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Biskoweet (Egyptian Eid vanilla biscuits)
بسكويت العيد (biskoweet el eid): crisp vanilla biscuits shaped with a press and baked alongside kahk
In the last nights of Ramadan, Egyptian families bake kahk, ghorayeba and biskoweet together, sending trays to the neighbourhood bakery in Shubra or Imbaba if the home oven is too small. Biskoweet is the crisp, lightly sweet one: a vanilla and milk dough pushed through a biscuit press or a meat-mincer attachment into ridged ribbons, glazed with egg and baked golden, perfect for dunking in Eid-morning tea. The common mistake is baking them too pale; they should snap, not bend, so take them to a full honey colour. Chef's tip: a pinch of mahlab in the dough gives the subtle almond-cherry scent of the bakery biscuits. Contains milk, egg and wheat.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
- 5 ½ oz unsalted buttersoft
- 5 ½ oz caster sugar
- 2 eggs1 for the dough, 1 beaten for glazing
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup whole milk
- 16 oz plain flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp ground mahlabopt
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Beat 5 ½ oz unsalted butter and 5 ½ oz caster sugar until pale and creamy.
4 minStep 2: Beat in one of 1 eggs, 2 tsp vanilla extract and ½ cup whole milk.
2 minStep 3: Mix 16 oz plain flour, 2 tsp baking powder and ½ tsp ground mahlab and work them in to a soft, smooth dough that doesn't stick to your hands. Add a spoon of milk if it cracks.
3 minStep 4: Push the dough through a biscuit press fitted with a ridged plate (or a ridged mincer attachment) in long ribbons, and cut into 6 cm lengths. Shape some into S-shapes or rings. Set on lined trays.
20 minStep 5: Brush with the second beaten egg, 1 eggs.
1 minStep 6: Bake at 350°F (325°F fan) until evenly golden brown on top and underneath.
15 minStep 7: Cool completely on a rack; they crisp as they cool. Keep in a tin for 3 weeks.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 210 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 30 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does biskoweet (Egyptian Eid vanilla biscuits) take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of unsalted butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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