If you are on the hunt for a delightful treat that is sure to charm your taste buds and impress your friends, then look no further than the Yo Yo Biscuits Recipe. These classic, indulgent sandwich biscuits bring together a soft, buttery cookie paired with a luscious vanilla buttercream filling that melts in your mouth. Perfect for afternoon tea, dessert, or simply a cozy snack, this recipe strikes the perfect balance between buttery richness and sweet comfort. You’ll find yourself coming back to this Yo Yo Biscuits Recipe again and again because it’s just that good.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of the Yo Yo Biscuits Recipe lies in its simplicity, using straightforward ingredients that combine to create an irresistible flavor and texture. Each component plays a vital role, from the buttery cookies to the creamy filling, ensuring every bite is a little moment of joy.
- Unsalted butter (1 cup / 2 sticks / 8oz): The foundation for a rich and tender biscuit texture, softened for easy mixing.
- Icing sugar (½ cup / 2 ½oz): Adds sweetness and helps achieve that delicate crumb in the cookies.
- Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon): Infuses warm, aromatic flavor enhancing the overall biscuit taste.
- Plain flour (1 ½ cups / 7oz): The base dry ingredient providing structure to the cookies.
- Custard powder (½ cup / 2 ½oz): Gives a subtle custardy flavor and a tender crumb to the biscuits.
- Unsalted butter for filling (¼ cup / ½ stick): Creamy butter forms the luscious base of the buttercream filling.
- Icing sugar for filling (1 cup / 140g): Sweetens the filling while maintaining a smooth texture.
- Water (2-3 teaspoons): Adjusts the buttercream consistency for easy spreading or piping.
- Vanilla extract for filling (½ teaspoon): Enhances the vanilla flavor in the buttercream, rounding out the taste.
How to Make Yo Yo Biscuits Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Baking Sheets
Start by preheating your oven to 180°C (160°C fan forced) or 350°F, and line two large baking trays with baking paper. This simple preparation step ensures your cookies bake evenly without sticking and sets the tone for seamless baking.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl or your stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter with the icing sugar until the mixture turns pale and creamy. Adding vanilla extract and beating it in now maximizes its aromatic impact. This process creates a light and fluffy base for your cookie dough that leads to tender, melt-in-the-mouth biscuits.
Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients
Sift together the plain flour and custard powder to remove lumps and to aerate, which helps in creating a light texture. Gently fold these into the butter mixture on low speed until just combined. Be sure to scrape around the bowl to incorporate every bit of dough. Overmixing can toughen your biscuits, so keep it gentle!
Step 4: Shape the Biscuits
Dust your hands lightly with flour to prevent sticking and roll teaspoon-sized portions of dough into balls. Place them about 4cm (1 ½ inches) apart on the baking trays. This spacing allows the biscuits to bake evenly without merging together.
Step 5: Flatten with a Fork
Dip a fork into flour and gently press each dough ball down until it’s about half the height and around 4cm wide. Re-dip the fork into flour before each biscuit to prevent sticking. This step gives your biscuits their characteristic Yo Yo look with pretty fork marks and ensures they bake uniformly.
Step 6: Bake and Cool
Bake the cookies for 14 to 15 minutes until the edges turn a delicate golden hue. Don’t worry if the centers appear soft – they will firm up as they cool. Let them rest on the pan for 10 minutes to stabilize, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before filling.
Step 7: Make the Vanilla Buttercream Filling
In a clean bowl, mix together softened butter, icing sugar, vanilla extract, and begin with 2 teaspoons of water. Beat this until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and easy to spread. Add more water a little at a time if needed to achieve a creamy but stable consistency—perfect for sandwiching without causing your biscuits to break.
Step 8: Assemble the Yo Yo Biscuits
Take half of your cooled cookies and spread or pipe a generous layer of the vanilla buttercream on the flat side. Gently sandwich them with the remaining cookies, pressing lightly to adhere without squeezing out the filling. Voilà, your Yo Yo Biscuits are ready!
How to Serve Yo Yo Biscuits Recipe
Garnishes
To give your Yo Yo Biscuits an extra special touch, consider dusting the tops lightly with icing sugar or decorating with a tiny edible flower or sprinkle of finely chopped nuts. These little details elevate the presentation and make sharing with loved ones even more delightful.
Side Dishes
These biscuits pair beautifully with a hot cup of tea or coffee, balancing the creamy sweetness perfectly. For a refreshing contrast, serve alongside fresh berries or a dollop of whipped cream to turn this humble biscuit into an elegant dessert experience.
Creative Ways to Present
Imagine stacking the Yo Yo Biscuits on a pretty cake stand for a tea party or wrapping them individually in parchment paper tied with twine for a charming homemade gift. You could also arrange them on a platter with contrasting colors of fruit and edible greenery to create an inviting centerpiece that everyone will admire and want to try.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
You can easily store leftover Yo Yo Biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. This keeps them fresh and the buttercream filling lovely and soft, ready for snacking whenever the craving hits.
Freezing
If you want to enjoy these biscuits later, freezing is a wonderful option. Place the assembled biscuits in a single layer on a tray to freeze solid, then transfer to an airtight container or freezer bag. They can be kept frozen for up to 2 months without losing their delightful texture or flavor.
Reheating
Since these biscuits are best enjoyed at room temperature, simply thaw frozen Yo Yo Biscuits overnight in the fridge, then bring them out for about 30 minutes before serving. Avoid microwaving as it can melt the buttercream and change the texture of your biscuit.
FAQs
Can I substitute custard powder with something else?
While custard powder adds a unique flavor and softness, you can use cornstarch as a substitute to maintain a tender crumb, though the custard flavor will be less pronounced.
How big should I make each biscuit ball?
Using about 2 teaspoons of dough per biscuit works perfectly to achieve the ideal size that bakes evenly and sandwiches well with the buttercream filling.
Can I use a different flavor for the filling?
Absolutely! While vanilla is classic, you could try lemon zest, cocoa powder, or even a touch of coffee extract for a fun twist on the buttercream filling.
Are Yo Yo Biscuits suitable for freezing?
Yes, these biscuits freeze beautifully when properly stored airtight, making them perfect for preparing ahead for special occasions.
Why should I flour the fork before pressing the dough?
Flouring the fork prevents the dough from sticking and tearing, allowing you to create neat, even indentations that give Yo Yo Biscuits their charming appearance.
Final Thoughts
There is something wonderfully nostalgic and comforting about the Yo Yo Biscuits Recipe, combining simple ingredients into a treat that feels like a warm hug from the past. Whether you’re baking for a casual afternoon tea or a festive celebration, these biscuits are sure to bring smiles and requests for seconds. I encourage you to give this recipe a go and share the joy of Yo Yo Biscuits with your friends and family — I promise you’ll fall in love with every bite!
Print
Yo Yo Biscuits Recipe
- Total Time: 34 minutes
- Yield: 17 servings
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delight in these classic Yo Yo Biscuits featuring buttery, custard-flavored cookies sandwiched with a smooth vanilla buttercream filling. Perfectly crisp around the edges yet tender inside, these biscuits are ideal for afternoon tea or sharing with friends and family.
Ingredients
For the Cookies
- 226 g unsalted butter, softened (1 cup / 2 sticks / 8 oz)
- 70 g icing sugar (powdered sugar) (½ cup / 2 ½ oz)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 195 g plain flour (all purpose flour) (1 ½ cups / 7 oz)
- 70 g custard powder (½ cup / 2 ½ oz)
For the Vanilla Buttercream Filling
- 57 g unsalted butter, softened (¼ cup / ½ stick)
- 1 cup icing sugar (powdered sugar) (140 g)
- 2–3 teaspoons water
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan forced) or 350°F. Line two large baking sheets with baking paper to prepare for baking the biscuits.
- Make Cookie Dough: In a large bowl, use an electric beater or stand mixer with paddle attachment to beat together the softened butter and icing sugar until the mixture is pale and creamy. Add the vanilla extract and beat well to combine.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Sift in the plain flour and custard powder into the butter mixture. Mix on low speed until just combined, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl to avoid any pockets of butter.
- Shape Cookies: Lightly dust your hands with flour. Take 2 teaspoons of the cookie dough and roll them into balls. Place the balls onto the prepared baking trays about 4 cm (1 ½ inches) apart to allow space for spreading.
- Flatten Cookies: Dip a fork in flour and use it to lightly press down the top of each dough ball until they are flattened to just over half the original height and approximately 4 cm wide. Re-flour the fork as needed between presses to prevent sticking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 14-15 minutes, or until the edges just start to turn golden. Remove from oven and let cookies cool on the baking tray for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare Buttercream Filling: In a bowl, combine the softened butter, icing sugar, vanilla extract, and start with 2 teaspoons of water. Beat the mixture for 3-4 minutes until light and creamy, scraping down the bowl sides as needed. Add additional water if necessary to achieve a soft, spreadable consistency that won’t break the biscuits when sandwiched.
- Assemble Biscuits: Spread or pipe the vanilla buttercream onto the flat side of half the cooled cookies. Top each with another cookie to create sandwich biscuits.
- Enjoy and Share: Serve these delicious Yo Yo Biscuits with tea or coffee, and don’t forget to leave a comment and rating if you enjoyed the recipe.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened at room temperature for easy creaming.
- Dust your hands and fork lightly with flour to handle sticky dough easily.
- Adjust water quantity in buttercream to achieve a smooth spreading consistency.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- For extra flavor, try adding a pinch of cinnamon or lemon zest to the cookie dough.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Western

