Almond Sweet Biscuit Recipe
With Valentine's Day fast approaching, I though I'd share one of my family's favorite treats, my own heart-shaped almond sweet biscuits. I've been told this is actually a scone, but having never had a proper scone, I just call it a sweet biscuit. Whatever you call it, these are easy to make and perfect for tea with a friend.
Ingredients
2 1/2 c white flour (spelt or wheat)
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 Tablespoons sugar
4 Tablespoons butter
4 Tablespoons shortening
3/4 cup + 1/4 cup almond milk
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 egg
1/4 cup slivered almonds
Sugar sprinkles
Whipped cream
Notes
The key to a good biscuit is to work quickly so the butter stays cold. If it gets soft, it will absorb into the flour, making tough biscuits. If it stays cold, the bits of butter will flatten out with the dough and create those flaky layers we all love. So lay your ingredients all out before beginning.
As for fat, butter gives the best flavor, but shortening provides the better texture, so I choose to use half of each. You can use all one or the other if you prefer, but avoid margarine as the high water content will make for tough biscuits. If you need a butter alternative, I have successfully used Earth Balance buttery sticks.
As a final note, I use almond milk in this recipe, which is a "milk alternative" made from almonds and water. I find it gives a great texture and adds to the flavor, plus is better for my milk avoiding husband. But you can just use milk or water instead with good results.
Method
1. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.
2. In a medium-sized bowl, stir the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and sugar, then drop the butter and shortening on top in tablespoon-sized lumps.
3. Cut in the butter and shortening until you have a mix of bits smaller than peas. Use a dough cutter if you have one, or two knives if you don't. I get better results if I make these by hand, so I don't use a food processor.
4. Add 3/4 cup of the almond milk, almond extract and egg. Mix until well moistened. You should have a fairly wet, sticky, lumpy ball of dough.
5. Turn out the dough on a well-floured board and pat it out flat. Fold it in half and in half again, then pat it out again. You will need to add flour to prevent sticking. Repeat four or five times, then pat or roll the dough out to about 1/2" thick.
6. Cut into shapes and lay out on a baking sheet. I recommend a plain, shiny metal pan for best results. The dark nonstick pans tend to burn, so if you use one, watch carefully.
7. Brush the tops of the dough with the remaining almond milk, then sprinkle with slivered almonds and sugar.
8. Place the finished pan of biscuits in the middle rack of the oven to bake at 450 degrees.
9. Bake until golden brown and crispy. This will take anywhere from 12-20 minutes depending on your oven, the humidity, and how wet your dough is.
10. Cool on a wire rack, then split and eat with jam or cream.
Yum!
Comments (31)
Those look yummy. I wonder if I can make them gluten free?~~Dee
Posted by Dee/reddirtramblings | February 4, 2008 5:04 AM
Posted on February 4, 2008 05:04
hi, Angela, glad you are feeling better now! Those look great. I've got a Valentines treat cooked up too for this week that I'll be making for my hubby.
xo,
Rhoda
Posted by Rhoda | February 4, 2008 6:38 AM
Posted on February 4, 2008 06:38
These look delicious Angela! Thank you for the recipe (and the great pictures!).I use the half butter half shortening in my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe for the same reason as your sweet biscuits.It really does make a difference.
:-) Barbara
Posted by Barbara | February 4, 2008 6:57 AM
Posted on February 4, 2008 06:57
They sound divine, Angela, and I'd try them...except what the heck is almond milk? I've never seen or heard of it before.
Posted by jodi | February 4, 2008 9:21 AM
Posted on February 4, 2008 09:21
Those look really good! You can get spelt flour in a "white" version?
Posted by Angelina | February 4, 2008 9:27 AM
Posted on February 4, 2008 09:27
Ooh, beautiful. And you know how I feel about these kinds of things, so I'm happy to have yet another recipe to try.
But, I'm going to have to disagree with whomever told you it was technically a scone. (uh, that shortening is the tip off. :D)
Posted by Wende | February 4, 2008 10:24 AM
Posted on February 4, 2008 10:24
I love almonds so much. These look really yummy. I'm going to have to remember to try them soon. I didn't use shortening for a long time, because of the scary hydrogenation, but I found a non-hydrogenated shortening by Spectrum, so now I can use it again for baking!
Posted by Lisa | February 4, 2008 10:36 AM
Posted on February 4, 2008 10:36
Hey Angela! Glad to see you are feeling better. Your biscuits look super yummy!
Posted by Renee | February 4, 2008 11:08 AM
Posted on February 4, 2008 11:08
Yummmmmmmmmy! Makes my mouth water just looking at the picture.
Posted by Teresa | February 4, 2008 1:33 PM
Posted on February 4, 2008 13:33
Yummy!
Thank-you.
Posted by Kim | February 4, 2008 1:57 PM
Posted on February 4, 2008 13:57
Mmmmmmmmmm....soooo delicious! I think I have to make these cookies this weekend... :)They look italian... like biscotti??
~ Annie
Posted by Annie | February 4, 2008 4:29 PM
Posted on February 4, 2008 16:29
Ohhh..Those look so good! The perfect Valentine!
Posted by midwestgal | February 4, 2008 4:39 PM
Posted on February 4, 2008 16:39
Those look SO yummy! Thanks for the recipe!
xo
Melissa
Posted by melissa @ the inspired room | February 4, 2008 5:53 PM
Posted on February 4, 2008 17:53
so glad that you are feeling better now. the scones look great...I will have to try some, would be great with a proper cup of tea!
take care,
carol
Posted by Anonymous | February 4, 2008 6:14 PM
Posted on February 4, 2008 18:14
Please know how much I appreciate this--a house is REALLY a home when there is a good smell from the oven!
Posted by Tara | February 4, 2008 6:52 PM
Posted on February 4, 2008 18:52
What a lovely recipe! Thank you for sharing. I do have almond milk
on hand--as well as horchata, which is rice milk! I will try these for Valentine's Day, Angela. Thanks for the good photo work!
Kathryn
Posted by Kathryn/plantwhateverbringsyoujoy.com | February 4, 2008 7:27 PM
Posted on February 4, 2008 19:27
Angela,
Those look amazing! Yum. They do look perfect to go with a cup of tea. Glad you are back.
Hugs,
Rose
Posted by Rose | February 5, 2008 3:49 AM
Posted on February 5, 2008 03:49
yum, I am getting very hungry! too bad I am way too tired to do anything!
Ellen
Posted by ellen Crimi-Trent | February 5, 2008 6:03 AM
Posted on February 5, 2008 06:03
Delicious looking biscuits - I'd call them scones. The almonds on top are so pretty. Can I come for tea?
Lorrie
Posted by Lorrie | February 5, 2008 9:03 AM
Posted on February 5, 2008 09:03
This sounds delicious!
Posted by Liz | February 5, 2008 9:25 AM
Posted on February 5, 2008 09:25
I love the taste of almond so much. I can't imagine that I've never heard of almond milk. Where do find it? At a health food store?
Thanks for the recipe. It's going to snow (again) later and after I plow the drive I'm going to be looking for something to bake.
- Suzanne, the Farmer's Wife
Posted by the farmers wife | February 5, 2008 10:25 AM
Posted on February 5, 2008 10:25
Angela. These look yummy. I must try them. They will be perfect for the guests in our guest cottage. Love the pillow too. Had a great visit. Stop by soon! Connie
Posted by Connie | February 5, 2008 12:53 PM
Posted on February 5, 2008 12:53
Another delicious looking recipe. Great pictures too!
Posted by Lisa | February 5, 2008 4:02 PM
Posted on February 5, 2008 16:02
I had to turn my iSight off because I didn't want you to see me licking my monitor. Sounds so yummy and your photos are beautiful!
Posted by happy zombie | February 6, 2008 11:04 AM
Posted on February 6, 2008 11:04
Pretty and yummy looking!
Posted by Kim | February 6, 2008 7:29 PM
Posted on February 6, 2008 19:29
Hi, Thank you for sharing your recipe, the biscuits sound wonderful.... I have been wanting something sweet to eat all day, now I wish I could eat these!
Priscilla x
Posted by Priscilla | February 8, 2008 2:44 PM
Posted on February 8, 2008 14:44
We love everything yo bake and make!!! These sound seriously delicious, must try out the recipe, Jacqui loves baking. Thank you Angela. Jenn and Jacqui
Posted by Jenn and Jacqui | February 10, 2008 6:54 PM
Posted on February 10, 2008 18:54
These hearts look yummy. I plan to try this recipe.
Posted by Irma's Rose Cottage | February 20, 2008 1:57 PM
Posted on February 20, 2008 13:57
Thanks so much, I love getting new recipes, especially for anything sweet!
I shall try whipping up a batch of these this weekend, they look positively scrumptious!
Posted by Melissa Lewis | March 26, 2008 12:20 PM
Posted on March 26, 2008 12:20
These look perfect for a tea party! Maybe a Valentine's Day tea party will be fun next year!
Michele
luvkittysmeowmail@gmail.com
Posted by Michele | May 31, 2008 3:49 AM
Posted on May 31, 2008 03:49
Wow Angela! These look wonderful, I can't wait to try them. Thank you for the recipe:)
zokiemichael(at)sisna(dot)com
Posted by Sharon D. | May 31, 2008 3:37 PM
Posted on May 31, 2008 15:37