Sometimes life throws a little curve ball at you and knocks you down for a week or two. It was the flu that knocked me down just recently and as much as I’m finally back to at least feeling human again, the lingering cough is still proving hard to shake.
So after a lengthy period of completely healthful hot soups, tisanes and the like, I was ready yesterday to treat myself… with some Viennese Biscuits that not only taste lovely, but are pretty to the eye as well. The recipe found while rustling through an old ‘Le Cordon Bleu’ Biscuit Cookbook. Forgive me for not posting recipes for soups and flu-kicking hot honey and lemon drinks, but to be honest, I’m a little over them all right now… perhaps some other time!
Viennese Biscuits / Cookies | Gather and Graze
Ingredients
- 120g/½ Cup Unsalted Butter (Softened)
- 50g/Scant ½ Cup Icing (Powdered) Sugar
- ¼ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 Teaspoon Finely Grated Lemon Zest
- 1 Free-Range Egg (Lightly Beaten)
- 150g/1 Cup Plain Flour (Sifted)
- Pinch of Salt
- 100g Dark Chocolate (Melted)
- Glacé Cherries (optional)
Instructions
Pre-heat oven to 180°C and line 2 baking trays with parchment paper.
In an electric mixer, beat together the butter, icing sugar, vanilla and lemon zest until light and fluffy. Gradually add in the lightly beaten egg, being sure to mix well after each addition. Stir in the flour and salt, mixing until combined.
Scoop the mixture into a piping bag, fitted with a 1cm star tip nozzle. Pipe 6-8cm lengths onto the baking trays, allowing space between each for spreading. I also piped a number of small rosettes onto the 2nd tray, topping each with half a glacé cherry. Bake for about 7-10 minutes, until golden. Allow to cool completely before dipping one end of the biscuit fingers into melted chocolate. Place onto a piece of parchment paper, until the chocolate has set. Enjoy!
- Recipe from a ‘Le Cordon Bleu’ Biscuit Cookbook
Gather & Graze 
Looks like I am the only one commenting about how well the recipe went. Sorry, but this recipe fell flat for me literally. I got flat pancake cookies. The taste wasn’t impressive either; rather bland. I thought I give your recipe a try, but I am going back to my old recipe. Sorry.
I’m really sorry to hear that the recipe didn’t work out for you Ariane. Can I ask if you use scales to measure by weight or do you measure by cups? This can often make a difference with the mixture being too runny (or too stiff) and not holding it’s shape once piped on the tray and baked. So many variations with baking… temperatures of ovens, sizes of eggs, butter softness (not being melted) etc. They are also not meant to be super-sweet, but more of a little light biscuit to go with a cup of tea or coffee. Regardless, I’m so sad to know that your time and effort went into making these and they didn’t turn out as they should.😔
They are pretty! Sorry to hear you’ve been unwell, there seems to be a virulent flu doing the rounds. Stay warm!!
Thanks very much Saucy – apologies for taking so long to respond! Trying very hard to keep warm here in the ACT, but not having much luck! 😉
Ahh yes, I was very tempted by the doona suit one year, when we lived in the nation’s capital… Keep well, sending warm hugs your way!
Thank you… I’ll take all the warm hugs I can get right now. M
They look so perfect! And not at all sweet. As for the lemon zest and dark chocolate that’s bound to taste so good together. Would definitely grab a couple of those with a black coffee. Oh, I made the white chocolate/lemon/cranberries again tonight. Pretty much got the recipe sorted – at last!
Certainly hope it’s the only flu you have this…winter. That just doesn’t sound right. Anyway, it’s nearly over for you guys. Soon it’ll be spring!
Hi Johnny, you’re right… they weren’t terribly sweet, but beautiful subtle flavours to make up for that.
Where have you been lately? Missing your posts and presence in the blogosphere these days!
Saucy and I are co-hosting FF this week – it would be fabulous to see you there! In fact wouldn’t be the same without you… 😉 Pleeeease!!! It’s a dress-up!!
Hah! Hoping both SG and yourself will have a fab time co-hosting F&F! That’ll have to be without me. As I’m no longer blogging. Hurrah, for that! 🙂
Noooooooooo!!!!! I won’t allow it! I won’t… I won’t… I won’t… she says stomping her feet!!!! What’s going on Johnny? Why? I thought I heard along the grapevine you were planning on self-hosting a blog – is that happening? Please keep me updated if you do start up something new… until then you’ll be missed terribly! M
Hahaha! Are you sure you were serving Champagne last night? I mean to other people, not just filling your own glass. Not that I’m suggesting anything. Lush definitely doesn’t spring to mind! 🙂
Had thought of self-hosting. But I’m not even keen on that idea right now. Really liking that I can keep on developing recipes and eat them as they’re supposed to be served – which doesn’t include several attempts at taking photos I’m never happy with and reheating food several times. Shall send you the recipe for the white chocolate/lemon scone-type thing. Which I happen to make every week! It’s well and truly tweaked by now.
Champagne? Moi?? 😉 It was Saucy’s fault… so attentive in making sure everyone’s flutes were topped up! Just a little head-ache this morning… and craving a big English breakfast!
Can’t wait to see (and try out) the tweaked scone-type thing (which really should have a more beautiful name than that…)
I’m sad that you won’t be posting Johnny, though can understand the desire for eating the (hot) dishes you make, in the way they’re meant to be eaten. My fingers are crossed though that you’ll take a well-deserved break and then be back with bells and sequins on when you feel like it! Until then… enjoy the cooking and all the recipe development! M
Yikes, the flu! So glad to hear you’re on the mend, Margot. Those biscuits of yours look fantastic. I can’t even make cookies that pretty when I’m in perfect health. 😉 Kudos to you!! 😀
Very kind of you – thank you Patty! 🙂 The cookies really are deceptively simple to make – the piping bag does all the work!
Glad you are feeling better! I’m not someone with a sweet tooth but little dainty treats like these are the sort of thing I really enjoy when I do fancy a sugar kick. I’ve never attemtped to make them but I am now thinking about giving them a go!
Thanks Tanya. I sometimes wish my sweet tooth wasn’t quite so determined… 🙂
Margot, I would love to learn how to make these beautiful Viennese biscuits/cookies. Goes on my ‘to learn’ list. 🙂
They were actually incredibly easy and quick to make Fae! This was my first try and they turned out both pretty and delicious.
They look gorgeous and must taste even better!!!
Thank you so much Francesca! They disappeared in a flash! 🙂
Love the cookies Margot but am so sorry to hear how sick you have been, Sounds like you are on the mend hoping that continues. The beautiful cookies would make me feel better.
Thanks so much for your kind words Suzanne!
By the way… how is your finger these days? I really hope it’s not still causing you any pain.
I always have a soft spot for Viennese biscuits. These are piped so neatly. I love to reach out for a biscuit or two when I’m sick too..which may seem a little counter-intuitive but it makes me feel better..
Hope you recover real soon! Take Care, Margot.
These little biscuits certainly helped to brighten my day! Thanks so much for your lovely comment Jo! 🙂
Dear Margot, sorry to hear that you were sick and glad that you are on the mend. The biscuits look not only delicious but truly gorgeous. You should submit it to Foodgawker (www.foodgawker.com)
So very sweet of you dear Azita! It’s great to be over the worst of it, but unfortunately my eldest child is home sick now too – so I’ve transformed very quickly from patient into nurse.
Thank you for your vote of confidence with the photos… I did actually submit one of them to Tastespotting, but as always you never know what they’ll accept and what they’ll knock back. Rather hard to predict, but we’ll wait and see. 🙂
I know, those sites are so unpredictable, but they’ll be foolish to pass this up. Sorry about your kiddo, Margot! But they’re so lucky to have such a good mommie. Kick the butt of those viruses! 😉
I know I’m starting to feel better when I start looking for cookies. I must admit, though, I’ve never anything remotely similar to yours, Margot. These do look good. I’ve never pipe cookies and you’ve sure tempted me to give it a try.
Sorry that you’ve been ill but I’m glad to read that you’re feeling better.
I really appreciate your thoughtful words John – thank you! Yes, it’s a sure sign when you ditch the vegemite on toast for cookie cravings that you know you’ve turned the corner back to wellness! 🙂 I hope you give the cookies a try sometime.
I hope you are feeling better, Margot, but how could you not with this plate of biscuits in front of you? 🙂 I love these types of cookies, elegantly simple and delicious.
Thanks so much Ngan! I hadn’t ever piped cookies before, so was surprised at how simple they were to make… incredibly easy to eat too! 😉
Oh Margot, I’m so sorry to hear you were so sick. Hope you are fully recovered. I imagine these cookies helped to make you feel amongst the living once again. They are such lovely little cookies. I need a piping bag! I really like the rosettes with the glacé cherries. Get well. 🙂
Thanks Seana… I’m feeling so much better now, but still not quite back to 100%. The cookies were a welcome touch of happiness, after feeling so miserable… it’s the little things in life! 🙂
Ugh the flu is the worst. I haven’t had it for a few years now but I can still remember lying in bed, unable to move, thinking “This is it- this is how I’m going to die.” Of course, that proved to be just a silly, feverish delusion, but it felt very real at the time! I hope you’re at 100% soon. Gorgeous cookies!
Thanks for your kind thoughts Mary! This is the first actual flu that I’ve ever had, but it was the relentless headache that got to me… I was in tears by the end, just wishing it would go away. Such an awful virus to catch.
Delicious! These may be just what we need to eat with raspberries at the weekend.
Thanks Anne! With fresh raspberries alongside, it sounds like the perfect afternoon tea treat!
I don’t know about you but biscuits always make me feel better – these look great Margot 🙂
Absolutely Karen! There was something very medicinal about this batch of biscuits… especially the ones dipped in chocolate! 🙂
These are absolutely beautiful! I wish I had a plate full of them right now!
Cheers Gab! I wish I still had a plate full of them too… they disappeared way too quickly!
Looks and sounds very tempting and probably the right medicine for your recovery! 🙂
Thanks Meggie… yes, every little biscuit helped! 🙂
I my catering past I used to make piped Viennese shortbreads by the hundreds. They are simple and so so delicious! You’ve made them look extra gorgeous. This damn flu is so virulent, will it ever move on?
These were a great little biscuit to both bake (so simple to pipe them) and eat! A win-win situation in my opinion.
Have you had the flu too this season? I hope not… it’s been particularly unpleasant to say the least!
Margot, your pictures constantly make me drool 🙂 This look so good!
Thanks so very much for your sweet comment Linda! 🙂