Have Your Own Bake-Off!

As the temperature drops, our need for nibbles increases. Keep your pantry stocked with these biscuits and rusks – perfect for those late-night Scrabble tournaments!

- Johané Neilson

Oats-and-coconut squares

Makes about 18 squares

Preparation time 10 minutes

Baking time 25 minutes

You need

125 g butter, plus extra to grease the tray

1 tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

2 cups oats

1 cup cake flour

1 cup desiccated coconut

1 cup brown sugar

pinch of salt

1 extra-large egg

1 packet of Smarties (optional)

Here’s how

1 Preheat the oven to 180° C. Melt the butter and honey together. Add the bicarb, followed by all the other ingredients except the Smarties. Knead the dough until it binds.

2 Grease a rectangular baking tray. Press the dough into the tray in an even layer – make sure the corners are also even. Press the Smarties into the top layer of the dough. Bake for about 25 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

3 Set aside to cool before cutting it into squares. Store in an airtight container.

Chocolate biscuits

Makes 20 single-layer biscuits or 10 double-layer biscuits

Preparation time 15 minutes

Baking time 10 – 15 minutes per baking sheet

You need

½ cup (115 g) butter

½ cup brown sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1½ cups self-raising flour

1 slab (80 g) chocolate, melted

1 slab (80 g) chocolate, chopped

1 slab (80 g) white chocolate,

for decorating (optional)

Here’s how