Sugar Free Dainties and Other Light Biscuits

There are some sugar free dainties and light biscuits that you’ll want to serve as an accompaniment to a cup of tea when you have guests round. Or perhaps you’d like to offer them round over coffee after a dinner party. These recipes do require a light hand. It’s important to follow them carefully in order to achieve the desired results.

Sugar Free Brandy Snaps

With their strong flavour these are certainly not to everyone’s taste but those who enjoy them often say they go well with coffee. They can of course also be served as an accompaniment to sugar free ice-cream.

Ingredients:

• 100g (4oz) butter
• 100g (4oz) plain flour
• Four tbsp good honey
• Two tsps ground ginger
• Two tsps brandy
• One lemon
• Pinch of salt

Method:

Preheat your oven to 180 deg C/350 deg F/gas mark four. In a small pan, melt your honey and margarine. Remove from the heat and leave to cool. Add your brandy to the liquid and stir well. Sieve your flour into a bowl. Grate the zest of your lemon and add just a tsp to the mixture. Stir in a pinch of salt. Mix all your ingredients together. Your mixture should be runnier than dough consistency.

With a tsp, place dollops of it on your baking sheets, making sure they are spaced well apart. Bake for about eight minutes until brown and starting to bubble. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for just a minute or two. Take a wooden spoon and grease the handle. Take your warm biscuits and shape them into a curl around the handle. Allow to cool. Serve as they are or fill with whipped cream or sugar free ice-cream.

Sugar Free Almond Dainties

For this recipe you will need to use granulated sweetener. Check the manufacturer’s label to ensure it is suitable for use in these quantities and for baking. Brandy or sherry can also be added to this recipe if you want to give it a little more edge. Once again, these can be served with a sugar free dessert.

Ingredients:

• 350g (12oz) ground almonds
• One knob of butter
• Four tbsp granulated sweetener (or as per manufacturer’s instructions)
• Four medium eggs

Method:

Preheat your oven to 180 deg C/350 deg F/gas mark four. Separate your eggs and place the whites in a large bowl. Beat until they are firm and will stand up in peaks. Slowly fold in your ground almonds and sweetener. Take two baking trays and cover with baking sheets.

Using a teaspoon, place dollops of your mixture on the sheets. Ensure they are spaced well apart. Melt your knob of butter in a microwave or in a small pan over a low heat. Brush the top of each mound with a little. Bake in the centre of your oven for about 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

Try serving these with sugar free ice-cream too. Or whip some cream and sandwich two of them together. You could also try sprinkling them with a little ground almond moments before serving.

Sugar Free Orange Dainties

For this recipe use a nice sweet orange. Make sure you choose nice fresh one. The idea is to give just a hint of fruity flavour.

Ingredients:

• 90g (3oz) plain flour
• Two medium eggs
• Four tbsp granulated sweetener (or as per manufacturer’s instructions)
• One large orange

Method:

Preheat your oven to 180 deg C/350 deg F/gas mark four. Separate your eggs and place the whites in a large bowl. Beat until they are firm and will stand up in peaks. Grate the zest from your orange and mix in a large bowl with your flour and sweetener. Slowly add to the egg white until you have a paste. Take two baking trays and cover with baking paper.

Using a teaspoon, place dollops of your mixture on the sheets. Ensure they are spaced well apart. Bake for about 10 minutes. Serve with coffee.