Bunty's Imperial (Empire) Biscuits

Many people would recognize these as Empire Biscuits.  It's my understanding that they were originally called Imperial Biscuits (which is what my mother-in-law, Bunty, calls them).  However, at some point the name changed to Empire Biscuits.  When I married my husband, I quickly learned that this was his favorite cookie, and while normally generous, he wanted them all to himself.  Bunty makes them every Christmas and I usually manage to swipe a few of them.  They're delicious and simple, just rolled shortbread sandwiched with jelly filling and topped with icing.  This year Bunty arrived in California, with a box full of the cookies, ready to be filled and iced here at my house.  As usual, I marveled at how such a simple cookie tastes so wonderful.  I shared some of them with my friend Nancy and her family, and they fell under the spell of these little gems, calling them the best cookie they've ever eaten.

Bunty, who is 90 years young, has been making these cookies for 60 or more years.  Here she is, putting some of them together yesterday.

Imperial Biscuits (Or Empire Biscuits)

From a recipe given to Bunty by her mother

1    cup butter
1/2     cup granulated sugar
2        cup flour
About  1/2 cup strawberry, raspberry or current jelly
About  1 cup icing (confectionary) sugar
2     teaspoons water, as needed

In large bowl, cream together butter and 1/2 cup sugar. Add flour, and mix well into a ball.
On lightly floured surface, roll out to 1/8-1/4" thick. Cut into round shapes and place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at preheated 350 degree F. oven until lightly golden around edges, about 10-15 minutes. Set on rack to cool.

In small bowl, mix together 1/2 cup sugar, and enough water to make icing. Spread a small amount of the jelly on one cookie and top with another to make a "sandwich."  Ice tops of cooled cookies and decorate with pieces of marachino cherries.

Comments

[breadchick]

Is there anything better than a butter cookie with jam I ask you? I think not! Happy Holidays and Joyful New Year!!

[KellieGlover]

They look so good! I think these need to be our Santa cookies tonight!

[Julie]

Wow, Christmas visitors who arrive with boxes of homemade cookies!! Can she come to my house next?

[MyKitchenInHalfCups]

Now that is one priceless recipe. Baking cookies at 90. Maybe she should meet my 91 y/o dad.
Have a joyful day Sher.

[Glenna]

I know what you mean about simple cookies. The ones I made in the cookie press like my mom did have been addictive (I can't wait until they're gone just for the guilt factor!). There is something really homey and wonderful about a simple but comforting cookie made mostly of butter, sugar, and flour. Simple is best sometimes!

[gladys Nelson]

The pictures look great! Happy eating! Love G.

[Lydia]

How lucky you are to be able to bake with your lovely mother-in-law! Happy holidays to you and your family, Sher.

[Jenn]

Christmas Schmistmas I say - but those cookies look so yummy! I love shortbread. I hope you have great holidays, Sher!

[Kristen]

These look so simple, yet so good! Thanks for sharing the recipe.

[Kirk]

Hi Sher - Those look lovely...and got my heart beating a bit faster. At first glance I thought they were Peruvian alfajores.

[Karen Jo]

Those cookies look wonderful. I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas.

[Deborah]

These sound like such wonderful cookies!

[kristi]

Yum. I'm all about the Christmas cookies. Hope you had a wonderful holiday, Sher.

[Deb]

Too fun! A day to put in the memory bank. Cookies look easy to make and, like your lace cookie recipe, I probably could do these also! Hope you had a great Christmas Sher!

[Rosie]

So simple and so pretty! I think I will tuck away the recipe in the cookie file.

Happy Holidays Sher!

[gattina]

Sher, really thanks for sharing your family recipe and the holiday's special! Bunty has such beauiful hands :) :)
I will see my mother-in-law (who lives in NJ) soon as I'm going to fly off next week. If she cooks something special, probably I take a few snap-shots as well.
Have a great 2008!!!

[Sanjee of CB and HotMBC]

Sher, will you email me about WCB? I have a general question and this weekend's WCB has a problem too, sooo... drop me a line? Thanks!
Sanjee and Robyn

[Robyn and Sanjee]

Just FYI Samantha Black and Tigger will be doing Weekend Cat Blogging December 29 and 30th at The Tuxedo Gang Hideout since Kashim and Othello are net-less. http://tuxedoganghideout.blogspot.com/
"Purrrrrrs"
Robyn and the Kitties

[Marina]

Six months preggers and woke up this morning craving Empire biscuits. Since there's nowhere near us to buy them, I thought I might try making some, so Googled and found your recipe. They turned out beautifully and taste absolutely wonderful! Thank you for sharing :)

[Hugh]

Thanks! I made these, and they turned out PERFECTLY.

[Cynthia Mc]

Discovered these at the Highland Games one year and I totally understand why your husband doesn't want to share.

[helen]

assuming that Bunty is in fact British, any chance you could post this recipe in grams or ounces (probably more her style?) This seems a very genuine recipe, so I'd love to use it. However, as a Scot I have no idea what weight of butter is in a cup and our packets are marked in 25g increments!

[helen]

silly me, I should have asked the internet! Apparently 1 cup butter is 225g :o)

[newjerseyattitude]

Yummmmmmy! My favorite,I was trying to think of something to make for xmas cookies & these popped into my head.Always a hit!And not everyone makes them.

[Anne J A Smith]

When I was a small child livng in Scotland in 1945 my Mother called them German biscuits. Can't think why.

[email protected].

Anne J A Smith, 85 Albert Road, Gourock, PA19 1NJ. Scotland.