If you like raisins, you will love Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies. In many cookies, raisins are almost an afterthought. Not so, with Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies. Raisins are the star of the show, filling the middle and boldly popping through the thin, crispy biscuit crust on the top and bottom.
Have you ever had the experience of not realizing you were missing something until someone mentions that something? Then, suddenly you are craving a taste of that distant memory. That is what happened to me with Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies. I was reading the King Arthur baking blog, when I came across a version of these biscuits. Due to a liberal sprinkling of large crystal sugar, the cookies in the recipe photo and the name didn’t ring a bell. However, when I read the recipe introduction and the dozens of nostalgic comments that followed, my taste buds were flooded with memories of a childhood favorite that I hadn’t tasted for a very long time.
Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies, also known as Garibaldi Biscuits, were invented in England in 1861 and are named after an Italian general famous as a strategist in the unification of Italy. I have no idea why a thin biscuit consisting of raisins sandwiched between crispy dough would be named after General Garibaldi, but the cookies were wildly popular. They are still made today by some British brands. In my American childhood, they were made by Sunshine and later (after a buyout) by Keebler. Then sadly, they were discontinued.
Reading the recipe reviews brought back memories of long, shiny, smooth strips of cookie with perforations to easily divide the strip into five cookie rectangles. The barely sweet dough had just a bit of a crunch, but gave way easily to the naturally sweet raisins within.
My version of Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies are a combination of the King Arthur recipe and several others. They are close enough to my memory of the packaged cookies that I can’t tell a difference. In my opinion, King Arthur’s choice of sugar topping is all wrong. The originals didn’t need it and neither do these. The raisins need to be peaking through the dough. I changed the preparation methods to simplify the process and create less mess. The dough and the filling are both made in the food processor with no washing necessary between the two. The dough is rolled out on the same parchment it is baked on. These cookies are best when the dough is rolled out as thin as possible. The parchment paper makes it possible to fold over the dough without tearing and then transfer the parchment with the cut dough onto a baking sheet without mangling the cookie squares.
As a child, I enjoyed my Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies with a glass of milk. As an adult, I think they are perfect with a cup of tea or coffee. If these cookies start nostalgic cravings, bake a batch and see how close they are to your remembered Raisin Biscuit. If you are a raisin lover who has never tried these, get baking! You will be delighted. Sharing Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies is also easy because they travel well and stay fresh for at least one week.
Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter cold
- 3 tablespoons orange juice
- 1-2 tablespoons ice water
- 1 ½ cups raisins golden, black, or a combination
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
Instructions
- Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt to the bowl of a food processor and pulse to combine.
- Chop the cold butter into small chunks and distribute over the dry ingredients in the food processor. Pulse until the butter is worked into the flour mixture and the dough is crumbly.
- Add the orange juice and pulse just until the dough comes together in a ball. If the dough appears dry and doesn’t hold together, add ice water (1 tablespoon at a time) until a soft, cohesive dough is achieved.
- Divide the dough in into two disc shapes, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for 30 minutes.
- Place the raisins into the food processor bowl. It is not necessary to wash it after making the dough. Pulse just until the raisins are chopped.
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350° F. Cut two sheets of parchment the size of a large baking sheet.
- Place one of the pre-cut sheets of parchment on the counter. Dust lightly with flour.
- Place on piece of dough on the parchment and roll it out into a thin (⅛”) rectangle approximately 8”x12”.
- Lightly brush the dough surface with the beaten egg, then spread half of the chopped raisins (¾ cup) onto half of the dough down the long side of the rectangle. Cover the raisins with a piece of wax paper and press gently into the dough.
- Lift one side of the parchment to help fold the empty half of the dough over the raisins. Roll out again into a rectangle about 6”x15”. Some raisins will show through the dough.
- Brush the surface with the beaten egg.
- Use a pizza wheel to make straight edges and cut into squares about 2”x2”. All edges and squares can be left in place for baking. The cookies expand minimally and can be separated after baking.
- Slide the parchment onto a baking sheet.
- Repeat the process with the remaining dough and raisin filling.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until caramel brown. If baking both pans at once, rotate the pans after 8 minutes.
- Cookies can cool completely on the baking sheet, or the parchment can be slid onto a counter for cooling.
- When the cookies have cooled completely, break apart into individual biscuits and store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
Notes
Nutrition
Sharon
Hi, there was orange juice in Sunshine Golden Raisin Biscuits?
Wendy Sondov
Hi, Sharon. The orange juice flavor is not very pronounced in these cookies. If you don’t want to use it, you can use milk or water instead. I can’t check the ingredients list of what was in the actual Sunshine cookies, but if you try these, I think you will find that the flavor comes pretty close to what you might remember from the Sunshine cookies.
Ronwen Guest
My Welsh Victorian Gran made these with currants and very little sugar…she called them
squashed fly biscuits.
Wendy Sondov
Hi, Ronwen. I too have heard these cookies called “squashed fly biscuits”! Not a very appetizing name for such a tasty cookie! 🙂
Kathryn Mary Vezerian
Yes! I love these biscuits. My mum used to call them fly cemetaries, but it never put us off. If anything, it just added to the wonky charm.
Wanda Petrino
Back to the very olden days, eh? No baking temperature suggested.
Wendy Sondov
Hi, Wanda. The temperature is given in step #6 as 350° F. It is not listed as step #1 because the dough has to chill for 30 minutes before using. I prefer not to leave my oven on for longer than necessary. I hope you enjoy the biscuits.
Joan
Made them with apricots and they were delicious.
Wendy Sondov
I’m delighted that you enjoyed the cookies, Joan. Using apricots sounds like a delicious variation.
Linda J
Made these biscuits and love them, next batch I may add just a bit more powdered sugar but besides that I won’t make any change. Thank you for the recipe.
Wendy Sondov
Hi, Linda. I am delighted that you love these biscuits! I do to. These were my favorite cookie as a child and I’m so happy to be able to bake and enjoy them today. Thank you for your helpful comment and 5 star review!
Karen M.
These cookies are delicious!! I actually had all the ingredients. They are very easy to make. It sounds kind of daunting but it really isn’t. I loved these as a kid and was so happy to see this recipe! I made two batches and on the second batch I sprinkled sugar on top before baking. I did notice that if they get to brown, there will be a bitter taste.
Wendy Sondov
Hi, Karen. I’m glad that you found these biscuits easy to make and delicious to eat. 🙂 Several people have said they enjoy sprinkling sugar on top, which I am sure is tasty, but I was going for a version as close to my childhood favorite as possible in the recipe as written. I agree that burnt raisins do taste bitter. Thank you for commenting and for your 5 star rating!
Nicola
I haven’t made these yet. Reminds me of my childhood yummy
Wendy Sondov
Hi, Nicola. I hope you will give these cookies a try. I think they are pretty close to the fond memories so many of us have about these cookies.
Pawan
Hi can this be made with gluten free flour?
Wendy Sondov
Hi, Pawan. I haven’t tried this recipe with gf flour, but I think it might work with something like Bobs Red Mill 1 to 1. Be sure whatever brand you use contains xanthan gum for flexibility. I’d love to hear how it goes, if you give it a try!
Linda E
I’ve made this recipe several times now. It is my husbands favorite cookie. These raisin bars taste much better than the original Sunshine/Keebler and Garibaldi. Thank you Wendy for posting this recipe! It is the Perfect Sweet Memory Treat. Now if you can help me find a SenSen mint recipe…
Wendy Sondov
Hi, Linda! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a lovely comment! I am delighted that you and your husband are enjoying this recipe. I’m sure you”ll agree with me when I tell you that I believe memories can make food taste better. 🙂 I had to look up SenSen mints. Though I wasn’t immediately sure I knew about these candies, I am a big licorice fan and so was my maternal grandmother. We ate a lot of black licorice candies together! As I saw the photos and read the description, I am pretty sure I remember tasting these. If I find a recipe, I will be sure to let you know!! Happy baking!
Ronda
I wonder if you could use a combo of dried apricots, cranberries and golden raisins for the filling?
Wendy Sondov
Hi, Ronda. You absolutely can use what ever dried fruits you enjoy. The raisin version is a copycat recipe for a specific nostalgic cookie that was once made by the Sunshine company. It is still popular in Europe and is called a Garibaldi biscuit. However, if you are just looking for a delicious cookie, then definitely customize. My one recommendation would be to be sure to finely chop the fruit so that it doesn’t stick out of the pastry completely. Enjoy!
Milana
Can i make this cookies without sugar?
Wendy Sondov
Hi, Milana. I have never tried baking these without sugar, so I’m not sure if you can. If you try, I think it would effect not only the sweetness but the texture of the dough (maybe too sticky?) and the cookie would probably be more dense and crisp. Good luck!
Elena
I want to make these. Is orange juice necessary for this recipe?
Wendy Sondov
Hi, Elena. The orange juice is there for flavor and moisture. I think using more water instead of the orange juice would be fine for moisture, but then you are left with no flavoring for the dough. Could you add a teaspoon or two of vanilla extract for flavor? Happy baking!
Susan Perkins
I made these cookies over the weekend and they were better than I remembered from my childhood . Thanks so much for sharing this recipe . I’ll be making them again. I wonder how dried cranberries would be ?
Wendy Sondov
Hi, Susan! I am so glad that you enjoyed these nostalgic cookies. It still amazes me how many people, like me, have fond childhood memories of these cookies! I think they would be delicious with cranberries. Let me know which way you like them best. 🙂
db
I’m so excited to try these! 30 yrs ago, I worked at a fancy deli in Pike Place Mkt in Seattle. We carried an Australian version made with apricots. I was likely the main buyer/eater of the yummy cookies. A nice biscuit that was less sweet than the sultana ones. I will let you know how it goes.
Thank you for your informative piece and recipe, Stay safe!
Wendy Sondov
Hi, DB! Apricots sound wonderful for these biscuits! My only suggestion would be that you chop the apricots to the size of small raisins. I’m excited to hear how it goes!
Susan C
Thank you for posting this recipe! I love Garibaldi biscuits! I can buy them in the grocery store here in BC, Canada, or in the British stores we have, but they’re a bit expensive. I can’t wait to try your version especially after reading other comments saying they taste the same!
Wendy Sondov
Hi, Susan. I’m looking forward to hearing what you think after you give these a try! This is as close to my fondly remembered favorites as I could get and I’m delighted that so many people share my love of these yummy cookies. 🙂
Shaikha
Super delicious and easy. It is my kids new favorite biscuits. I made it today and they finished it all and demanding for more. Thank you for sharing the recipe 💕
Wendy Sondov
Hi, Shaikha. I’m glad you and your kids loved these biscuits! They are my favorite too!