Here in Australia we have a selection of biscuits (cookies) called Assorted Creams made by Arnotts and one of those biscuits in the assortment is called a Monte Carlo. It’s a crisp, honey/coconut flavoured biscuit sandwiched with vanilla icing and raspberry jam, a favourite of mine from my childhood. Unfortunately, like with anything these days, the biscuits are getting smaller and they just don’t taste the same as they did when I was young so I decided to try and make my own homemade Monte Carlo biscuits.
Arnotts have been making these biscuits since 1926 so they’ve been a favourite of many generations. If I knew how easy they were to make, I would’ve been making them a long time ago.
If you know me by now, I’m all about getting things made quickly so no creaming butter and sugar together for me. Melt the butter in the microwave and add the brown sugar.
Add the rest of the ingredients and that’s it. You can see in the photo above, I always use my Nanna’s trusty wire whisk for all my baking. No mix masters in this house.
This recipe can be made as is, without sandwiching together with icing and jam. It’s a versatile recipe that makes a lovely crunchy biscuit.
I use a small ice cream scoop to put cookies on the baking sheet. You get a nice even round biscuit doing it this way. These biscuits won’t spread so you’ll have to press down with a fork or the bottom of a glass dipped in flour, like I have done above.
Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes or until golden and allow to cool.
Prepare your vanilla icing and spoon out some raspberry jam. I didn’t have raspberry so used strawberry. You could use any flavoured jam you like.
Once the biscuits have cooled, spread half a teaspoon of jam on one side and a teaspoon of icing on the other side and sandwich together. The icing will harden and keep them sandwiched together nicely.
A beautiful tasting biscuit and so much better than the store bought variety. You could change the flavour of the icing to anything, use any flavoured jam, fill with a nut spread (eg Nutella) or just let your imagination go wild. These biscuits also make a wonderful ice cream sandwich cookie. Instead of filling with vanilla icing and jam, fill with a spoonful of vanilla ice cream and roll in chopped nuts, chocolate, sprinkles or anything. My kids love them!
Even if you have basic baking skills, you’ll find this recipe really easy. I hope you enjoy them.
RECIPE
- 125gm butter, melted
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp golden syrup
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups self-raising flour
- 1/2 cup coconut
- 1/4 cup jam (I used strawberry)
Vanilla Icing:
- 1 cup icing sugar
- 2 tbs softened butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- a little milk to the desired consistency
- Preheat oven to 180 deg C.
- Line baking trays with baking paper.
- Mix together melted butter, brown sugar and golden syrup
- Add egg and vanilla.
- Add flour and coconut and using a small ice cream scoop, place on baking sheet.
- Using the back of a drinking glass, dip glass in flour and gently press down on biscuits until they are about 1cm flat.
- Bake for approximately 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Allow to cool and sandwich together with vanilla icing and jam.
- Icing: Combine softened butter, icing sugar and vanilla and add a little milk until you reach a stiff consistency suitable for spreading. Icing will harden after a few minutes.
Oh yum!! These look so good! I will have to make some!
Thanks so much. It’s a nice recipe. Thanks for stopping by.
Anne xx
OMG! My kids go through packets of these every week! Now I can make them, thank you!
You’re welcome Cate. They’re so easy. An expert like you won’t have any trouble at all. Let me know how your crew like them.
Anne xx
Thank you for the recipe! I was just noticing the other day how the store bought ones don’t taste as good as they used to. Now I can make my own!
SSG xxx
You’re very welcome SSG. Haven’t they gone downhill? Like everything I suppose. I always prefer homemade over store bought anyway. Thanks for popping by.
Anne xx
My Mum made these just last week. SO GOOD! And so much better than the store bought ones.
Oh really Ness? That’s a coincidence. They sure do taste better than the store bought ones.
Anne xx
Whilst I am not that keen on the Monte Carlos in the shops..I would devour these! You make the best biscuits Anne! Yummo. Thanks for linking up. Denyse #lifethisweek
LOL Thanks Denyse. I appreciate you stopping by. You’re very welcome.
Anne xx
I remember yummy Monte Carlos. I haven’t been able to enjoy them in recent years due to my coeliac diagnosis but I’d be keen to see whether this recipe could be adapted to gluten free.
Hi Kirsty. Yes, I’m sure they would. I don’t normally bake with GF flour but what I have baked turns out just as good as if it were baked with normal flour.
Anne xx
The look so yummy, definitely going to give them a go!
Hi Kerrie! Thanks. It’s a really easy, straightforward recipe and they taste great. Thanks for stopping by.
Anne xx
I’ll bet these taste as good as they look! Gotta love a homemade biscuit 🙂
They were pretty good thanks Alicia. I think I might be due to make another batch.
Anne xx
I’m with Denyse, I was never a real fan of the monte carlo. In fact I’m not a fan of store-bought biscuits full stop. You just can’t beat home-made. Like you, I’ve got my Grandmother to thank for my ‘biscuit snobbery’ hehe. She was a wonderful cook. Yours look delicious. I’ll definitely give these a whirl. Thank you 🙂
I’ve been a biscuit snob forever Shauna! lol I come from a long line of excellent bakers and anything store bought tastes inferior. I’ve got my kids trained well too and they don’t like store bought biscuits either. Thanks for stopping by.
Anne xx
Yuuuum! I guess I have no excuse to get them shipped to me now.
Haha Kat! No, I guess not! Thank for popping in.
Anne xx
Anne, these look so good! You are one clever woman. I’m going to give these a spin with gluten free flour. I’ll let you know how they turn out. Love, Mimi xxx
Awww, thanks Mimi. Just a plain biscuit really. Nothing to it. Good luck with trying them GF. I think baking with GF flour is comparable to normal flour these days. I did some baking and cooking with it when I was at the tuckshop this year with similar results. Thanks for popping by.
Anne xx
My XH used to work for Arnott’s at Virginia and I have to say I don’t buy their biscuits much any more. My partner has a soft spot for Scotch Fingers (as do I) but they aren’t what they used to be either!
Thanks Anne, I’m going to give your home baked Monte Carlo’s a try too. I’ve just found your site and I’ll be back for sure, it’s great to be able to follow a local blog!
Hi Allison, lovely to meet you. No, they definitely aren’t what they used to be, that’s for sure. I worked at geebung for years and remember the lovely smells coming from the Arnotts factory. Happy that you found me.
Anne xx