Rout Biscuits is a traditional British recipe, based on Alexis Soyer's recipe of 1849, for a classic biscuit (cookie) made from a sugar, lemon zest, milk, butter, flour and egg dough leavened with baking powder. The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic British version of: Rout Biscuits.
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This is a traditional British recipe redacted from Alexis Soyer's 1849 volume The modern Housewife or Ménagère, a classic Victorian cookbook.
Original Recipe
939. ROUT BISCUITS.—Boil a pound and a quarter of lump sugar, upon which you have rubbed the rind of a lemon, in half a pint of milk; when cold, rub half a pound of butter with two pounds of flour, make a hole in the centre, pour in the milk with as much carbonate of soda as would he upon a sixpence, and a couple of eggs, mix the whole into a smooth paste, lay it out upon your baking-sheet in whatever flat shapes you please, and bake them in a very warm oven.
The proper way to shape these biscuits is by wooden blocks having leaves, pine-apples, and other devices carved upon the
Combine the sugar, lemon zest and milk in a saucepan. Bring to a boil then take off the heat and set aside to cool completely.
When the milk is cold, sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl. Add the diced butter and rub into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Form a well in the centre and pour in the cooled milk syrup. Add the beaten egg and work the ingredients together until you have a smooth paste (add a little more fluor if it's too sticky and a little milk or water if too stiff).
Turn the resultant dough onto a floured surface and roll out to about 6mm thick. Cut into shapes with pastry cutters and transfer these to a baking tray. Traditionally the surface of the biscuits were stamped out with wooden block to leave either an impression or raised surface detail.
Transfer the biscuits to an oven pre-heated to 180°C and bake for about 12 minutes, or until risen and golden brown on top. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before storing or serving.
