These Fondant Iced Biscuits are a delicious and easy sugar cookies that are decorated with ready to roll fondant icing. You can make these biscuits in any shape, and decorate them in any way. It doesn't have to be with fondant icing, you could also use royal icing, sugarpaste, dip them in melted chocolate or have them plain. They are so customisable for any occasion, and always tasty!
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Ingredient Tips & Equipment Information
- Make sure all your ingredients (particularly the butter and egg) are at room temperature before you start baking.
- I prefer to use unsalted butter for this recipe, you can also use a baking spread but you may need to add a little extra flour due to the higher water content in baking spreads.
- For the best flavour, make sure to use a good quality vanilla extract and not an essence. You can also use a vanilla bean paste. Or to add some flavour to the biscuits, you could use and orange or lemon extract for example.
- Although I provide cup measurements, I highly recommend weighing your ingredients out using digital kitchen scales. It is the most accurate way to measure ingredients and will ensure the best results. Digital scales are very low cost and can be purchased for around £12 ($16.50) .
- For teaspoon (tsp) and tablespoon (tbsp) measurements, please use measuring spoons and not the type of spoons you eat with. Again this will ensure accuracy and provide the best results.
For the full recipe with measurements, head to the recipe card at the end of this post.
How to make Fondant Iced Biscuits
Mix the butter and sugar together until creamy, add the egg and vanilla extract and mix in.
Add the plain flour and salt, and mix until it clumps together. Form into a ball of dough, flatten it out a bit into a rough disc, wrap it in cling film and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Roll out the dough onto a floured surface, and cut out your chosen shapes. Place onto lined baking trays and bake for 10-12 minutes. Once fully cool, roll out your fondant, cut out the same shape as your biscuits and stick it to the biscuit, ideally using edible glue.
For the full recipe with measurements, head to the recipe card at the end of this post.
What is fondant icing?
Fondant icing is also known as ready to roll icing or sugarpaste. It is a thick rollable paste, you buy it in blocks in a huge variety of colours, then roll it out at home. It can be used to cover cakes, biscuits and cupcakes. You can also use fondant to sculpt figurines and objects.
Do you have to decorate the biscuits with fondant icing?
No, you could leave them plain, drizzle or dip them in melted chocolate, or decorate them with royal icing. You could also add messages like I have, or sprinkles, edible paint, lustre dust... you can really get creative!
How do you stick the fondant icing to the biscuits?
I prefer to use edible glue as it sticks the fondant really well to the biscuits and is tasteless. You can also make a sugar glue by mixing tylose powder and water, or you can use plain water but it is not as sticky.
How should the biscuits be stored and can they be frozen?
The baked biscuits will last for 3-4 days in an airtight container in a cool place. You can freeze the unbaked dough - either unrolled or cut into shapes. To freeze it unrolled, wrap the ball of dough in cling film well. To freeze the cut out shapes, lay them out onto a baking tray lined with baking paper and freeze them flat. When they are frozen, store in a freezer bag or container with baking paper between each one. You can bake them straight from frozen, they may just need a couple more minutes in the oven. You can freeze the baked biscuits too, wrap them well or store in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Put a square of baking paper between each one to stop them from sticking together.
Do you need an electric mixer to make this recipe?
While an electric stand mixer is helpful in making these biscuits and saves a lot of time and energy, you don't need one to make them. You can absolutely make the biscuits by hand, or with a handheld electric whisk.
Do you have to chill the dough?
I highly recommend chilling the dough, this helps to reduce the amount the biscuits spreads in the oven, it also gives the biscuits better texture.
How do you roll out the dough to the correct thickness?
You can of course do this by eye or feel if you're used to rolling out dough. You could also use a ruler to check your thickness as you go. For easy and exact results, use rolling pin rings, or dough strips.
How many biscuits does this recipe make?
You can use any biscuit cutter with this recipe, so it depends what size you use as to how many biscuits you get. Using a 7mm round cutter, you'll get about 36 biscuits.
Can this recipe be made gluten free?
For gluten free you can replace the plain flour with a gluten free plain flour blend. You may also like to add ¼ tsp xanthan gum for better texture. Please check the labels of everything you use if serving to someone with an allergy or intolerance.
Can this recipe be made dairy free?
For a dairy free version, use a dairy free block butter alternative instead of butter, I recommend Flora Plant. Please do check the labels of everything you use if serving to someone with an allergy or intolerance.
More tips for making the Fondant Iced Biscuits:
- Let the biscuits cool on the baking tray for at least 10 minutes before trying to move them onto a cooling rack. Otherwise they will be too soft and could break.
- If your biscuits develop any slight bubbles on top after baking - this can sometimes happen when the dough is re-rolled - you can use a fine grater to shave the bubble down once the biscuits are fully cooled.
- Biscuit shapes with any thinner areas or points will brown in the oven quicker. You can see how this has happened with the points of the star shapes I made, and the point on the hearts. This isn't a bad thing, just something to be aware of if you are cutting out a very intricate shape, as it may need less time in the oven.
Troubleshooting
If you have any questions about this recipe, or if something went wrong and you need help, please use the comment form below and I will get back to you. You can also get in touch with me on my Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. I'd love to hear from you!
Recommended equipment & ingredients
- Mixing bowls
- Baking trays
- Measuring spoons
- Cooling rack
- Kitchen scales
- Electric hand mixer
- Stand mixer
- Rolling pin
- Silicone mat
- Heart cutters
- Round cutters
- Edible glue
- Pink fondant
- Blue fondant
- Green fondant
- Yellow fondant
- Letter stamps
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More biscuit recipes...
Fondant Iced Biscuits
Ingredients
For the biscuits
- 225 g Butter unsalted, softened
- 175 g Caster sugar
- 1 Egg large
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 400 g Plain flour
- ¼ tsp Salt
For decoration
- 600 g Ready to roll fondant icing
- Edible glue
Instructions
- Start by mixing the butter and caster sugar together until well combined and creamy looking. This is best done in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment for 3-5 minutes
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, and mix until fully incorporated
- Add the plain flour and salt, and mix until combined and it starts to clump together
- Bring the mixture together into a smooth dough with your hands, and form into a rough disc shape. Wrap the dough in cling film and put it in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes
- Meanwhile, pre-heat your oven to 160C Fan/350F/Gas Mark 4, and line a few baking trays with baking paper
- Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out onto a floured surface to a thickness of 5mm. Keep turning the dough as you roll, to ensure it doesn't stick to the surface, and add more flour underneath as needed
- Cut out your biscuit shapes and place them onto the lined baking trays. You will need to re-roll out the dough to use it all up
- Bake the biscuits for 10-12 minutes, until just starting to go slightly golden around the edges. Leave to cool on the trays for at least 10 minutes before moving to cooling racks to cool fully
- Roll out your fondant, which you will need to do in batches, onto a surface dusted with icing sugar. Keep the fondant moving and add more icing sugar underneath if needed so it doesn't stick. Cut out the same shapes as your biscuits. Brush some edible glue in a very thin layer on the back of the fondant, or on the top of the biscuit, then place the fondant on top of the biscuit and smooth it out with your finger
- Set the biscuits back on the cooling rack for the fondant to firm up. You can add any additional decor at this point
- Store in an airtight container in a cool place for 3-4 days (although they can last up to a week), you can also freeze them
Video
Notes
- Make sure all your ingredients (particularly the butter and egg) are at room temperature before you start baking.
- I prefer to use unsalted butter for this recipe, you can also use a baking spread but you may need to add a little extra flour due to the higher water content in baking spreads.
- For the best flavour, make sure to use a good quality vanilla extract and not an essence. You can also use a vanilla bean paste. Or to add some flavour to the biscuits, you could use and orange or lemon extract for example.
- Although I provide cup measurements, I highly recommend weighing your ingredients out using digital kitchen scales. It is the most accurate way to measure ingredients and will ensure the best results. Digital scales are very low cost and can be purchased for around £12 ($16.50) .
- For teaspoon (tsp) and tablespoon (tbsp) measurements, please use measuring spoons and not the type of spoons you eat with. Again this will ensure accuracy and provide the best results.
Joanna
This recipe worked perfectly! They didn’t lose their shape at all whilst baking so the fondant cut out with the same cutter worked brilliantly. Thank you!
thebakingexplorer
Thanks so much for your lovely feedback!
Aisha
I made these delicious cookies but Christmas themed. Then I put them in Christmas themed biscuit tins and gave them to my neighbours as holiday gifts along with a Christmas card. I also tried the left over biscuits and they tasted lovely. The recipe is easy to follow and fun to make. Thanks Kat!
Hannah
Would it be possible to make these biscuits chocolate flavoured by replacing some of the flour with cocoa powder? x
thebakingexplorer
Hi Hannah, it most certainly will be, but I haven't tested it yet so I can't say how much. I do plan on sharing a chocolate version once I've tested the recipe, but do feel free to experiment if you need it sooner.
Kathleen
My dough is too soft to cut. What do I do? I have made them successfully before.
thebakingexplorer
Hi Kathleen, did you do anything differently this time? Have they been chilled for the correct time? Any ingredient changes?
Mylene
Does the fondant need to be the same size as the cookie or can you make the cookie a little bigger. I have a round fondant shape with Mr & Mrs on it but my cookie cutter is slightly bigger.
Would I also just cut around the shape as it doesn’t cut it would I stamp the design? I am making cookies for my sons wedding & hope they turn out ok. I was thinking of marble as the bridesmaids are wearing black. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you
thebakingexplorer
Hi Mylene, the fondant can be the same size, or the cookies can be slightly bigger - it is up to you. Yes you can push your stamp into the fondant then cut around it using a cookie cutter, that would be the best way to do it. Marble sounds lovely and elegant for a wedding!
Lucy
Super tasty and had lots of compliments.
I made half and froze the other half unrolled how would you Recommend defrosting x
thebakingexplorer
So happy you liked it! I'd just leave it on the kitchen counter to defrost, keep it well wrapped in the cling film. It depends on the warmth of your kitchen how long it will take to defrost.
Caroline Townsend
Hi, I have a large batch of these to make (200) - I wondered if it would be ok to make the dough today and leave in fridge overnight and bake tomorrow?
I made a small batch before and they were delicious, kept their shape whilst baking too 😊 - thanks
thebakingexplorer
Hi Caroline, yes this will be fine. I'd probably split the dough up into small chunks so they're easier to roll out and not super solid. I'm so happy you liked the recipe!
Diandra Fenyes
How long after making the fondant do you add it to the cookie? Can you freeze the fondant top and add it to a sugar cookie a week later?
thebakingexplorer
It depends what kind of fondant you are using. I use ready roll fondant from a packet, so I add it straight away. Check the packet, or the recipe instructions, for the fondant you are using to see if it can be frozen before use.
Issy
I wanted to make something special for the holidays and these cookies looked and tasted like they were bought from a shop! They were so good that I couldn't stop eating them 😍
Dion
Made these for baby shower for my grandbubba number 4 (I'm so lucky❤️) .
I brought the vest, pram teddy bear etc cookies cutters .. then used the shape stamp for the outline in fondant.. and they looked amazing ..
My daughter in had seen them online for 4x the cost per biacuit, bargain.. I also made a buttercream 2-tier cake .. baby Evie is due 5th march .
Beth
Will cutting them out and putting them into the fridge overnight already cut out be okay or wouldn't you recommend this? Due to timings I am wanting to do as much as I can a few days before the event thats all
thebakingexplorer
I think this should be ok. I'd recommend covering them so they don't dry out. You can also bake them and store them for a few days. I hope that helps 🙂
Kim
Amazing sugar cookies recipe. Easy to make and came out beautifully.
thebakingexplorer
Thank you so much Kim!
css
Hi do these bake up soft or crunchy
thebakingexplorer
I would say they are soft sugar cookies
Cass
Can you freeze some of the dough
thebakingexplorer
Yes you can, see the paragraph all about freezing it for more details
Hannah
Hi, how far in advance could you make the dough and store in the fridge? Would 2 days be too much?
thebakingexplorer
Yes that would be ok, but you may need to leave it at room temp for a bit to be soft enough to roll out as it will firm up a lot being in the fridge that long.
Debbie
Hi I have used this recipe before and it’s perfect.
I am needing to make a batch for my nieces wedding. Would you recommend making the biscuits a few days before they are going into cellophane bags individually or will they go stale?
Or can I freeze the cut out cookies before baking them. Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated. Thank you in advance.
thebakingexplorer
Hi Debbie, I'm so happy you like the recipe! As long as they are stored in a container and not anywhere too warm, they should not go stale. You can definitely make them a few days before. They can in theory last up to a week stored properly!
Debbie Wain
Thank you so much
Fiona Stevens
Hi, would you use baking powder in this recipe at all? It’s similar to the American sugar cookie recipes but they seem to add baking powder? Just wondering what the difference is? Does it make the cookie rise to be thicker? Thanks. Xx
thebakingexplorer
Hi, no I wouldn't use baking powder, it will make the cookies spread and lose their shape.