Iced Gems Biscuits. They are a popular snack in Southeast Asia and are made with a buttery shortbread dough that is topped with a thin layer of icing. The icing is usually brightly colored and can be flavored with fruit or nuts.
I can’t confirm if they are sold in NYC bakeries, but you might be able to find them at Asian grocery stores. Here is a recipe for Iced Gem Biscuits if you’d like to try making them at home [Iced gem biscuits] Recipe Givn Below!
Ingredients:
- For the biscuits:
- 50g unsalted butter, softened
- 30g icing sugar
- 20g egg yolk (about 1 yolk)
- 10g milk powder
- 70g cake flour
- Pinch of salt
- For the royal icing:
- 150g icing sugar
- 25-30ml water
- Food coloring gels (optional)
Instructions:
-
Make the biscuit dough:
- In a bowl, cream together the softened butter and icing sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg yolk until well combined.
- Sift in the milk powder, cake flour, and salt. Mix until just combined, a soft dough will form.
- Cover the dough in cling film and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
-
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Line baking trays with baking parchment.
-
Roll out the dough:
- Lightly flour a surface and roll out the chilled dough to about 5mm (¼ inch) thickness.
-
Cut out the biscuits:
- Use a small round cookie cutter (about 2cm diameter) to cut out shapes from the dough. Re-roll the scraps as needed to use up all the dough.
-
Bake the biscuits:
- Place the biscuits onto the prepared baking trays. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.
- Let the biscuits cool completely on a wire rack before icing.
-
Make the royal icing:
- In a clean bowl, whisk together the icing sugar and water until a smooth and thick icing forms. You can adjust the consistency by adding more water a little at a time if needed.
- If desired, divide the icing into portions and add different food coloring gels to create different colored icing.
-
Decorate the biscuits:
- Once the biscuits are cool, spoon or pipe the icing onto the top of each biscuit. You can spread the icing with a small palette knife or use a piping bag with a small nozzle for more intricate designs.
-
Let the icing set completely before storing.
Tips:
- For a richer flavor, use brown butter for the biscuit dough.
- You can substitute all-purpose flour for the cake flour, but the biscuits may be slightly less crumbly.
- To make the icing set faster, add a few drops of lemon juice.
- Get creative with the icing colors and designs! You can make stripes, dots, or even write messages on the biscuits.
Enjoy your homemade Iced Gem Biscuits!