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Old Fashioned Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies

By Denise Pare-Watson

I enjoy re-engineering vintage recipes.  I recently came across a recipe for an Old Fashioned Biscuit Cookie that I remember enjoying in my childhood.  We rarely had store bought baked goods in our large household, so the taste of these cookies is still entrenched in my memory. They were so different from the home baked Hermit cookies that my Mom typically made.  Cookies that look like a cracker with a chewy texture and crunchy sugar topping were very appealing back then and are still today.  Old Fashioned Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies were originally known as Garibaldi Biscuits and were named after an Italian general named Giuseppe Garibaldi.  The biscuit company Peek Freans first manufactured the cookie in 1861.  They have been a popular snack for over 150 years in Britain, as well as Australia and New Zealand where they are known by different names such as “Fruitli” and “Full O’Fruit.”

Gluten Free Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies | urbnspice.com
Old Fashioned Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookie

Originally, currants were used in Garibaldi Biscuit Cookies. In this Old Fashioned Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies recipe, I have substituted Golden Raisins for the currants.  The cookie dough is rolled into a thin layer and folded over a layer of golden raisins and firmly pressed flat with a rolling pin to create a thin sheet of fruit-studded dough.  While currants were traditional in this distinctive cookie, I like the look of the golden raisins peeking through the dough and in the baked cookie.  Golden raisins are also known as sultanas and are made from green seedless grapes that are dried.  Golden raisins are the juiciest and lightest in colour of all raisins.  Raisins (dark raisins, sultanas and currants) are highly nutritious, high in fibre, potassium and antioxidants.  Due to their concentrated nature, they are also high in sugar and calories so it is advisable to eat them in moderate amounts.

“Everything in moderation, including moderation.”
Julia Child

I remember reading about a study that showed eating raisins may lower blood pressure, improve control of blood sugar and also increase the feelings of satiety.  On a more romantic note, I remember reading the following quote from a dietician’s manual that has stuck with me for many years:

“Eat a handful of raisins, and you can kiss your husband for an hour! ” Anonymous

Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies | urbnspice.com
Old Fashioned Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookie

I find it quite amusing that this style of cookie is today often referred to as ‘Boomer Cookies’.  My husband refers to them as “Old Fart Favourites” – he is a boomer (#oldfart).  You will want to try this old-fashioned recipe, which has been modernized to accommodate gluten-free/dairy-free options as well as maintaining the traditional recipe.  Both versions are scrumptious.

An Old Fashioned Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookie

CHEF TALK:  Old Fashioned Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies are easy to make, and easy to eat (and eat and eat).  As is my practice, I made two versions of the cookies, one with all-purpose flour and unsalted butter; and another dough using gluten-free and diary-free coconut butter.  The gluten free/dairy-free version is a little trickier to work with due to its structure (See Chef Tip below in Step 5 of the Method), however it still produced a very good result.   The version using all-purpose flour and butter was somewhat crispier.  The cookies keep well in an airtight tin and they also freeze very well. 

Gluten Free Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies | urbnspice.com
Gluten-free Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies

Yield:  30 – 48 biscuit cookies, depending on the size you cut them (See Step 10 in Method below)

Equipment:  2 baking sheets; rolling pin, knife or pizza cutter

INGREDIENTS:

Cookie Dough:

  • 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour (135 g) or gluten-free flour
  • 2 tablespoons (16 g) icing sugar (also known as confectioners sugar)
  • 1 teaspoon (4 g) baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon (2 g) fine sea salt
  • 6 tablespoons (90 g) cold unsalted butter or coconut butter (84 g)
  • 3 – 4 tablespoons (45 ml – 60 ml) ice water 

Egg Wash:

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon (5 ml) water

Golden Raisin Filling:

  • 1 ½ cups (195 g) golden raisins, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract

Topping: 

½ cup coarse sugar like Demerara or sparkling sugar, as needed

METHOD:

  1. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut the butter (or work in the coconut butter) into small pieces, and work it into the dry ingredients using a pastry cutter, mixing until the dough is crumbly.
  3. Drizzle in the ice water mixing until the dough holds together (you might need 1 extra tablespoon of water if you are using gluten-free flour).  The dough should hold together if you squeeze a small amount together.  If the dough seems a little dry or too crumbly, add a few more drops of water.  
  4. Divide the dough in half, and shape each half into a rough rectangle. Wrap the dough, and refrigerate it for 30 minutes. Towards the end of the refrigeration time, preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C.
  5. Take one piece of the dough, and place it on a lightly floured work surface. Roll it into a rectangle that’s about 10″ x 14″, about 1/8″ thick.  CHEF TIP:  Use the sheet of parchment that is lining your baking sheet to make rolling the dough easier.  (This is particularly useful with the gluten-free/dairy-free dough due to its more delicate nature). Make sure to flour the surface of the parchment paper well first and roll out, fold, cut and place the dough on the parchment paper.
  6. Brush the surface of the dough lightly with some of the beaten egg.   
  7. Combine the chopped golden raisins with vanilla and mix thoroughly.  Spread half of the surface of the dough  (lengthwise) with 3/4 cup of the chopped golden raisins. 
  8. Fold the other half of the dough over the raisins, and roll again, until you have a piece of dough about 6″ x 15″. Some of the raisins may pop through.
  9. Brush the dough lightly with some of the beaten egg, and sprinkle with some of the coarse Demerara sugar.
  10. Using a knife or a pizza wheel, carefully cut the rectangle of dough into three strips, lengthwise. Then cut each lengthwise strip into crosswise pieces, trimming edges if necessary.  You will have 15 – 24 pieces, depending on the size you cut the cookies.  My cookies measured 1 1/2 x 1 1/4″ inches, totalling 24 small rectangular cookies for each piece of dough. 
  11. Transfer the cookies to one of the prepared baking sheets, spacing them close together; they won’t expand much.
  12. Repeat the entire process with the remaining piece of dough.
  13. Bake the cookies for 14 to 18 minutes, until they’re a light golden brown.  Note: the gluten-free/dairy-free cookies will not change colour the same as the all-purpose flour/butter dough – they will be lighter in colour, as shown in the photographs.  Once the cookies are firm to the touch and the sugar starts to caramelize, they are done. Remove them from the oven, and cool.
Gluten Free Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies | urbnspice.com
The vanilla scented golden raisins are spread onto half of the dough
Gluten Free Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies | urbnspice.com
The dough is folded over onto itself. A rolling pin is used to press the raisins into the dough
Gluten Free Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies | urbnspice.com
Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies made with gluten free flour and coconut butter
are lighter in colour than the cookies made with wheat and butter.
Gluten Free Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies | urbnspice.com
Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies made with wheat and butter are slightly more golden in colour

LEARNING TIPS:  

Please CLICK the link above to access my Urb’n’Spice LEARNING TIPS, which are listed alphabetically on the Learning Tips blog post under the following subheadings:

  • Parchment Paper
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Gluten Free Flour Blends
  • Oven Temperature Accuracy
    __________

If you try this recipe for Old Fashioned Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookie, please leave me a comment below with your feedback. Please pin this recipe for later!

Denise Paré-Watson

The Urb’n’Spice Chef

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Adapted from King Arthur Flour

Sources:

Health Benefits of Raisins

Raisins for Quick Energy

King Arthur Flour – How to Make Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies

Garibaldi Biscuit

Sunshine Biscuit

History of Peek Frean Company

Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies | urbnspice.com
Old Fashioned Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies
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Filed Under: Cookies, Dairy Free Recipes, Desserts and Sweets, Gluten Free Recipes, My Recipes, Nut Free Recipes, Pastry, School Lunch or After School Snacks, Vintage Recipes, Vintage Recipes Tagged With: Baking Techniques, Cookies, Dairy Free Recipes, Gluten Free Recipes, Vintage Recipes

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Comments

  1. Val Harrison says

    at

    Mom used to purchase these Garibaldi biscuits prepackaged in the store. They were a favourite. Cant wait to try the recipe.

    • Denise Pare-Watson says

      at

      Thanks so much, Val. I can remember the same thing as a child – they were very unique cookies. I think that you are going to enjoy this recipe. They are deliciously addictive. 🙂

  2. Christina Sirianni says

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    Made these biscuits twice now, first time i brushed egg wash before baking, second time brushed melted butter. The melted butter one was amazing.
    thanks for the receipe

    • Denise Pare-Watson says

      at

      You are very welcome, and thank you so much for your lovely comments, Christina. They are tasty cookies, aren’t they? I am excited to try your suggestion and brush melted butter on the cookie dough the next time that I make them, which now might be sooner than later! 😉

  3. Jo Vanderwolf says

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    Best tea time treat ever!! I just made these today for my parents and they can’t get enough of them. Thank you for sharing such an easy and delicious treat!!

    • Denise Pare-Watson says

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      Awe! Shucks! Thanks so much! I am so glad that your parents enjoyed them. They are definitely one of our favourite cookies, too.

  4. Pamela says

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    These look amazing! I’m going to make these! I like that we don’t have to use a cookie cutter. I like square cookies!!

    – – Have you ever tried other dried fruit like chopped cranberries or currents, dried lemon peel??

    – – After rolling them out with the raisins and cutting them, could I freeze some unbaked to bake later?? There are only 2 of us. We couldn’t set them all at once….

    • Denise Pare-Watson says

      at

      Hello, Pamela! Thank you for your nice note and your excellent questions. Yes, indeed, any dried fruit would work in these cookies, although chopped finely as you mentioned so that any large pieces do not pierce through the dough when you are rolling them. As well, the cookies do well if you freeze them unbaked but that said, they freeze very well once baked as well and stored in an airtight container (my preferred method). Thanks for dropping by Urbnspice. You have reminded me how much we enjoy these cookies – I may have to add that to the daily bake! ?

  5. COLLEEN MOORE says

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    would love the recipe for raisin cookies we ate them as kids dad always called them fly biscuits

    • Denise Pare-Watson says

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      This recipe has also been known as ‘squashed fly biscuits’. Perhaps it is a similar recipe to try for your Dad?

  6. Mae R says

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    I made These gluten free for my daughters birthday as she doesn’t care for cake. Cut up dried apricots, a few dried cranberries and two Tab cf fine copped walnuts. Roll out first layer of dough, spread filling over all, Sprinkled filling w 2 table spoons powdered sugar, rolled top layer, brush egg wash then place egg topside down over filling layer. Rolled latyers together till 1/4 thin then cut into squares. Finished as instructed.
    The apricots did soften during baking and cookie wasn’t too sweet. Ill make again with golden raisins next time. Thx

    • Denise Pare-Watson says

      at

      Thank you for your comment, Mae. I am delighted that you made these delicious Old Fashioned Golden Raisin Biscuit cookies for your daughter’s birthday.

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Welcome to Urbnspice - A Taste of Heart and Home. Inspiration in my kitchen is often a trip to the market or an experimental coincidence! Come and join me on this culinary journey where I share my passion for the creative, technical and teaching components of the profession and unravel culinary quandaries for you with fun and easy to follow user-friendly recipes, tips & techniques.
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