emchook Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 Why oh why do my biscuits turn out more like cakes than biscuits ? I am really good at cakes . .never a problem...but my biscuits are awful .. thank goodness for shop bought ones. Recent Example : Condensed Milk Biscuits 250g Butter half can condensed milk 200g 250g self raising Flour [and I threw in a small packet of choc chips ] Baked at 170 in a fan oven until light brown They spread a little .. but they came out quite thick and soft ! As per all my biscuits .. I want them thin and hard[ish] Kids love them .. but they are NOT RIGHT PLEASE HELP Is my oven too hot OR am I just doomed never to conquer the domestic challenge of the humble biscuit ? [i made some thin and crispy Anzac biscuits the other day .. you guessed it ..they came out thick and soft ..and a bit chewy ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhapsody Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 Could the use of self-raising flour be the problem? I'd use plain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Could the use of self-raising flour be the problem? I'd use plain So would I - and I wouldn't use Fan Oven by choice.......can you use a different oven choice? You could try Quickie Bickies........they've never failed yet. viewtopic.php?f=20&t=38324 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I have similar problems, I can do cakes really well but biscuits are always a bit chewy and burnt around the edges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I love thick, soft, chewy biscuits, but mine often turn out thin & hard, will you swap? Seriously, I'm going to copy your way Emchook! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emchook Posted January 30, 2010 Author Share Posted January 30, 2010 Unfortunately I dont have an option on the fan oven I am going to try the plain flour in those condensed milk biscuits as they are awesome ! And I am going to try the quickie biscuits [ with cocoa .. yum yum ] Thanks for the help .. I will let you know the outcome !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Kate Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 if your oven is gas thart might make a difference - I find gas cooks quite "damp". one day in the spring last year i couldn't get ny meringues to dry out for love nor money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 I love thick, soft, chewy biscuits, but mine often turn out thin & hard, will you swap? Seriously, I'm going to copy your way Emchook! Snap! Always plan for them to turn out like soft cookies you get from shops ... will try that recipe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 Just made these - took about 12 minutes Very nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 i ahve had many of these but today - I had a success . Had made some truffles for church and had 3/4 tin of condensed milk left and went onto carnation website and found a recipe for Oat cookies - I added choc chips and raisins. They came out chewy and hardened up and my ES of 14 and 2 friends and my YS have woofed theire way thro them. I am hopeless at linky things but if anyone want recipe I will post it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 I have a fan oven and use the recipe for the fan oven. However I have also found my biscuits turn out a bit soft. This isn't a problem, as DH likes them this way, but I would prefer a bit more structure to them. I do use self-raising flour, but I have tried having the oven a bit hotter - the book says 145 degrees, I use 160 degrees. That seems to work and the latest batch have been better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted March 2, 2010 Share Posted March 2, 2010 Cookie chemistry is quite complicated as I discovered after similarly having biscuit disasters. I found a great guide on the internet which explains about how the different ingredients, oven temperature etc affect the consistency of the final cookie. See here for the article. You will see that there are lots of possible reasons for your cakey cookies. After much research (involving a lot of biscuit eating ) I found what I think is the perfect recipe: 200g butter 200g caster sugar 200g soft brown sugar 2 eggs 200g plain flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 275g porridge oats tsp vanilla 150g choc chips, walnuts, sultanas, cranberries or whatever takes your fancy (or nothing if you are economising!) Preheat oven to 180 deg C. Cream butter and sugars together; beat in eggs slowly; add vanilla; mix in dry ingredients. Place teaspoonfuls of mixture spread out on a baking sheet lined with baking parchment (this is very important...without the baking parchment the cookies spread too thin and stick to the sheet). Bake for about 15 mins until light golden. Check frequently as they can go from barely coloured to burnt in less than 5 mins! At this stage if you take them out of the oven while quite pale you will get chewy cookies; if you leave them until dark golden they will be much crisper. Once out of the oven let them rest on the tray for a couple of mins until they are firm enough to remove to a wire rack to cool. I have found that if the oven temp is too hot they don't spread enough and are more cakey but if it is too cool they spread out too much and go hard. So, you may have to adjust your oven temp. This recipe makes a lot of cookies...I've never managed to count them up as "people" keep taking them while they are still hot (who me??? No, it must be OH and DS ). I think it is about 6 dozen. I have made them with wholemeal flour and they are still v nice and you can kid yourself they are healthy with all the oats and wholemeal flour... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emchook Posted March 22, 2010 Author Share Posted March 22, 2010 I just made the quickie biccies ... and they turned out great ! this time they were just a but big .. I only managed 8 biscuits .. the recipe apparently makes 40 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 .. I only managed 8 biscuits .. the recipe apparently makes 40 Oh my goodness How big were they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 I just made the quickie biccies ... and they turned out great !this time they were just a but big .. I only managed 8 biscuits .. the recipe apparently makes 40 I'm glad you liked them Em, but goodness knows where you buy your walnuts from! I use a small walnut sized piece Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emchook Posted March 23, 2010 Author Share Posted March 23, 2010 I think I need to go and find a walnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunshinesupernova Posted March 25, 2010 Share Posted March 25, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 27, 2010 Share Posted March 27, 2010 This isn't a walnut Emchock! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted March 27, 2010 Share Posted March 27, 2010 oh thats where Ive been going wrong with my cookies too I make one batch that you had to break up and share with a friend they fitted on a plate - just cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emchook Posted March 27, 2010 Author Share Posted March 27, 2010 lol ... Christian you cheeky wotsit ! Everybody knows that is a hazelnut ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 27, 2010 Share Posted March 27, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 27, 2010 Share Posted March 27, 2010 lol ... Christian you cheeky wotsit ! I haven't been called a cheesy wotsit for ages! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 27, 2010 Share Posted March 27, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emchook Posted March 28, 2010 Author Share Posted March 28, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 Yum - I love Wotsits! The crisps that is! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
