A dear friend recently pronounced that true love is doing something sweet for the one that you love every day, not just on Valentines Day. Rather stating the obvious, I felt.
I fully accept the naff-ness of annual Valentines Day celebrations – hence, husband and I will be spending tomorrow night curled up at home with a good movie. Nonetheless I can’t quite bring myself to miss out on this unique opportunity to legitimately and fully embrace everything pink and heart shaped. So this year I’m making valentines for dear friends and family too. I’ve baked hundreds of chocolate heart shaped biscuits: wrapped up in celophane with a red ribbon they make for the perfect treat for my many, many valentines.
The recipe for these wafer thin and crumbly shortbread biscuits was inspired by Charbonnel and Walker’s classic rose cream chocolates. And, indeed, if you were very pushed for time, you could just buy a box of those. They too are utterly delicious. Rich dark chocolate on the outside and a delicately rose scented rose fondant in the centre, topped with a crystalised rose petal. Presented in a divinely old fashioned box. Old fashioned in a charming way.
But for the homemade touch, the inimitable made-just-for-you touch these biscuits are very hard to match. Simple to make – just a matter of combining the ingredients into a dough, rolling it out and cutting it with a cookie cutter – there are no complex baking skills involved. Scrumptious. Heart shaped, naturally. And made with love. The perfect Valentines treat. Frankly, the perfect treat at any time of the year: they really do taste good.
I used the same recipe for chocolate shortcrust pastry – rolled a touch more finely – as for this chocolate raspberry tart, with the simple addition of a teaspoon of rose water. Upon baking a number of batches, I resolved that one teaspoon is the perfect amount, although you may want to tweak the proportions to your own tastes. You could decorate the biscuits with fondant icing – perhaps pink and rose scented too? – but I preferred to leave them plain, as I didn’t want to compromise their divinely delicate flavour.
These are heavenly biscuits, so make them for your Valentine tonight. Live a cliche`. And do something sweet for your loved one on Valentines Day.
Then make them again tomorrow.
To make chocolate rose biscuits…
- 250g plain flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 50g cocoa powder
- 100g icing sugar
- 250g unsalted butter, softened and diced
- 1 tsp rose water
Combine the ingredients in a freestanding mixer with a flat paddle and mix until a dough starts to form. If you do not have a freestanding mixer, combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and then gradually rub in the butter until – likewise – it eventually reaches a dough like consistency. Shape your dough into a flat disc, wrap it in clingfilm and place in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and line a tray with greaseproof paper. Once the pastry has chilled, roll it out thinly and use a cookie cutter to make heart shapes. Place in the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes or until lightly crisped. Be careful not to let the biscuits burn – they look ever so slightly underdone when you take them out of the oven, but they will harden up as they cool.
Loved you Valentine’s ideas. Can’t wait tHo try the chocolate biscuits! Love your blog!
I sort of feel the same as you do about Valentine’s day… I don’t really want to embrace it, but feel a little obliged to at least recognise it… Liking the blog and I shall be back. I’m thinking about heading down the route of academia myself, I’m embarking on my postgrad this October
I think every single post I’ve read about Valentine’ Day is slightly sick of the commercialism of it all, yet unable to resist the cute hearts and sweet treats. I’ve fallen into the trap too and to be honest, I don’t care. It all tastes so good! These biscuits look lovely – perfect for Valentine’s or any day of the year
Aren’t you just the sweetest thing ever! What a cute idea for your friends…must get more organised next year for my mates
Hope you and your husband spend a lovely evening together tomorrow x
A happy valentine’s day to you! This is really adorable and pretty incredible. And really sweet of you! I wish I knew u in real life! I Want these cookies!
Happy Valentines Day to you and hehe yes why not take any chance to celebrate pink and girly things!
True love is doing something sweet! Awww…
that looks so incredibly yummy, I love simple cookies like this!
Fashion&Chocolate
Elle ღ
I love the combination of chocolate and rose – making biscuits for your friends/family is such a lovely idea too.
I see Valentine’s the same way as you do; that’s also how I view birthdays and holidays. We really don’t need to wait until there’s a holiday in order to do something nice. I’m sure your friends will love these cookies, they are so adorable!
Tom – hope that you like them… Happy Valentines Day!
frugal feeding – thank you! Postgrad – exciting! What in? I’m nearing the end of a the second year of my PhD in the Greek and Latin Department. Although, I seem to spend more time blogging than working on my thesis…
the little loaf – it’s like a guilty pleasure, isn’t it? You just kind of have to make something pink or heart shaped… Just too good to pass up…
Elaina – thanks, lovely! Hope that you have a great Valentines Day too!
Lizzie – might have to pop some in the post to you… Happy Valentines Day, lovely!
Lorraine – Happy Valentines Day! Hurrah for all things pink!
Kathryn – Any excuse to bake…
Kyleen – the more celebrations the better, I think… Hope that you have a great Valentines Day…
Nicole – Happy Valentines Day!
Elle – thank you, they are very tasty…
Yum. Surely you could do violet ones too?
I am such a fan of the homemade Valentine. So much more personal!
happy valentine’s day!
http://underthefluorescents.blogspot.com/
Those look delicious! I’m a blogger too, it would be nice if you could stop by my blog sometime
http://www.raindropsofsapphire.com
Sarah – yes, definitely! I just didn’t have any violet essence to hand. I also thought that you could press a couple of crystallised rose (or violet petals) into the top of the biscuits before putting them in the oven. For decoration and an extra touch of flavour.
Johanna – you just can’t beat something made with love…
Jenna – thank you! Hope that you had a great day too…
Lorna – Thank you! I popped by your blog and love it x
This is so interesting! Rose water!! That is crazy and awesome at the same time. Great creation
Thanks, Julie – chocolate and rose seem to work really well together. And I couldn’t resist the opportunity to make something rose themed for Valentines Day…
Why have I never thought to make chocolate rose biscuits and basically turn those Fry’s Turkish Delight bars into biscuits? I have no idea, but I’m glad you have!
Miss South – so simple, yet so yummy. Love your blog by the way…