The Garibaldi biscuits are two thin layers of biscuit dough with a layer of currants in between, pressed and inserted before baking.
When purchased in UK supermarkets (under various brands, all very similar), Garibaldi biscuits are usually sold in four strips of five biscuits each.
They are named after Giuseppe Garibaldi, who made a popular visit to South Shields in England in 1854. They were invented by Jonathan Carr, a pastry chef famous for his biscuits.
The biscuit was first produced by the Bermondsey Peek Freans biscuit company in 1861 following the recruitment of Jonathan Carr, one of the great biscuit makers of Carlisle.
- Difficulty: Medium
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 6 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: English
Ingredients
- 5.3 oz currants (or sultanas)
- 2.25 cups flour
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 1 pinch salt
Steps
Chop the currants.
Mix the flour with the salt and add the butter.
Combine the sugar with the milk and add to the flour and butter mixture.
Roll out the dough into a rectangle (9.5×11.8 inches), 0.15 inch thick. Cut out 2 rectangles: distribute the currants on one and cover with the other.
Pierce, brush with beaten egg and sugar on the surface, score with a knife the rectangles to be cut after baking, and bake at 356°F for 12 minutes.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
What are the other names for Garibaldi biscuits?
Popular among British consumers as a snack for over 150 years, Garibaldi biscuits are conventionally consumed with tea or coffee, and very similar to Eccles cake and to Golden raisins biscuits.
They also exist under different names in other countries, including Australia as “Full O’Fruit” and New Zealand as “Fruitli Golden Fruit”.
In the Netherlands, there is a similar biscuit called Sultana, produced since 1935 by Verkade.
In the United States, the Sunshine Biscuit Company produced a popular version of Garibaldi with raisins called “Golden Fruit” for many years.
Sunshine was acquired by the Keebler Company which briefly expanded the line to include versions filled with other fruits.
The entire “Golden Fruit” product line was then discontinued when the Keebler company became a division of Kellogg’s in 2001.What is the difference between currants and sultanas?
Currants have a bluish-black color and usually come from the Middle East, while sultanas originate from Greece, Turkey, or Iran, but the most common ones are also cultivated in Italy and have a golden-yellow color.
