Homemade Digestive Biscuits are crispy, crunchy bites of cookie heaven ready to be enjoyed with your tea or as a healthy snack for any time of the day.
These cookies/biscuits get their distinctive crunch from oatmeal and butter used in the dough.
The texture and flavor from whole wheat flour and a dash of coconut powder added into the dough make these more healthy and scrumptious.
Digestive biscuits are the quintessential British cookie, or “biscuit” as they call it, dating back to the 19th century.
It was first created by McVitie’s & Price and got the name “digestive” because of the use of baking soda in it, to aid in food digestion. It was the perfect biscuit to dunk into tea (a vital part of every Britisher’s day). I have used baking powder instead.
I love cookies of all shapes, sizes and flavors! With all of us on the health bandwagon nowadays, anything that I cook or bake automatically gets a healthy twist.
My pantry used to be always stocked with all-purpose flour, but now with me using whole wheat instead in all my baking or cooking, even one packet seems to last forever.
As usual, while browsing the virtual cooking world for healthy bakes, I came across various versions of digestive biscuits. This was one cookie which piqued my interest because:
- No refined flour in it.
- Only whole wheat flour.
- Maybe oats or sometimes spelt flour additionally.
- No eggs; my bakes are mostly egg free.
I had a bag of oats waiting to be used up. So in some went into the dough.
Digestive biscuits do not normally have coconut in them. A packet of dried coconut powder was beckoning to be used. I decided to use up a bit in the dough to give it a tropical twist.
Just about half a cup of butter was left in my refrigerator and I had to finish it soon along with some brown sugar (very little as I detest anything too sweet).
With all these simple ingredients already at home, my baker’s hat was on and I could not wait to make these biscuits. You do not even need a beater!
Just mix the dry ingredients, add bits of cold butter (not room temperature) and work with your fingers to make a crumbly mixture. If you have a food processor, yayyy! It becomes much easier and less messy.
Add milk a teaspoon at a time, kneading to form dough that comes together. That is it!
Place in cling wrap and refrigerate (optional) for about 15 minutes to allow the butter to solidify in the dough.
Once ready to bake, roll, cut into desired shapes, and bake until golden brown. Whole wheat and oats digestive cookies are ready to be enjoyed.
It tastes amazing plain but being a chocoholic, had to up the game a bit!
The chocolate freak in me wanted feel the chocolatey decadence in this one too!
I melted some dark chocolate (I have that too in my pantry all the time) and gently spread it over some of the cookies (health matters too, so I left some cookies to enjoy guilt free without the chocolate!).
I made some designs on them to make them look pretty using a toothpick. Just run the toothpick in a zig zag way on chocolate coated biscuits before they set.
Set aside for chocolate to harden and enjoy!
Well, weren’t these easy to make? What are you waiting for? Rush to your kitchen and start making these healthy digestive biscuits with whole wheat and oats.
Your kids and whole family will love them and you will be happy that you are indulging their need to eat cookies but in a healthy way.
For more similar healthy cookies, try:
(STEP WISE RECIPE CAN BE FOUND BELOW THE RECIPE CARD)
Here we go with the PRINTABLE/TO SAVE recipe inspired from here and here:
Crunchy, crispy bites of cookies filled with the goodness of oats, whole wheat and a dash of coconut for a tropical bite. Make these today and feel good about eating a cookie!
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- ½ cup oatmeal
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup dried coconut powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup cold butter
- Pinch of salt
- 3 to 4 teaspoons milk
- ½ cup chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate
Instructions
- Crush the oatmeal in a food processor until they form finer bits.
- Add whole wheat flour, sugar, coconut powder and salt and process until the mixture is well blended.
- Cut up cold butter into small pieces and add to this mixture.
- Pulse the food processor until it forms a coarse crumbly mixture.
- Add milk a teaspoon at a time until the mixture starts to come together to form a loose dough.
- Remove from the processor and knead the dough, adding more milk if needed to form a dough that holds its shape.
- If you do not have a food processor, you can do this in a bowl too. Just mix the dry ingredients. Add bits of cold butter and gently mix with your fingers to incorporate the butter well until it form a crumbly mixture. Then add milk a teaspoon at time, kneading to form a dough.
- Place in cling wrap and refrigerate for about 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees Centigrade or 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Lightly grease a baking pan and keep aside.
- Remove dough from the fridge and roll out to about 3 mm thickness.
- Cut into desired shapes (I have used a round cutter). Prick with a fork to prevent the cookies from puffing up in the oven.
- Place in the prepared pan and bake for about 15 minutes until light golden brown.
- Remove and place them on cooling racks to cool completely.
- At this stage, you can eat them as such for a healthy crunchy treat.
- For a more decadent experience, you can coat some of them with melted chocolate.
- Melt the chocolate in a microwave or double boiler until fully melted.
- Spoon a little melted chocolate over the cookie. Spread thinly (working from the center to the edges) and using a toothpick or skewer, draw a line vertically and then horizontally to form a pattern on the chocolate.
- Place on wire racks to allow the chocolate to set.
- Enjoy these healthy, crunchy, whole meal biscuits or cookies with your evening tea or coffee. They are great pick-me-ups to enjoy any time.
Notes
Coconut adds a distinct tropical flavor to it. You can omit these if you want and add more whole wheat flour instead.
I have used very little sugar in it as I love my cookies less sweet. Feel free to add a bit more.
Instead of dark chocolate, you can use milk chocolate or even white chocolate.
How to make The Best Homemade Digestive Biscuit:
- Crush the oatmeal in a food processor until they form finer bits.
- Add whole wheat flour, sugar, coconut powder and salt and process until the mixture is well blended.
- Cut up cold butter into small pieces and add to this mixture.
- Pulse the food processor until it forms a coarse crumbly mixture.
- Add milk a teaspoon at a time until the mixture starts to come together to form a loose dough.
- Remove from the processor and knead the dough, adding more milk if needed to form a dough that holds its shape.
- If you do not have a food processor, you can do this in a bowl too. Just mix the dry ingredients. Add bits of cold butter and gently mix with your fingers to incorporate the butter well until it form a crumbly mixture. Then add milk a teaspoon at time, kneading to form a dough.
- Place in cling wrap and refrigerate for about 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees Centigrade or 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Lightly grease a baking pan and keep aside.
- Remove dough from the fridge and roll out to about 3 mm thickness.
- Cut into desired shapes (I have used a round cutter). Prick with a fork to prevent the cookies from puffing up in the oven.
- Place in the prepared pan and bake for about 15 minutes until light golden brown.
- Remove and place them on cooling racks to cool completely.
- At this stage, you can eat them as such for a healthy crunchy treat.
- For a more decadent experience, you can coat some of them with melted chocolate.
- Melt the chocolate in a microwave or double boiler until fully melted.
- Spoon a little melted chocolate over the cookie. Spread thinly (working from the center to the edges) and using a toothpick or skewer, draw a line vertically and then horizontally to form a pattern on the chocolate.
- Place on wire racks to allow the chocolate to set.
- Enjoy these healthy, crunchy, whole meal digestive biscuits or cookies, with or without chocolate, with your evening tea or coffee. They are great pick-me-ups to enjoy any time or even as edible gifts.
I am sharing this with: #Funtastic Friday | #Fiesta Friday | #Food Friday
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Thanks so much Pavani 🙂 I love the flavor of coconut in everything and of course, chocolate is my favorite of all times! So, I had to incorporate them in this!
Thanks so much Mayuri 🙂 Do try these healthy and yummy ones; so easy and absolutely scrumptious!
Thanks so much Jagruti 🙂 I love the chocolate dipped ones too!
Hi, Found this amazing looking biscuits today only. Definitely going to try them. I had just one question, is there any way i can melt cacao powder instead of dark chocolate ?
Thanks,
Smitha
I have not tried with cocoa powder dear 🙂 I find melting chocolate much easier as it needs only one ingredient; good quality melting chocolate.
Love all the extra additions to the digestive biscuit. But the best of them is the chocolate spread! Wow, I really need one now!
Thanks so much Padmajha 🙂 I love the chocolate dipped too!
you stole my heart with these amazing healthy cookies. Bookmarked it, I don't like to buy from the store. Your cookies have come out so well.
Thanks so much dear 🙂
I didn't knew how easy it would be to make digestive biscuits at home. Bookmarking the recipe.
Thanks a lot Sapana 🙂
These look so delicious, it's time I do some baking, seriously. Lovely!
Thanks a lot Jayashree 🙂 🙂 Do hop on to the baking wagon; so much fun here 😀 🙂
Di, its just a nice twist to add coconut here. Love the flavor 🙂
Thanks sweetie 🙂
Oh my goodness! I'm literally drooling here as Digestive biscuits are my favourite 🙂 and with chocolate these looks incredibly yummy!
Omg, how wonderful those digestive biscuits looks, especially that chocolate coated one. Just prefect to munch with a cup of coffee.
Thanks so much Priya 🙂 I agree totally, these taste awesome with a cup of coffee!!
Beautiful recipe. loved the chocolate on top.
Thanks Seema 🙂 Chocolate is my favorite dip too 🙂
Cookies looks crunchy and delicious. But I cannot have these for gluten reason. May be I will make some batches for kids 🙂
Thanks so much Uma 🙂 Sorry you cannot enjoy these but I am sure you can use some gluten free substitutions and make them.
I must admit I love digestive biscuits especially with the chocolate but have not tried making them at home. Love your step by step explanation and also the short history behind the name.
Thanks so much Mayuri 🙂 Do try them soon; they are absolutely scrumptious!
These digestive cookies look perfect, love the addition of coconut, nice twist 🙂
Thanks a lot Freda 🙂 Love coconut in almost everything 😀 I guess the Mangalorean in me craves for it all the time!
This is one such lovely page, Your recipe with digestive biscuit is healthy and more informative..
Thanks so much Sujitha 🙂
Wow. These look great. My 2 year old enjoys biscuits these days and I am always in the look out for healthy cookie/biscuits. Bookmarking it.
Thanks a lot Jyoti 🙂 Hope you get to make them soon for your baby!
Your write-up has me totally hooked.(earning me a glare from boss as attention is more on the mobile than screen ahead). Fact is I don't like to make cookies. But you have my aroused the latent Baker in me. Bookmarking.
Thanks so much dear 🙂 Do make a start into baking with this easy and healthy one!
Your homemade wholewheat digestive biscuits look amazing. Love the addition of coconut in them, must have given the biscuits a nice crunch. Oh and the chocolate on top, looks so pretty and decadent.
Thanks a lot Pavani 🙂 Love coconut in everything and of course, chocolate is my all-time favorite, so had to add these 🙂 🙂
Biscuits looks prefect..crisp and flaky...Loved the topping with melted chocolate 🙂
Thanks a lot Drashti 🙂 I love the chocolate ones too!
They look just like digestive biscuit but even better as they are homemade. I am trying this soon?
Thank you so much dear 🙂 Hope you will enjoy it as much as I do!
Wonderful just like the store bought ones.. Love the chocolate coated ones 🙂
Thanks a lot Sharmila 🙂 I love the chocolate ones too!
Perfectly baked. Loved the texture of Biscuits and guilt free munchies..Yum!
Thanks so much Priya 🙂
Nothing can be better than some homemade biscuits and these digestive bus its looks spot on , awsome share.
Thanks a lot Soma 🙂
Wow loved the recipe. Definately will try soon.. superb share.
Thanks so much Ruchi 🙂
Loved the recipe !!
Thank you so much Vidya 🙂
I am impressed! I never thought of making my digestive biscuits! I love them with the chocolate and these look delicious!! Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday party! x
Thanks Jhuls 🙂 These taste delicious and are guilt free cookies too; but a little chocolate never hurt anyone, hence the chocolate coated ones!!!!
One cup means how much in grams or ml.. biscuits looks lovely.
Thank you so much 🙂 1 cup is about 250 ml.