Simple iced biscuits to make with kids
Easy letter and number biscuits little ones can bake and decorate themselves.
- 200 g unsalted buttersoftened
- 200 g golden caster sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ tsp vanilla extractor 1 lemon, zested
- 400 g plain flourplus extra for dusting
To decorate
- 8 to 12 coloured icing pensor fondant icing sugar mixed with a little water and food colouring
Nutrition: per serving
- kcal86
- fat4g
- saturates2g
- carbs11g
- sugars4g
- fibre0g
- protein1g
- salt0.2g
Method
step 1
Heat the oven to 200C, 180C fan, gas mark 6. Put the butter in a bowl and beat it using an electric whisk until soft and creamy. Beat in the sugar, then the egg and vanilla or lemon, and finally the flour to make a dough. If the dough feels a bit sticky, add a little more flour and knead it in.
Little helper job: Children can help measure the sugar and flour, crack the egg with supervision, and mix the dough with a wooden spoon before it gets too stiff. Older children can use the electric whisk with close supervision.
Grown-up job: Oversee the mixer and check the dough consistency.step 2
Cut the dough into six pieces and roll out one at a time to about 5mm thickness on a floured surface. The easiest way to do this is to roll the mixture out on a baking mat. Cut out letter and number shapes, we used 7 x 4cm cutters, and peel away the leftover dough at the edges. Re-roll any off-cuts and repeat.
Little helper job: This is where children really shine. They can flour the surface, roll out the dough and press in the cutters to make their chosen letters or numbers. Encourage them to spell their name or create ages for birthdays.
Grown-up job: Help transfer delicate shapes if needed.step 3
Transfer the whole mat or the individual biscuits to two baking sheets, transfer them to baking parchment if not using a mat, and bake for 7 to 10 minutes or until the edges are just brown. Leave to cool completely and repeat with the rest of the dough. You should be able to fit about 12 on each sheet. If you are using two sheets, the one underneath will take a minute longer.
Grown-up job: This step is for adults only. Place trays in the oven and remove once baked.
Little helper job: Children can help set a timer and watch through the oven door as the biscuits turn lightly golden.step 4
Ice the biscuits using the pens to make stripes or dots, or colour in the whole biscuit if you like.
Little helper job: Once the biscuits are completely cool, let children take charge of decorating. Younger children may prefer dots and squiggles, while older ones can outline and flood their letters with icing.