Empire Biscuits are a delicious and popular biscuit or cookie made of two shortbread cookies sandwiched around a generous portion of jam filling, then topped with icing and a cherry. These cookies are internationally loved and known by various names, but no matter what you call them they are amazingly tender and tasty!!
12glace cherries(green color, optional - cut into slivers)
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Instructions
Bake the Shortbread Cookies
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Start off by creaming together the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until it is a smooth consistency and a light color (creamed sugar should look almost white).
Add in the sifted flour and salt and stir until combined. The shortbread will form a loose sticky dough.
Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to about ¼ inch in thickness (or a little more than half a centimeter).
Using a round (smooth or scalloped) cookie cutter, cut out the dough into the cookie shapes and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 8-10 minutes. Place baking sheet on the center rack of the oven for even cooking and to ensure that your bottoms don't brown.
Remove from your oven and allow the cookies to cool for about 5 minutes. Transfer the tender cookies (carefully) to a wire rack using a spatula to continue cooling completely before filling and decorating.
Make The Icing
In a mixing bowl combine the confectioners sugar with the milk until smooth and creamy (your icing should drizzle off your spoon slowly). If desired, add in the optional lemon extract and blend.
Assembling The Empire Biscuits
Flip half of the shortbread cookies so that the bottom is facing upward. Using a small spoon of jam, spread a generous layer of jam on the upturned cookies. Top each layer of jam with a second cookie to sandwich the jam.
Carefully spoon the icing over the top of each cookie. Add to each iced cookie your maraschino and glace cherries while the icing is still wet. Allow cookies to set completely before serving.