Skip to content

Biscuit recipe of the week: Chocolate chip cookies

Author
Alison Hilton
Published Date
May 9, 2014

launch of the Biscuit Bake-off competition, Andrew Palmer’s wife, Davina, very kindly presented MERL staff with a signed copy of her book ‘Kitchen Diplomacy: 30 years of Foreign Service Cooking’. I was amazed to discover, on reading the introduction, that Davina seems to have lived her whole life in diplomatic circles, during his career Andrew has been Ambassador in Cuba and Rome, and during their marriage they have lived in 8 different countries including Bolivia, Canada and France! Davina’s book, then, is a fascinating insight into Embassy life – and of course, food!

Andrew & Davina Palmer decorating biscuits at the  Bake-of launch
Andrew & Davina Palmer decorating biscuits at the Bake-of launch

I was pleased to find that amongst some very special, classic and exotic recipes, there were also recipes for brownies, chocolate biscuit cake, and the humble chocolate chip cookies, which is the one I’ve decided to share today!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

(makes about 30)

75g unslated butter
75g caster sugar
50g soft light brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
175g self-raising flour
A pinch of salt
50g plain chocolate, chopped (or chocolate chips)

Heat oven to 190C/375F, Gas 5

Put butter in a food processor with both sugars.Process, add the beaten egg, sifted flour and salt and process again. Turn into a bowl and add the chocolate.

Drop little mounds of the mixture on to oiled baking sheets and bake for 12-15 mins until light golden.

A perfect recipe for trying with children and entering into our Biscuit Bake-off at the MERL Village Fete on May 31st.

Click here for previous recipes, and look out for a very special recipe next week!

 

 

 

Hedgehog extravaganza
Author
Joe
/
Published Date
July 24, 2025

The Friday Walks, with Man in the Woods

In this episode of The MERL podcast, we speak to Bristol-based artist Scott about his artistic practice documenting weird Britain.

School group in the garden
Author
Joe
/
Published Date
July 21, 2025

Another brilliant school year

Learn about the highlights of our schools and learning programmes from the 2024/25 academic year.

Jo Clement (a woman with long brown hair and glasses) holds an object at The MERL
Author
Joe
/
Published Date
April 4, 2025

Announcing our new Fellow, Dr Jo Clement

Read how our new MERL Fellow, Dr Jo Clement, is engaging with the Robert Dawson Romany Collection to explore the heritage of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people in England.

Shepherds herding sheep across a valley.
Author
Joe
/
Published Date
February 7, 2025

Voices: introducing our 2025 programme

Get the highlights of what’s coming up in the first half of 2025: from exhibitions and displays, to free tours and talks, plus the announcement of our official podcast.

The top of a letter to William Champion, farmer
Author
Joe
/
Published Date
February 5, 2025

Thomas and Austen: a gay relationship in the MERL archives?

For LGBTQ+ History Month 2025, researcher Tim Jerrome shares how he’s using rural archives to research same-sex relationships in the countryside.

A. Hedley Richmond's drawing of a proposed garden and Lewisham Hospital
Author
Joe
/
Published Date
January 6, 2025

Landscapes of public health

How does public health impact the design of public spaces? We recap the contents of the 2024 symposium of FOLAR (Friends of the Landscape Archive at Reading), held at The MERL.