Thursday 3 November 2016

Home Made Chocolate Hob Nob Biscuits


OK, so these didn't look like the gorgeous photo in the magazine (the Oct/Nov edition of Baking Heaven, a magazine I buy regularly) as I didn't have a special (and probably expensive!) patterned plastic sheet to put them on and get a fancy pattern on the chocolate, but . . . O.M.G. they tasted wonderful.  I made them as a gift for my friend Tricia and her family when I went to visit last week. That meant I didn't get to eat more than one or two of them.

As you know, I am passionate about cooking and baking food from scratch so that you don't have a list of ingredients 35 items long.  This recipe has just 7, as you will see.  I used Lidl 70% chocolate with raspberry flavouring for the topping but you can use milk chocolate if you prefer.

Chocolate Hobnobs

Makes 24 biscuits

150g (5 1/2 oz) plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
125g (4 1/2 oz) rolled oats
150g (5 1/2 oz) caster sugar
150g (5 1/2 oz) unsalted butter (mine was salted, as that's what was at hand)
1 tblspn golden syrup
500 g dark chocolate, finely chopped

Patterned plastic sheet (I didn't have one).

1.  Preheat oven to 180 deg. C/Gas mark 4 and line two baking trays with silicone paper, or alternatively use a non-stick baking mat.

2.  Sieve together the flour and bicarbonate of soda twice into a bowl.  Add the oats and sugar and mix well until evenly combined.

3.  Melt the butter in a saucepan over a low heat.  Add the golden syrup and mix together.  Pour this into the dry mixture and mix well.

4.  Divide the mixture into 24 balls and place them on the the prepared baking trays.  gently push down on each ball in order to flatten them slightly.  Bake for 18-20 mins, or until golden brown.  Remove from the oven and place onto a wire rack to cool.

5.  Temper the chocolate:  Place 2/3 of the chopped chocolate into a double boiler or over a bain marie.  (I use a glass bowl over a pan of water.)  Do NOT boil the water as it may scold the chocolate.  Stir regularly until the chocolate has melted and reaches 45 - 50 deg. C, ensuring all the fat and sugars have melted evenly.  (Oops - forgot to do that).  Now gradually add the remaining cocolate, stirring until everything has fulled melted, cools to 28-29 deg. C and thickens.  Warm back up to 31-32 deg. C.  The chocolate is now tempered ready for use.  (Note to self: must be more scientific).

Dip the top of each biscuit into th chocolate and place chocolate side down onto the patterned plastic sheet.  Push down gently and leave to set for 1 - 2 hrs.  Carefully remove the hob nobs from the plastic and store in an airtight container and consume within one week.  As you can see, I just spooned the chocolate onto my biscuits, but they tasted just as good!

11 comments:

  1. Oooh I love the look of these. I am struggling with what to do with the other 1/3 of chocolate in point 5. Is point 5 just melting the chocolate to pour over the cookies? Sorry if I am being thick :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Look really delicious - have written down the recipe and will definitely be having a go at these :) Thanks so much :). Have all the ingredients in so it is a shame I have to go out this afternoon otherwise I would be making them right now!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. And I am sure that they look just as tempting.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Louise - indeed they are!

    The Croods - you melt 2/3 to start with, then add the final third when that has melted properly. Mind you, I did write "cocolate" instead of "chocolate" in the recipe!! Dumbo.

    RR - What a pity you have to go out. You have them to look forward to if you have time at the weekend though.

    Pat - I did have two. One at home to test them (they were a gift), and shared a round of them at my friend's.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love cookies and these look yummy.
    Would love to have some with a coffee.

    cheers, parsnip

    ReplyDelete
  6. Scrummy. I make something similar, but never once has it occurred to me to put chocolate on the top. I shall rectify that next time!
    Arilx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Absolutely delicious, shame I am joining Lucy on a diet, but will take note of the recipe for when the girls come.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh yummy, I am so going to have to try these :D I hope Tricia enjoyed them.xxx

    ReplyDelete
  9. parsnip - I hope you will give these a whirl.

    Aril - I suppose they are slightly healthier without the chocolate (and just as tasty).

    thelma - me too, on the dieting front, and have lost half a stone now. Another stone to go . . .

    Yarrow - I am sure you will enjoy them. Trish had a couple but her appetite is now so poor she struggles to enjoy any food.

    ReplyDelete