Bourbon Biscuit Recipe, Homemade Classic British Biscuits
Want a proper Bourbon biscuits recipe? I’ve got the best one for you right below! Sorry, there’s no liquor in this classic British biscuit, but it won’t matter because you’ll fall in love these chocolate cookies anyway.
If you go to the UK, there’s a good chance that you’ll cross paths with the classic British Bourbon biscuit.
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What are Bourbon Biscuits?
Along with Digestives, custard creams, and shortbread, Bourbon creams are some of the most popular biscuits which are frequently enjoyed across the pond. Despite their name, there is no alcohol involved. Bourbon biscuits are simply chocolate sandwich biscuits with a chocolate cream filling.
Like their custard cream cousin, this Bourbon Biscuit recipe requires custard powder to give them their unique flavor. This is not just another chocolate biscuit.
For Christmas last year, my daughter gifted me with something she knew I had wanted, these biscuit cutters! They include Bourbon biscuits, Party Rings, Jammy Dodgers and Custard Creams cutters!
This will explain how I was able to make the Bourbon biscuits look like a store-bought biscuit. No worries if you don’t have them, though; you can just cut the chocolate biscuit dough into fingers and use a fork to prick them. If you use this Bourbon biscuit recipe, they will taste the same with or without the cutters. You can purchase the biscuit cutters here.
NB: according to Wikipedia, these biscuits are called Bourbon biscuits after the European house of Bourbon (nothing to do with the liquor). They also note that Bourbons are apparently the 5th most popular biscuit in the UK for tea dunking!
Classic Bourbon Biscuit Recipe
recipe slightly adapted from Lofty Peak Recipe Book makes about 18 sandwich biscuits
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C)
Sift flour, custard powder and good quality cocoa into a large bowl.
Cream butter and sugar, then stir in the egg. Next, add the sifted ingredients from the other bowl and mix to an even dough.
Put the dough onto worktop and using flour, roll out to about 1/8″ thickness and cut into fingers.
Then, place on lined baking tray.
Bake for about 12 to 15 minutes, turning half way through baking time to assure even results.
Finally, place on cooling rack and let cool before filling them.
Bourbon Biscuit Cream Filling
recipe by Christina Conte
Mix all the ingredients together to form a stiff buttercream. Adjust with a few drops of liquid; just don’t make the filling too soft.
Next, match up two biscuits at a time (they won’t all be exactly the same size, believe it or not) and sandwich together with the filling.
Continue until all the biscuits and filling are used. Finally, enjoy with a steaming hot, cup of tea!
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More classic English recipes can be found here.
Homemade Bourbon Biscuit Recipe
A classic British chocolate biscuit.
Ingredients
Biscuit Dough
- 1 1/3 cup (6 oz) all purpose (plain) flour
- 1/2 cup (2 oz) custard powder (Bird’s Custard Powder-available on Amazon and in British shops)
- 1/4 cup (1 oz) unsweetened cocoa (I use Barry cocoa)
- 1 stick (4 oz) butter
- 1/2 cup (4 oz)Baker's/caster sugar
- 1 egg
Filling
- 1 cup (4 oz) confectioner's/powdered sugar
- 1/4 stick (1 oz) butter
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa
- a few drops of milk or water
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C)
- Sift flour, custard powder and cocoa into a large bowl.
- Cream butter and sugar, then stir in the egg. Add the sifted ingredients from the other bowl and mix to an even dough.
- Place onto worktop and using flour, roll out to about 1/8" thickness and cut into fingers.
- Place on lined baking tray.
- Bake for about 12 to 15 minutes, turning half way through baking time to assure even results.
- Place on cooling rack and let cool before filling them.
Bourbon Biscuit Cream Filling
- Mix all the ingredients together to form a stiff buttercream. Adjust with a few drops of liquid; just don't make the filling too soft.
- Match up two biscuits at a time (they won't all be exactly the same size, believe it or not) and sandwich together with the filling.
- Continue until all the biscuits and filling are used. Enjoy with a steaming hot, cup of tea!
Notes
- If you love Bourbon biscuits, try custard creams, too!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 9 Serving Size: 2Amount Per Serving: Calories: 290Total Fat: 13gCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 1g
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They look delish. An idea of my perfect day would be cool fall weather, coffee, a good book, and a side of tasty treats to go with everything. These look like they’d be the perfect accompaniment.
Absolutely! Me too, except switch out the coffee for tea! ;)
Can’t wait to try this, sounds delicious. Should I use salted or unsalted butter in this recipe? I’m new to baking so unsure which to use
Hi there, good question! Truly, you should always use unsalted butter in baking, but since I’m trying to encourage anyone and everyone to bake, I try to make it as easy as possible. I don’t want someone deciding not to make this recipe because they don’t have unsalted butter, so I’m assuming most people will use salted. You can use either one, but if you use unsalted, please add a good pinch of salt. :) Enjoy!
I suppose most people think it would be too much to have these with your cocoa in the morning… I am not one of those people. I am however, considering getting the bourbon stamp! Yes, I do need one more kitchen gadget.
And that’s why we see eye to eye on most things, David! Haha! Good for you on both points! :)
Hi Christina – looks a lovely recipe. I have been looking for a bourbon cookie cutter… bit like the one in your photos. I checked out tour amazon shop but did not see one. Do you know where I can get one from? Best_ Michael
Hi Michael, it appears they are no longer available on Amazon at the moment. I’m not sure where you live, but the company still makes them. CLICK HERE.
Gosh, that takes me back to Scotland as a youngster. I’d completely forgotten about Bourbon biscuits! Yours look better than the real thing – and adore these cutters!
Aren’t they unbelievably good? I can’t wait to try the party rings and jammy dodger cutters next! ;)
Love the cookie cutters! They make these cookies look so perfect!
They absolutely do, Diana! They work perfectly! I love them!