French Biscuits

Ingredients

• 200 g (1 cup) ghee
• 150 g (sifted) powdered sugar
• 2 eggs
• a little vanilla
• 3 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 100 ml (1/2 cup) milk
• 350 g (3 1/2 cups) flour
• a pinch salt
• 1/2 packet baking powder
• as needed for flavoring and coloring cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon instant coffee
• a little apricot jam
• 1 piece piece of chocolate

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C with both top and bottom heat before preparing the dough.
2. Place the ghee in the mixing bowl; it should have a medium consistency, neither solid nor liquid.
3. Add the sifted powdered sugar over the ghee in the mixing bowl.
4. Mix the ghee and powdered sugar lightly in the mixing bowl first, then beat the mixture with a hand blender or whisk until creamy.
5. Add the first room-temperature egg to the mixing bowl and beat until incorporated.
6. Add a little vanilla to the mixing bowl.
7. Add the second room-temperature egg to the mixing bowl and beat until incorporated.
8. Add the cornstarch to the mixing bowl and stir the mixture with a spatula.
9. Gradually add the milk to the mixing bowl while stirring; there is no need to use the entire quantity of milk at once.
10. Add part of the flour to the mixing bowl and begin mixing it in gradually.
11. Add a pinch of salt to the mixing bowl while bringing the dough together.
12. Add 1/2 packet of baking powder to the mixing bowl.
13. Continue adding the remaining flour gradually in the mixing bowl until a soft, loose, non-sticky dough forms.
14. Knead the dough in the mixing bowl by hand only until it comes together, avoiding over-kneading.
15. Divide the dough in the mixing bowl if you wish to make different flavors.
16. Add cocoa powder to one portion of the dough in the mixing bowl, then add a little milk to the mixing bowl if the dough needs it after adding the cocoa so that it remains soft.
17. Mix the tablespoon of instant coffee with a little milk in a cup, then add the mixture to one portion of the dough in the mixing bowl if you want an instant-coffee flavor.
18. Flatten one portion of the dough on the work surface by hand until it reaches a thickness that is not too thick.
19. Cut the dough on the work surface using a cutter, knife, fork, or the cutting tool available.
20. Place the biscuit pieces on the baking tray, leaving spaces between them.
21. Some pieces can be shaped on the baking tray or work surface with a filling of a piece of chocolate, or by combining two colors of dough together, according to the shapes mentioned.
22. A little apricot jam can be placed on top of some pieces before baking or while shaping, as stated in the explanation.
23. Place the baking tray in the oven on the middle rack.
24. Bake the biscuits in the oven for 20 minutes.
25. Remove the baking tray from the oven when the biscuits are done and have taken on a nice color underneath.
26. Let the biscuits cool, then serve or store them.