My friend Jules and I had a giggle the other day about how all our recent conversations revolve around – or at least, begin with – one topic…

“Have you had breakfast yet?”
“What are you cooking for supper?”
“Are you baking something today?”
“Ooh, please send me the recipe!”

Yes, the great cooking and baking adventure of lockdown 2020 continues. The country may have moved to level 3, with relaxed rules and regulations, but apart from Shawn going back to work, we’re keeping things at level 5 here. Takeouts, sitting at restaurants, and unnecessary trips to the shops can wait for now. Want biscuits? Cool, I’ll make some. Because, you know, that’s how I roll now. 😂

What’s your favourite biscuit?

Monte Carlo biscuits are one of my favourite biscuits. I’d say fave, but I do love a proper chocolate chip cookie too! This Monte Carlo biscuit recipe is so quick and easy, I’ve been making them all the time. Shawn and Zee love them.

Warning: They’re melt in your mouth delicious, and a freshly baked batch tends to disappear really quickly! Let’s get to it. 😊

Monte Carlo biscuit recipe

Ingredients: Biscuits

• 125g butter, softened
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup plain flour
• 3/4 cup self-raising flour
• 1/3 cup desiccated coconut
• Raspberry/strawberry jam (Monte Carlo biscuits are traditionally made with raspberry jam, but I didn’t have any, so I used strawberry – also yum)

Ingredients: Buttercream Icing

• 40g butter, softened
• 1/2 cup icing sugar
• A little vanilla essence (less than 1/2 teaspoon)

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 180°C

• Mix the butter, sugar, and vanilla essence until you have a smooth mixture.

• Add the egg and mix for a few more seconds until combined.

• Sift both flours into the mixture, and stir to combine. Fold in the desiccated coconut.

• Roll mixture into balls, and place on lined trays a few centimeters apart. Dip a fork in flour, and lightly flatten the biscuits.
  

• Bake for about 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and leave them on the tray for 5 minutes, before transferring to a cool plate/dish.

• Mix butter, sugar, and vanilla essence to make the buttercream icing.

• Spread jam on one biscuit, icing on the other, and sandwich together.
  
  
• Time for tea! 😊

This is a great recipe to try with your little one/s. It’s really simple, and not very messy (score!). Zee loves baking these with me. And if your little one is even younger, they’d probably love to dip their fork in some flour and flatten the biscuits for mommy before they go in the oven. Happy baking! ❤️