Lunch Box Idea 37 – Valentine Chocolate Bottle Top Biscuits

Today we’re up to lunch box idea 37 – Valentine Chocolate Bottle Top Biscuits. Don’t you just love them? I mean, if I could open a lunch box and see these delights lurking at the bottom, I’d be chuffed to bits… wouldn’t you?

So you know what I will be baking after tea tonight so I can pop in the lunch box for that Fun Friday treat!

I know the kids will just love them, but then, who needs to be a kid anyway?

Makes: 50 biscuits

Ingredients:

190g (7½ oz) plain flour

75g (3 oz) cocoa powder

2.5ml (½ tsp) Dr Oetker Baking Powder

125g (4½ oz) dark brown sugar

Finely grated rind and juice 1 small unwaxed orange

1 large egg, beaten

75g (3 oz) unsalted butter, melted

To Decorate: 225g (8 oz) Dr Oetker Fine Cooks’ Plain Chocolate

Dr Oetker Alphabet letters to decorate

Method:

1. Line 3 large baking trays with baking parchment. This is so much better than greasing the tins. Using baking parchment will ensure nothing sticks to the tin.

Sift flour, cocoa and baking powder into a bowl. Stir in the sugar and orange rind and make a well in the centre.

2. Add the egg and melted butter and gradually combine the wet and dry ingredients together, along with 10-15ml (2-3tsp) orange juice to make a firm dough.

3. Turn on to a lightly floured work surface and knead gently until smooth. Divide into 2 pieces and roll one piece at a time to a thickness of 5mm (1/4inch). Using a 5cm (2inch) fluted edge round cutter, stamp out 50 rounds, re-rolling the dough as necessary.

4. Transfer the rounds to the baking trays, spaced a little apart. Prick with a fork and chill for 30 mins.

5. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180°C/ 160°C fan oven/ 350°F (gas 4). Bake for 8-10 minutes until firm. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

6. To decorate, break the chocolate into a heatproof bowl and place over a saucepan of barely simmering water to melt. Remove from the heat but keep the chocolate over the water to prevent it from setting.

7. Working on one round at a time, spoon approx. 2.5ml (1/2tsp) of the melted chocolate into the centre and gently spread it to fill the centre, tapping gently to make an even layer, release any air bubbles, and to achieve a smooth, well-covered surface.

8. Decorate with alphabet letters and a Valentine’s Day message before the chocolate sets as and place back on the wire rack whilst you decorate the remaining cookies. Allow to set completely in a cool place before serving.

Cooks Top Tip: – as an alternative, use grated lime rind and juice to make up your biscuits, and use Dr Oetker Fine Cooks’ Milk or White Chocolate to decorate the tops instead

So that’s our lunch box idea 37. But what sweet treat would you make?

The Lunch Box Lady x

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