GBBO week 1 – hobnob biscuits

The Great British Bake Off is back, and as usual I am instantly addicted to it. Mary Berry is now a distant memory, and Prue is perfect in the role. As much as I loved the double act of Mel and Sue I have forgotten them, but Noel’s new hairdo is a little bit alarming.

Plate of hobnobs

Normally the first week of Bake Off would be cake week, but this year they have started with biscuits. The challenges were a biscuit which had a link to a British place, a technical wagon wheel challenge, and a 3D self portrait made of biscuits. As much as I’d love to make wagon wheels, I don’t know anyone (except myself) who likes them. A 3D portrait with a two year old running around the house? No way, hosey.

A tray of hobnobs before cooking

So a biscuit with a link to a British place it was then. But does a London biscuit exist? Well, yes it does actually: a little bit of Google research brought up details of Peek Freans, which was a Bermondsey based biscuit manufacturer (they also invented the twiglet!). Sadly, the first biscuit they created was one of my least favourite: the Garibaldi. Disliking the biscuit absolved me of the need to make it, so I went for one I like eating instead: the Hobnob.

Homemade hobnobs for the Great British Bake Off? Don't mind if I do! #GBBO #GBBOBloggers2018 #GBBOBakeoftheWeek @JennyPaulin @CasaCostello Click To Tweet

What’s not to love about sweetened oats baked to a crisp, crunchy texture? Nothing, that’s what! And with all the recipes I Googled, I realised they looked quite simple to make as well. If you have a freestanding food mixer, there is no elbow grease involved at all, so well worth the minimal effort.

Relaxing with a hobnob

I found this recipe on Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking blog, and have slightly adapted it to the following.

Hobnob biscuits – makes 20

125g salted butter, 80g light brown caster sugar, 2tbsp golden syrup, 100g porridge oats, 100g wholemeal flour, 1/2tsp bicarb, 1/2tsp baking powder

Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Cream together the butter and sugar in your mixer, then add the golden syrup and mix thoroughly.

Add all the other ingredients and mix until combined.

Take way-nut sized amounts of the mixture, roll into balls, place on the baking sheet and press down lightly.

Pressing down the hobnobs on the baking tray

Bake in the oven for 12 minutes until lightly golden, then allow to cool for a couple of minutes on the baking tray before moving to a cooling rack (as they will harden as they cool). Then munch munch munch those tasty treats.

Freshly baked hobnobs

Hobnobs not your thing? I have a ton of biscuit recipes on the blog including:

Great Blogger Bake Off 2018 badgeAs with previous years, I am glad to see that Jenny from Mummy Mishaps is hosting a Great Bloggers Bake Off, along with Helen from Casa Costello. Through the link-up you can see all of the other delicious recipes which have been baked as part of the linky, so do take a look.

Next week is cake week. In the trailer there was something that looked suspiciously like spinach cake … hope not!

5 Replies to “GBBO week 1 – hobnob biscuits”

  1. Hobnobs are some of my favourite biscuits but I’d never thought to make homemade ones – what a brilliant idea!

    1. I highly recommend them, I didn’t think they would be nicer than the real thing but they are!

  2. mmmm hobnobs are another great biscuit , and I especially like the chocolate version! These don’t look too hards to recreate, it is another recipe I must give a go ! Thank you for baking along 🙂
    also I love your foodie header! what a great image xx

    1. Aw thanks Jenny, I am really pleased with the header too- my friend designed it for me. Definitely worth doing these biscuits as they are so simple

  3. Your hobnobs are looking lovely. I’ve love to try these.

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