Biscuits are flour-based snacks that are generally crisp and crumbly in texture, due to the fact that they are baked twice - the name ‘biscuit’ means ‘twice cooked’ in French.
Most biscuits are made by the rubbing-in or creaming method, yet the ratios of ingredients are combined in such a way as to produce a wide range of styles, from crumbly buttery shortbread, to hard, dry Italian biscotti.
The melt-and-mix method is used for biscuits such as brandy snaps and tuiles. These biscuits are shaped after removal from the oven while they’re still warm and malleable.
When making biscuits, always stick closely to the recipe. Using a larger egg than that specified could result in hard biscuits, while incorporating too much extra flour while rolling out the dough will make your biscuits tough and dry. Similarly, follow the instructions for spacing your biscuits before baking, as some doughs are designed to spread and the biscuits will merge if placed too close together in the oven.
