A little morsel of sweetness

It's mid-morning or mid-afternoon and the craving starts. Just something small and sweet, a voice whispers in your brain. Or a piece of chocolate. Something to inject a little morsel of sweetness into your day.

I haven't worked out whether these cravings are physical (your body needs a sugar hit to keep it going) or mental (I really need some chocolate now!) But when you decide to give in, it's best to do it with a tasty home-cooked biscuit than something mass-produced, flavourless and full of preservatives.

Cakes and biscuits are often seen as wicked calorie boosters, particularly in the current debate about obesity. While I think generous portion sizes and too much processed food are more to blame, sweet treats should certainly be enjoyed in moderation. But if you've made the decision to indulge, make sure you choose wisely and eat something that you'll enjoy, rather than something that will only half-sate your craving and leave you feeling guilty afterwards.

These sweet little biscuits definitely fit the bill. They use few ingredients, all of which will be found in any fridge and pantry, they take minimal time to mix up and bake, and they partner beautifully with a cup of tea or coffee.

These biscuit recipes are from my grandmother's cookbook, so I've updated the recipes to metric measurements.

CARAMEL COOKIES

115g butter
115g sugar
1 tablespoon golden syrup
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
225g SR flour, sifted

Put butter, sugar, golden syrup, milk and vanilla into a saucepan and boil gently for five minutes. Cool, then mix in flour. Roll into balls and flatten with a fork. Bake in a moderate oven (180 degrees) for 10-12 minutes.

BURNT BUTTER BISCUITS

115g butter
115g caster sugar
1 egg
150g SR flour, sifted

Cook the butter in a saucepan until a light brown colour. Cool. Add the caster sugar and beat to a cream, then add the egg and beat well. Add the flour (I found 150g was not quite enough flour, so I added some more, tablespoon by tablespoon, until I had a soft dough). Roll into small balls and press half an almond in each. Cook in a moderate oven (180 degrees) for 10-12 minutes.