Abernethy Biscuits

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Cookies bars Easy

A plain, semi-sweet, crumbly Scottish biscuit with a touch of caraway. Easy to make with pantry ingredients and good with tea. Makes 20 biscuits in about 33 minutes.

Prep 20 min

Cook 13 min

Total 33 min

Yield 20 biscuits

Ingredients

Adjust yield

biscuits

1 ¾ cups (220 g)all-purpose flour
¾ tsp (3 g)baking powder
1 pinchsalt
⅓ cup (80 g)cold unsalted butter, cubed
6 tbsp (80 g)sugar
1 ¼ tsp (4 g)caraway seeds
1 (50 g)egg, beaten
2 tbsp (30 ml)milk

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Instructions

Heat the oven to 350 F (175 C) and line two baking sheets with parchment.
Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together. Rub in the cold butter with your fingertips until the mixture looks like fine crumbs.
Stir in the sugar and caraway seeds.
Add the beaten egg and enough milk to bring everything together into a firm, smooth dough. Do not overwork it.
Roll out on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch (6 mm) thick. Cut 2.5-inch (6 cm) rounds and prick each several times with a fork.
Bake 11 to 13 minutes, until pale golden and firm. Cool on a rack; they crisp as they cool.

Tips

Leave out the caraway for a plain, mild biscuit.
Pricking the dough keeps the biscuits flat and evenly crisp.
Use cold butter for a short, crumbly texture.
Good with tea or sharp cheese.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make abernethy biscuits?

Plan on 20 minutes of prep and 13 minutes of cooking. The recipe makes 20 biscuits.

How should I store abernethy biscuits?

Store in an airtight tin up to 5 days.

Can I make abernethy biscuits ahead?

It is at its best the day it is made; prepare it a few hours before serving.

Named for the surgeon John Abernethy, the plain, lightly sweet biscuit is treated as a Scottish classic, often flavored with caraway. Serve it with tea or sharp cheese.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 20 servings this recipe makes.

89 Calories / serving

3.6g Fat

12.5g Carbs

1.5g Protein

4.1g Sugar

Whole recipe (20 servings): ~1780 cal · 72g fat · 250g carbs · 30g protein · 82g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.