On your marks, get set, bake for Mary's Meals!
Coinneach MacLeod, better known as ‘The Hebridean Baker’, shares his recipe for a Scottish favourite.
This winter, we’re asking our supporters to Raise Some Dough for Mary's Meals!
Our free Raise Some Dough fundraising pack includes everything you knead to organise a charity bake sale – including our new mug-shaped cookie cutter, donation box and fundraising guide.
And that’s not all! Some of the UK’s favourite celebrities – including Great British Bake Off winner Giuseppe Dell’Anno, Strictly Come Dancing star Ellie Taylor, and actors Joanne Lumley and Tamzin Outhwaite – have shared their favourite biscuit recipes in our exclusive recipe book.
Remember, thanks to Double The Love, your fundraising efforts will go even further this winter. Until 31 January 2023, your donation will be doubled thanks to a generous group of supporters, up to £1.5 million – meaning we can reach even more hungry children with life-changing school meals.
Coinneach MacLeod from the Isle of Lewis, better known as ‘The Hebridean Baker’, shares his favourite recipe for mouth-watering Empire Biscuits.
He says: “Originally known as the Linzer Biscuit, these have become an iconic part of any Scottish teatime.
“The most important question is – what do you top yours with? A glacé cherry or a Jelly Tot? For me there is no doubt!”
Ingredients for 12 biscuits
For the biscuit
450g (1lb) plain flour
250g (9oz) softened butter
100g (3½oz) caster sugar
1 egg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
For the topping
250g (9oz) icing sugar
3 tablespoons milk
Raspberry jam, for
spreading
Jelly Tots
Method
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Cream together your butter and sugar, then mix in the egg and vanilla extract. Sift in the flour in batches and mix well until combined.
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Lightly flour a work surface and roll out the dough to a 1cm (½”) thickness. Use a cutter on the biscuits. Place on a baking tray, leaving a bit of space between biscuits to spread. Pop in the fridge for at least an hour to firm up.
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Preheat the oven to 160°C fan (350°F) and bake for 10 minutes, or until baked but still light in colour. Leave to cool completely on a wire rack.
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To make the topping, place the icing sugar in a bowl and gradually mix in the milk. Spread the icing on half of the biscuits and spread one tablespoon of jam on each of the remaining biscuits. Place the iced biscuits on top of the biscuits with jam. Top each biscuit with a Jelly Tot and share!
Charity bake sale ideas
- Why not set up a game to play? ‘Guess the weight of the cake’ is a fun way to get people involved, with a small donation to enter. The winner takes home the cake!
- Organising a charity bake sale doesn’t have to be difficult to make a difference – you could host it at home, in the office, or in your church or local community group.
- Turn your fundraising event into a bake off for charity. Encourage family and friends to make their finest tasty treats and ask people to vote for their favourite bakes. Once the votes are counted and verified, crown a Mary’s Meals Bake Off winner!