Anyone fancy celebrating with a St George’s Day baking activity? Yesterday, I put together a St George’s Day after school activity, for the children. St George’s Day is on Thursday, but as it is baking, it made sense to do it earlier.
We made two different varieties of biscuits, using the same mixture. I like using the “Rainy Day biscuit” recipe from the book Nigella Bites (similar to this recipe). It keeps its shape when it bakes, uses ground almonds and tastes good on its own. A really good, proper biscuit. Saying that, any biscuit recipe that uses cookie cutters will do.
We used a shield cookie cutter. If you haven’t got a shield cookie cutter then, you can also use a paper template to cut round. You can see how we did this when making our castle and shield cookies.
Once baked, the children had fun icing the biscuits. We used ordinary icing for a change, but fondant icing would be an even better option, according to the children. Instructions here.
Once the icing had set, using a new paint brush, the children painted crosses on to the biscuits with red food dye on the shields. Really does take a light brush stroke. It’s still easy to make furrows in the icing.
These biscuits disappeared quickly. I caught the last five for a photo, before they too were devoured. (Managed to hide two, for the next day’s packed lunch) It really did make a fun St George’s Day baking session.
I hung on to half the unbaked biscuit mix and used the shield cookie cutter to cut out more. Half of these, I cut plus signs or crosses in. I found it easier to keep the shape if I cut the crosses and moved them on to the baking tray while they were still in the cutter.
Once baked and cooled, I dusted the crossed shields with icing sugar. The other biscuits were spread with raspberry jam. Then the crossed shields were put on the top to make jammy dodgers. Easy! Does make a perfect (yummy) St George’s shield or English flag.
So two variations on the theme. I’m not big on icing, so I prefer the jammy dodger versions. The children like both.
If you make any of the biscuits and post a photo up on Instagram (@CherylTimeToCraft) or Twitter (@CherylInTheUK), please tag me. I’d love to see them.
Either way, they make good biscuits to munch on while reading a book. Children have been enjoying re-reading the story of Saint George and the Dragon. (Not in front of Norbert the dragon though)
Other St George’s Day activities:
I love them! I pinning it for next year.
Hope you all enjoy them, Phyllis. 🙂
They look great! & yummy..we’ve got to try these :O)
They are very yummy. I should have made twice as many. 12 year old says that she actually prefers my jammy dodgers to the shop bought ones. (Followed by a look of disbelief) What more can I say?
both look delicious!
you made me laugh, i’m certainly glad you didn’t read the story in front of norbert… what a shock for him that would have been!!
He’s such a gentle dragon too. I’m sure he would never have got himself into such a pickle. Picking fights with knights, indeed!
I made St George’s jammy dodgers for a St George’s day party and they were very popular.
I’m glad they went down well. Nice idea to throw a party.