giveneyestosee.com | Sugar Cookie Recipe

Tea Biscuits

I can't say for sure if this is the formal recipe for these cookies or not. A search for tea biscuits brings up hundreds of results. All I can tell you is that my mom made these when I was a kid and I've always loved them. The dough is very simple but the filling adds a nice touch of sweetness. These are good for people who don't like overly sugary cookies. I've always enjoyed these at the holidays but they are truly year-round cookies. I always buy more then one flavor of filling. So in one batch of dough you can have an assortment such as strawberry, cherry, apricot or pineapple.

Ingredients

1/2 lb margarine or butter
8 oz. cream cheese
2 1/2 cups flour
Ready-made pie/pastry filling*

Directions

Mix ingredients together thoroughly by hand. Do not use electric mixer. This will take a little bit of time and elbow grease. You can use a little less flour or a smidge more cream cheese if need be.

To make the cookies you need to first roll a small piece into a ball. Then, using your fingers and palms, flatten the dough out to make it round and flat. Press into small 12-cup muffin pans.** They don't need to be perfect but try to make sure they are mostly uniform in thickness and not too much extra dough at the top.

Add a dollop of filling to each cup. Fill cup around 1/2 full. Too much and the filling will bubble over in the oven.

Bake at 350F for 30 minutes. Let cool and then remove. Store in an air-tight container to keep cookies moist.

Makes around 65 cookies.

* I use a specific type that's only available in select markets or through mail order. It's called "Baker Cake, Pastry, Dessert Filling." It's made by Solo Foods/Sokol & Company. In some markets it's under the name "Bohemian" instead. Order form to purchase by mail can be found here: http://www.solofoods.com/cordbkus.html or you can contact them at 800-328-7656. Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. If you can not find this particular brand, other ready-made pie or pastry fillings will work as well. You'll find it in your bakery isle of your supermarket in cans or jars.

** Each cup measures around 2-3/4 inches across and 1-1/4 inches deep

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