Melting Moments Cookie Recipe

I cannot imagine a time when Melting Moments Cookies will not be a quick ‘go-to’ recipe when we fancy doing some speedy baking. These light, crumbly cookies are packed with flavour but no fuss to make. The ideal recipe for when I have baked with the kids throughout the year.

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What are Melting Moments?

Melting Moments are a traditional English biscuit (or cookie). They are very simple to make with only a cherry for decoration and no filling.

A light and crumbly texture – a lot of people will describe these as shortbread cookies or butter cookies.

Melting Moments tend to be coated in oats but if you prefer, desiccated coconut can also be an option.

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Why you should make these Melting Moment Cookies?

• Sweet treats that have a melt in your mouth texture. Perfect with a cup of tea!
• This low cost easy recipe produces 20 good sized cookies that all the family will enjoy using only a few simple ingredients.
• Great for taking on picnics, an after school snack or when people pay you a visit.
• Easy, no fuss recipe that children can help with. The perfect cookie for encouraging them to learn how to bake – They will love to shape dough into the cookie dough balls.

Ingredients Needed:

Sugar – Caster Sugar is the best to use for this recipe. At a push, granulated sugar can be used but the cookie texture may be more grainy.

Butter – In contrast to a lot of food bloggers, I use Slightly Salted Lurpak – If you are used to using unsalted butter, go for it.

Flour – Self-raising Flour is best. There is no other raising agent in this recipe. You will not need to add any added salt as self-raising flour already contains it. If you only have plain or All-purpose flour then you can use it but add 1/2 tsp of baking powder.

Eggs – Just 2 egg yolks are needed for this cookie recipe. If you are looking for ideas what to do with your remaining egg whites, try my Mini Egg Chocolate Pavlovas or my Violet Meringue Kisses.

Vanilla Extract – As with all my recipes, I advocate pure vanilla extract every time. Much tastier than essence and less faff than vanilla pods (as well as cheaper!)

Porridge Oats – I think the cheaper the better here really. The taste doesn’t alter much and the smaller oats you get with cheaper oats work well with this recipe. For the cookies in the photo, I felt the oats were a little too big so will use smaller oats next time (They still got eaten though!)

Glace Cherries– I’ve said cut into thirds but if you are huge cherry fans, then go wild and use halves on the tops of the cookies!

Method for making Melting Moments Cookies Recipe

The printable Recipe card contains full details of ingredients quantities and timings

1. On a medium speed, whisk together the sugar and butter in a large bowl. You should notice a marked change in colour as the mixture goes really pale and fluffy. whilst still mxing, add in the beaten egg yolks and vanilla extract.
2. Turn off the electric mixer and fold in the flour gently until combined.
3. Bring the butter, sugar and flour mixture together. Pour the oats into a small bowl.
4. Using the palms of your hands, roll the dough into approximately 20 balls dipping each one quickly into the oats before placing on the prepared baking sheet.
5. Make sure the balls of dough are well spaced out as they will spread during cooking.
6. Place 1/3rd glace cherry on top of the cookies and bake for 16-18 minutes. The edges of the cookies will
7. Remove from the oven and place cookies to cool on a wire rack.

Variations

This is our family original recipe for Melting Moment Cookies that I use over and over again – I urge you to include it in your baking repertoire as these delicious cookies are great if you are going somewhere and need to contribute. If you want to experiment with different flavours of Melting Moments Cookies, you might like to try our Coffee Melting Moments or my ultimate favourite, Marzipan Melting Moments.

For a super quick variation, you can use a squeeze of lemon extract or lemon juice with some grated zest for a lemon version of these baked cookies.

If you are not a fan of oats or coconut, you can roll the dough in icing sugar / confectioner’s sugar. You will get a crackle type effect – a bit like these Sunshine Cookies or Amaretti Cookies .

Storage

These cookies will last for up to 5 days in an air tight container in a dry cool place. We regularly have them on a covered cake stand, on the kitchen worktop for people to grab as they pass for 2 days and they remain perfectly fine, crumbly and fresh.

Freezing Cookies

These cookies are great for freezing. Place them in an air tight container, separated by baking parchment or greaseproof and get out of the freezer at least 1 hour before you want to eat them. If you are short of freezer room, once frozen transfer from the container to a freezer bag (try to keep the flat side of the cookies facing down) If you fancy giving them a refresh, they can go in the air fryer for a couple of minutes or the oven for up to 5 minutes but be careful the edges don’t catch.

Other Cookie Recipes you may enjoy

Amaretti Cookies

Ginger & Lemon Oat Cookies

Cherry Bakewell Cookies

Biscoff/Speculoos Crumble Cookies

White Chocolate & Coconut Oat Cookies

Caramac Thumbprint Cookies

Helen is a Blogger, Food Writer, Marketing Manager and Cake Expert. Go here to read the story of Helen and the Costello Family.