Reveal Monday!

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  9. I have yet to try these cookies (and I've tried a lot of them). Can't wait to try these, great SRC pick!

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  10. What a great cookie! I love the addition of the zest, but I bet the chocolate version would be amazing too! Maybe mix the two and have an orange chocolate? Great pick this month :)

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  11. How easy!! Love the addition of the zest-- nice little flavor boost!

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  12. MMMMMMmmmmm, I love butter cookies and the addition of citrus sounds lovely.

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  13. Oh, these look SO wonderful! I love a little sweet with my tea and these are right up my alley. Great recipe!

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  14. These sounds so light and flavorful! Love the addition of the citrus zest!
    Renee - Kudos Kitchen

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  15. These look great! I will definitely need to make them next time I get tangelos in my CSA box.

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  16. These look super simple to make! Great SRC pick!

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  17. These sound delicious Karen, who could resist these?

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  18. Awesome-looking cookies ... great SRC selection!

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  19. Hello Karen, This is Namita here. I made Mary Berry's cookies yesterday. I tried whole wheat version and was happy with the result. I happened to see them in your blog too. I have one doubt. To make self raising flour at home, we use baking powder. You have mentioned baking soda. Please guide me. Love and Regards!

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    1. Hi Namita, you are correct! My error. Thanks for the heads up! I'll fix that =)

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