Delicious Vegan Empire Biscuits: A Plant-Based Take on a Scottish Classic

Discover the delightful world of Vegan Empire Biscuits – a beloved Scottish confectionery reimagined for plant-based diets. These exquisite cookies feature two perfectly crisp, crumbly shortbread biscuits generously sandwiched together with a vibrant layer of fruit jam. Each treat is then crowned with smooth, sweet water icing and a cheerful glacé cherry, creating an irresistible blend of textures and flavours that will transport you straight to a Scottish tearoom.

Making these charming biscuits is surprisingly straightforward, making them an ideal project for bakers of all skill levels, including a fun activity for kids in the kitchen. They are truly versatile, perfect for elevating any afternoon tea spread, serving as a delightful dessert, or simply enjoying as a sweet pick-me-up any time of day.

These visually appealing biscuits, with their neat presentation and bright red cherry topping, look impressive despite their simplicity. They primarily utilize common store-cupboard staples, requiring only a few thoughtful plant-based substitutions to transform them into a fully vegan delight. Traditionally, Empire Biscuits are made with dairy butter and occasionally an egg, but the egg isn’t strictly necessary for the shortbread’s structure. By swapping dairy butter for a high-quality vegan butter block and enhancing the flavour with a touch of vanilla extract, you can achieve the same rich, crumbly texture and delicious taste without any animal products.

What Are Empire Biscuits? A Rich History and Sweet Tradition

Empire Biscuits are a quintessential Scottish treat, characterized by two delightful rounds of shortbread, generously filled with a layer of jam, and finished with a smooth white icing and a distinctive half glacé cherry or a colorful jelly tot. While they are now synonymous with Scottish bakeries and tea times, their origins are actually rooted in continental Europe.

These charming biscuits are believed to be derived from the Austrian Linzer biscuit, a much older pastry typically made with a richer dough and a lattice top. Upon their introduction to Britain, they were initially known as “Deutsch biscuits” or “German biscuits.” However, with the outbreak of the First World War, national sentiment led to a rebranding, and they were patriotically renamed “Empire Biscuits,” reflecting the British Empire at the time. This new name stuck, and they have been a cherished part of British baking ever since.

Depending on the region within the UK and beyond, you might also encounter these lovely cookies under various other names, such as “double shortbread” due to their layered nature, “Belgian biscuits,” or even “imperial cookies.” Regardless of what they are called, their appeal remains universal: a perfect balance of sweet, fruity, and buttery goodness in every bite. Their simple yet elegant design makes them a popular choice for bake sales, family gatherings, and special occasions, consistently bringing joy with their nostalgic flavour.

Why Choose Vegan Empire Biscuits?

Opting for a vegan version of classic treats like Empire Biscuits offers a multitude of benefits, extending beyond dietary restrictions. For those following a plant-based lifestyle, this recipe allows you to enjoy a beloved traditional dessert without compromise. It also caters to individuals with dairy allergies or intolerances, providing a safe and delicious alternative. Beyond personal dietary needs, choosing vegan baking contributes to a more sustainable and ethical food system, reducing reliance on animal agriculture.

The beauty of this recipe lies in its ability to replicate the authentic taste and texture of traditional Empire Biscuits using readily available vegan ingredients. You won’t miss the dairy butter or the occasional egg, as modern vegan alternatives are remarkably effective at creating that desired crisp, crumbly shortbread base. It’s a testament to how adaptable and inclusive traditional baking can be, proving that delicious treats can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of their dietary choices. Furthermore, introducing new flavours and ingredients, like specific vegan butter blocks, can sometimes even enhance the overall experience, bringing a fresh perspective to a familiar favourite.

Essential Ingredient Details for Perfect Vegan Empire Biscuits:

Crafting the perfect vegan Empire Biscuits begins with understanding the role of each ingredient. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need and why specific choices matter:

Vegan block butter: This is arguably the most crucial ingredient for achieving the correct shortbread texture. It is absolutely essential to use a solid block butter or margarine, not the spreadable kind that comes in a tub. Spreadable margarines contain a higher water content and often have added oils and emulsifiers that can make your dough too soft and lead to tougher, less crumbly biscuits. A good quality vegan block butter will behave much like dairy butter, yielding a wonderfully crisp and tender shortbread that melts in your mouth.

Caster sugar: Caster sugar, also known as superfine sugar, is ideal for these biscuits because its fine granules dissolve quickly and evenly into the dough. This ensures a beautifully smooth texture and prevents any gritty mouthfeel. Golden caster sugar is a fantastic option as it imparts a subtle, pleasant hint of caramel flavour, adding an extra layer of deliciousness to your biscuits. If caster sugar isn’t available, granulated sugar can be used, though it might require a little extra creaming time to fully dissolve. Avoid using brown sugar, coconut sugar, artificial sweeteners, or liquid sugars, as these will significantly alter the moisture content and texture of the shortbread, leading to unpredictable results. You will also need fine icing (powdered) sugar for the smooth, pourable glaze that tops the biscuits.

Plain flour: Simple, regular plain (all-purpose) flour is the best choice for this recipe. It provides the necessary structure without making the biscuits overly chewy, which can happen with higher protein flours. I have not personally tested this recipe with gluten-free flour blends, so I cannot guarantee the same results. If attempting a gluten-free version, look for a blend specifically designed for baking and be prepared to adjust liquid amounts as gluten-free flours absorb moisture differently.

Cornstarch: The addition of cornflour (cornstarch) is a secret weapon in shortbread baking. It plays a vital role in tenderizing the shortbread, giving it that desirable delicate, melt-in-the-mouth quality that truly elevates the biscuit. If you don’t have cornstarch on hand, you can substitute it with an equal weight of plain (all-purpose) flour, but be aware that the texture of your shortbread may be slightly less tender and more traditional.

Vanilla: For the most exquisite flavour, always opt for a good quality vanilla extract. Vanilla is a subtle but powerful flavour enhancer in baking, and a high-quality extract makes a noticeable difference. If you want to take your biscuits to the next level, vanilla bean paste would be an amazing alternative, providing visible flecks of vanilla bean and an even more intense, aromatic flavour.

Glacé cherries: Also known as candied cherries, these vibrant red or natural-coloured fruits are the classic topping for Empire Biscuits. You can choose either the bright red dyed cherries for a traditional look or natural coloured ones if you prefer. For a fun twist or if cherries aren’t your favourite, jelly tot sweets are an excellent and surprisingly traditional alternative (and yes, they are vegan friendly!). Ensure they are fresh and pliable for the best presentation.

Jam: Strawberry or raspberry jam are the most traditional and popular choices for Empire Biscuits, offering a lovely tart counterpoint to the sweet shortbread and icing. However, feel free to get creative and use whatever flavour of jam or preserve you like! Apricot, blackcurrant, or even a mixed berry jam would all work wonderfully, allowing you to customize your biscuits to your taste preferences.

How To Make Vegan Empire Biscuits: A Step-by-Step Guide

(For precise measurements and detailed instructions, please refer to the comprehensive recipe card located at the very bottom of this page.)

Step 1: Preparing the Dough Base Begin by placing your softened vegan block butter, caster sugar, and vanilla extract into a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer or a sturdy spoon, cream these ingredients together thoroughly until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined. Ensure there are no lumps of butter remaining and that the sugar is mostly dissolved, creating a smooth and uniform base for your shortbread.

Step 2: Forming the Dough Next, sift in the cornflour (cornstarch) and plain (all-purpose) flour into the creamed mixture. Mix on a low speed or by hand until the ingredients begin to come together. Initially, the mixture may appear crumbly and dry, but persevere with the mixing. As the fats are incorporated into the dry ingredients, the dough will gradually coalesce into a smooth, cohesive ball. Avoid overmixing; just enough to bring it all together is perfect to prevent a tough biscuit.

Step 3: Rolling and Cutting Lightly flour a clean work surface and your rolling pin. Take half of your prepared dough and roll it out evenly to a thickness of approximately 4mm (about ⅛ inch). Use a fluted 6 cm (2 ½ inch) round cookie cutter to stamp out as many biscuit rounds as possible. Carefully gather any dough scraps, gently knead them together, and re-roll to cut out additional biscuits. Repeat this process with the remaining half of the dough. Arrange the cut-out biscuits on lined baking sheets, ensuring they are slightly spaced apart to allow for even baking.

Step 4: Baking to Golden Perfection Place the baking sheets with the raw biscuits into a preheated oven and bake for approximately 25 minutes. The biscuits are ready when they turn a pale golden colour around the edges, indicating they are crisp and cooked through. Once baked, carefully remove the baking sheets from the oven. Allow the biscuits to cool on the sheets for a couple of minutes before gently transferring them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. This helps them firm up and prevents breakage.

Step 5: Assembling Your Empire Biscuits Now for the fun part: assembly! In a small bowl, prepare your water icing by gradually mixing small amounts of water (or lemon juice for a tangy twist) into the icing (powdered) sugar until you achieve a thick but still pourable consistency. Spread a thin layer of your chosen jam (strawberry or raspberry are traditional favourites) over the flat underside of half of your cooled shortbread biscuits. Then, spread a small amount of the prepared icing over the top of the remaining half of the biscuits. Before the icing sets, gently press half a glacé cherry onto the centre of each iced biscuit. Finally, carefully place each iced biscuit on top of a jam-covered biscuit, pressing down lightly to create your finished Vegan Empire Biscuits.

Top Tips for Vegan Empire Biscuit Perfection:

Achieving bakery-quality vegan Empire Biscuits is easy with these expert tips:

• Embrace Digital Scales: For unparalleled accuracy in baking, always use grams and a digital scale. My recipes are meticulously developed with metric measurements because cups are notoriously inconsistent and can lead to varying results. A digital scale ensures precise ingredient ratios, resulting in consistently perfect biscuits every time, and often makes for a cleaner kitchen too!
• Handle Dough with Care: Avoid overworking the dough. Excessive mixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can lead to tough, chewy biscuits instead of the desired tender, crumbly shortbread. Mix just until the ingredients are combined, then use your hands to gently bring the dough together into a cohesive mass.
• Chill if Needed: If your dough feels too soft or sticky to roll out easily, wrap it in clingfilm or parchment paper and refrigerate it for about an hour. Chilling helps the fats firm up, making the dough much easier to handle and roll without sticking.
• Prevent Spreading with a Quick Freeze: For perfectly shaped biscuits that hold their form in the oven, flash-freeze the cut-out cookies for 15-20 minutes (or refrigerate for 30 minutes) before baking. This rapid chilling of the butter prevents the biscuits from spreading too much when they hit the heat of the oven.
• Optimal Dough Thickness: Don’t roll the dough out too thick, or your biscuits won’t achieve that satisfying crispness. Aim for a thickness of approximately 4mm (about ⅛ inch). This ensures a delicate texture that is firm enough to sandwich yet still delightfully crumbly.
• Rolling Pin with Measuring Rings: A rolling pin equipped with measuring rings can be incredibly helpful for consistently rolling your dough to the exact right thickness. I personally use this adjustable rolling pin, which takes the guesswork out of achieving uniform dough.
• Texture Evolution: When freshly assembled, your vegan Empire Biscuits will have a wonderfully crisp shortbread texture. However, over time, the shortbread will naturally absorb some moisture from the jam filling, becoming slightly softer and more yielding on the following day. Both textures are delicious, so enjoy them at various stages!
• Lemon Zest for Zestier Icing: For a less sweet and more tangy icing, replace a portion or all of the water in your icing mixture with freshly squeezed lemon juice. This adds a bright, refreshing counterpoint to the sweetness of the biscuit and jam. You could even add a tiny bit of lemon zest for an aromatic touch.
• Storage Solutions: Unfilled shortbread biscuits can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Once assembled with jam and icing, they are best enjoyed within 3-4 days as the jam moisture will start to soften the biscuits.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) about Vegan Empire Biscuits:

More Delicious Vegan Sandwich Biscuits to Try:

• Vegan Linzer Biscuits: A beautiful, classic cookie with a jam filling and cutout tops.
• Vegan Custard Creams: The iconic British biscuit, made dairy-free and deliciously creamy.
• Chocolate Viennese Whirls: Elegant, piped chocolate shortbread sandwiches with a rich filling.
• Vegan Lemon Sandwich Cookies: Bright, zesty cookies perfect for a refreshing treat.

If you tried this recipe and loved it, please let me know how it went! Your feedback is invaluable. Rate it, leave a comment below, or share your creations by tagging @domestic_gothess on Instagram and using the hashtag #domesticgothess. Happy baking!

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