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Mary Berry Lemon Biscuits Recipe

Mary Berry Lemon Biscuits Recipe

Mary Berry's lemon biscuits are crisp, buttery, and packed with lemon zest — the most refreshing biscuit in the tin.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chilling Time 30 minutes
Total Time 58 minutes
Servings: 24 Biscuits
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: British
Calories: 130

Ingredients
  

  • Biscuits:
  • 200 g unsalted butter softened
  • 150 g golden caster sugar
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • Finely grated zest of 2 large unwaxed lemons
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 275 g plain flour sifted
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • Pinch of fine salt
  • Lemon Glaze:
  • 150 g icing sugar sifted
  • 2 –3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • Zest of ½ lemon optional

Method
 

  1. Beat butter and sugar 3–4 minutes until pale and fluffy. Add egg yolk, lemon zest, and juice — beat to combine. Sift in flour, baking powder, and salt — mix to a soft dough.
  2. Wrap in cling film. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
  3. Preheat oven to 180°C / 160°C fan / Gas 4. Line two baking trays.
  4. Roll dough to 4mm on a lightly floured surface. Cut into rounds with a 6cm cutter. Place on trays with space between. Gather trimmings — re-roll once.
  5. Bake 10–12 minutes until pale golden at the edges. Cool on tray 5 minutes. Transfer to wire rack.
  6. Mix icing sugar with enough lemon juice for a smooth runny glaze. Brush or spoon over slightly warm biscuits. Leave to set 20 minutes.

Notes

Use unwaxed lemons — the zest is cleaner and more vivid.
Chill dough 30 minutes before rolling — warm dough spreads too much.
Roll to 4mm — thinner biscuits overbake and become brittle.
Take out while pale golden at the edges — they crisp further as they cool.
Apply glaze while biscuits are slightly warm — it sets more neatly.
Store in an airtight tin for up to a week. Freeze unbaked dough for up to 3 months.
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