Happy new year, all. Now my book is released into the world (hurrah!) I want to get back to regular recipe posting on here, starting from next month. But for now, I bring you biscuits.
These biscuits are very worth getting excited about. Despite how easy and simple, they really do taste incredible. These might just make my top 3 biscuits.
Recipe origin
This recipe comes from an old advertisement, for one of the first brands of self-raising flour in the UK, Be-Ro. It’s from around the 1940s, I believe. But although I may only be in my early 30s, I distinctly remember eating these as a child, when we would still bake from old, dusty and sticky cookbooks instead of food blogs.
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Oats or coconut?
I love coconut but the original recipe gives the option of either rolled oats or dessicated coconut. Perhaps even a mixture of both. It’s up to you!

Vegan Melting Moments
These retro cookies are to-die-for. Buttery biscuits with oats or coconut, dotted with cherry gems.
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp desiccated coconut or rolled oats
- 50g caster sugar
- 75g dairy-free butter or margarine
- (optional) 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 95g self-raising flour
- 12 glace cherries, cut in half
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C / 160°C fan / gas mark 4 / 350°F. Grease or line a baking tray.
- Prepare a bowl with the coconut or rolled oats.
- In a large, separate, mixing bowl, beat the margarine and sugar together until light and fluffy, then stir in the vanilla.
- Stir in the flour and mix into a dough.
- Divide the dough into 24 pieces and roll into balls with slightly damp hands. Roll and shake in the coconut/oat mixture to thoroughly coat.
- Place onto the baking tray, allowing enough room in-between for the biscuits to expand (use two trays if you need to) and press down slightly. Top each ball with one of the cherry halves.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until lightly golden.
- Allow to cool before serving and enjoy!
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i just made these they are delicious so light and simple to make
So glad you enjoyed them!
For the biscuits what are the measurements for the American standard ounces and cups?
Hi Rozanne. I hadn’t prepared the American measurements yet but just looked them up and you will need the following amounts:
Sugar: 1/4 cup or 1 3/4 oz
Butter: 1/3 cup or 3 oz
Flour: 3/4 cup or 3 1/4 oz
Hope that helps. Enjoy the recipe.