A Mauritian classic tea time treat, found in the bakeries around Mauritius. It’s simply a jam-sandwiched biscuit that’s coated with a pink icing glaze. And its something I am making for our Mauritian inspired Afternoon Tea Supperclub next weekend.
When I make these at home, they never seem to last (which is a good thing) the biscuit is crumbly and flaky in texture, not too sweet with the strawberry jam sandwiching the two together. You can think out the box and make your own jams or try a different flavour like a recently did with a rhubarb, vanilla and raspberry jam.
Covered in a gloriously sickly pink icing, it works so well. Perfect with a cup of vanilla chai or normal English breakfast tea. It doesn’t take a long time to make with only a handful of ingredients.
Method: Makes approx 6
Ingredients:
100g unsalted butter, room temperature
200g plain flour
2 tbs strawberry jam (or jam of choice)
2 cups icing sugar, sifted
12 tsp hot water
Pink Food colouring
Method:
*Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 2 1/2
*Sift the flour into a mixing bowl, then cut the butter into small pieces and add to the flour. Using your fingertips mix the butter into the flour, to make fine breadcrumbs.
*Bring the mixture together into a dough, do not knead, leave to rest for 15 minutes.
*Place a piece of baking sheet/greaseproof paper on a greased baking tray.
*Place a large sheet of greaseproof on a work surface and place the dough ball on top, then another piece of baking sheet over it. Roll the dough about 1cm thick.
*Using a 5cm sized round cutter, cut out the dough and place on the greased baking tray ready to go in the oven. Leave a little space in between each shortbread.
*Bake in the over for approx 15 minutes or till lightly golden, do not let them get too dark, we want them to be flaky and crumbly.
*Take out of the oven and allow to cool before adding the jam. In the meantime make the pink icing, firstly mix the icing sugar in a bowl with the hot water and stir till a thick consistency but easy enough to spread. Add a few drops of pink colouring to the icing and stir till mixed through.
*When the biscuits have cooled, spread jam onto half the biscuits and sandwich with the others, spread the top side of the biscuits with the pink icing and leave to dry before eating. Enjoy with a cup of tea!
Selina x
- Make sure cookies are cooled before you attempt to remove them, else they’ll crumble. Run a knife underneath them in case they may break using your fingertips.
