C’mon…I’m English…It was only a matter of time before I came up with a recipe for vegan digestive biscuits! With their distinctive crunchy, crumbly texture & not too sweet almost nutty flavour, they make the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea……I’m totally conforming to the typical English stereotype here aren’t I?
I thought long and hard about what to call this recipe. Should I stick to my roots and call them ‘Digestive Biscuits’ or, as I now live in Canada and most of you are from the USA and Canada, should I call them ‘Digestive Cookies’?
COOKIES OR BISCUITS?
Generally in England cookies are known as biscuits, whereas in Canada and the USA, biscuits are what we in England would call savoury scones. There are so many other foods and general cooking terms that are totally different too. I get so confused! A few I can think of off the top of my head are pancakes/flapjacks, chips/fries, aubergine/eggplant, cornflour/cornstarch, grilling/broiling and double boiler. What’s that all about? I had to google it when I first moved here as I didn’t have a clue what it was. In England we call it a bain-marie!
It’s no wonder I’m confused!
CONFUSED.COM
I really struggle when writing my recipes as I never know what to call these things. I often spend ages deliberating but usually end up choosing the Canadian/American versions as I know that is where the majority of you, my lovely readers are. This time though the English name seems like the right choice. After all, they are English biscuits and ‘digestive cookie’ just doesn’t sound right to me!
WHAT ARE DIGESTIVE BISCUITS?
Digestive Biscuits were originally created by two doctors in 1839 as a digestive aid. The bicarbonate of soda (or baking soda as my Canadian and American friends know it as) was added to them to act as an antacid. This doesn’t make them sound too appealing, but honestly, they are extremely delicious so please stick with me!
Digestive biscuits are one of the most popular biscuits sold in the UK. According to Wikipedia more than 80 million packs are sold annually. That’s a whole lot of biscuits and just goes to show how great they are. They aren’t however vegan and they contain refined sugar and palm oil which are ingredients I try to avoid.
DIGESTIVES MADE HEALTHIER
My Vegan Digestive Biscuits are much healthier by comparison. There is no dairy, no refined sugar and no refined flour and they contain a relatively low quantity of oil and sugar. The wholegrain spelt flour gives them a delicious nuttiness and the oatmeal adds to the slightly nubbly texture. My recipe does not include the traditional bicarbonate of soda/baking soda so I am afraid they won’t act as an antacid! I tried them with and without and to be honest it didn’t make any difference to their appearance or taste so why bother?
Digestives are not a really sweet biscuit and so my biscuits do have sugar in them but not a lot. Just enough to give them a slightly sweet edge. Because they aren’t too sweet they can also be eaten like crackers with savoury foods. Try them with some good quality vegan cheese, or spread with my Easy Vegan Butter.
Personally though, I love them just as they are with a cup of tea. That is where the inspiration for this recipe came from.
I recently made a visit to my local Teafarm to stock up on my favourite brews. Yes, there is a tea-farm in Canada. It is in a beautiful location in North Cowichan on Vancouver Island just an hour away from where I live. The ‘Teafarm’ experience is just wonderful and combines tea, art & nature.
TEAFARM
Teafarm is housed in a quirky, converted barn, surrounded by beautiful countryside and rows and rows of wonderful Camellia sinensis, plus other beautiful flowers and plants which are all used in Teafarm’s tea blends. Whilst there, you get to drink tea whilst taking in your wonderful, unique surroundings, then admire Margit’s beautiful and unique clay art which is displayed in what was the original milking room. You even get to drink your tea from her hand-made clay cups and saucers. A visit there is an all round lovely experience and hosts Victor and Margit are so incredibly welcoming.
When we left I purchased some of my favourite blends and this stash of beautiful tea was the inspiration behind my vegan digestive biscuits. While relaxing in the back yard with my mug of Yerba Mate Chai I had the urge to bake a tasty accompaniment. As someone who likes to dip biscuits in my tea, digestives were the perfect answer!
GRAHAM CRACKERS
I am told that digestive biscuits are similar to graham crackers. Having never eaten a graham cracker I can’t comment on this myself but I do know that they can be used as you would graham crackers. They are great for making crusts and combined with a little coconut oil they also make an awesome cheesecake base. They would be great for making s’mores too!
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF MY VEGAN DIGESTIVE BISCUITS
If you make these vegan digestive biscuits, or any of my other recipes, let me know what you think in the comments and please rate the recipe by hitting the yellow stars. You can share your pictures on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook too. I am @avirtualvegan. Use the hashtag #avirtualvegan so I don’t miss them!
Now go bake some digestives, put the kettle on, make some tea and relax!
Vegan Digestive Biscuits
Ingredients
- 220 g | 1½ cups spelt flour
- 60 g | ½ cup rolled oats or quick oats
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 60 g | heaping ¼ cup sugar I used turbinado sugar but any light brown sugar will work. Demerara in the UK, as would coconut sugar
- 80 g | packed 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons coconut oil measured solid
- 5 - 8 tablespoons non-dairy milk
- Extra flour for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 380°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Add the oats to a food processor and process until they have a course flour like consistency.
- Add the spelt flour, salt, baking powder and sugar and pulse a few times to combine.
- Add the coconut oil and process until well combined.
- Gradually add the milk one tablespoon at a time until a smooth dough forms. It will start balling up and if you touch it, it will feel slightly tacky. I used 7 tablespoons but this will vary.
- Dust your work surface with some flour. You can use more spelt flour or all purpose is fine.
- Transfer the dough to floured surface and lightly sprinkle it with a bit more flour.
- Roll out the dough until it is about 3mm thick.
- Use cookie cutters to cut into rounds. If you don't have cookie cutters then the top of a mason jar does a great job.
- Place on the cookie sheet . They don't spread so you don't need to leave a lot of room around each one.
- Bake for 12 - 15 minutes or until just starting to turn golden brown on the edges and bottom. They will still feel very slightly soft in the middle if you push with a finger but that is fine. As they cool they will firm up and go crisp.
- Place on a cooling rack and leave to cool completely before eating. They aren't at their best when warm.
- Store in an airtight container once completely cool.
Becky Striepe says
These look so good!
A Virtual Vegan says
Thanks Becky!
Marisa says
They look just wonderful! Cannot wait to try them😊
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you Marisa. Let me know what you think!
Justine @ JustineCelina.com says
Yum — what a great idea! My Grandma loves digestive cookies (we’re Canadian) and they always remind me of her. I haven’t had one in ages! Pinning for later. 🙂
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank-you Justine!
Jenn says
Whatever you want to call these, I will eat them. They sound delicious! And that Teafarm sounds magnificent!
A Virtual Vegan says
Ha ha! Exactly. What’s in a name? Thanks Jenn. The Teafarm is awesome. I love it there!
Aimee / Wallflower Kitchen says
I had no idea you were English, Melanie! I love you for making these biscuits, there has been so much outrage at the moment (I’m sure you’ve heard) over British biscuit companies adding milk powder into their biscuits, making them no longer vegan 🙁 So more and more people are looking for recipes like these. Need to try these ASAP <3
A Virtual Vegan says
Yes, very English. I’m from Devon. I hadn’t heard of the biscuit outrage in the UK. Interesting. Why do they feel the need to change the recipes and make them even more unhealthy? Sounds like I timed this recipe just right! Interestingly, there aren’t many cookies/biscuits here in Canada that are vegan. The only ones I have found are oreos and imported ones from England.
Natalie | Feasting on Fruit says
I’ve always wanted to try a digestive biscuit actually! Just calling them biscuits makes them sound healthier, less like dessert but still secretly a cookie 🙂 All the global differences in names of things and measurements and Fahrenheit vs Celsius does make the international part of blogging tricky.
A Virtual Vegan says
It sure does. Why can’t everything just be universal? It would make life so much easier!
Nicoletta @sugarlovespices says
I’m so with you on the difficulties we find with the American/Canadian names and unit of measurement. I am italian and thus very close to english and french terms. I still call it a bain-marie on my blog, and I’m still confused on the use of the term biscotti (which for us italians is a generic terms for every kind of cookies or biscuits 😉 ). Now, on your Digestive biscuits. I am in love with them, and I’m so happy we are on the same page as regards palm oil and refined sugars! They look perfect, and since I am a fan of spelt flour, I am going to make them 🙂 .
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you so much Nicoletta. That’s so interesting about biscotti. I had no idea it was just a general term for biscuits/cookies in Italian. Let me know what you think of the digestives when you try them? :O)
Brittany at I Love Vegan says
Oh I love dipping biscuits into tea too! These digestives would be so perfect 🙂 One day when I make it back to the west coast of BC, I’d love to check out that Teafarm!
A Virtual Vegan says
You really must visit the Teafarm if you are ever on Vancouver Island!
Sophia, Veggies Don't Bite says
I’ve heard of digestive biscuits before and I too think it’s the strangest name! But they are yummy and yours look even better with how you made them!
A Virtual Vegan says
Thanks so much Sophia. They make up for the strange name in taste!
Kelly @ TastingPage says
I use to love eating digestives with tea when I was in England. If only I had this recipe while I was there to make things a little healthier. Glad to have it now!
A Virtual Vegan says
They are a bit of an English staple. At least you can enjoy them with no guilt now!
Anjali @ Vegetarian Gastronomy says
I would love a batch of these with my morning coffee or evening tea! They sound easy and delicious!
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you Anjali. They make a perfect accompaniment to tea or coffee!
Uma Srinivas( simple sumptuous cooking) says
Oh my favorite one! Our morning tea time biscuits ! Yum!
A Virtual Vegan says
Thanks Uma!
Leon says
Do you have a Hobnob recipe?
A Virtual Vegan says
I don’t but that is a brilliant idea. I will start working on a recipe soon!
Alisa Fleming says
Well, I’m glad you did, and with spelt flour no less! I love baking with spelt flour – something about it lends a special flavor and pleasant texture.
A Virtual Vegan says
Spelt flour is my go to flour. I love it!
The Vegan 8 says
Tea and cookies, I don’t think it gets much better than that! I knew that they were called biscuits in England but I have never heard the term digestive biscuits…I learned something new today 🙂
A Virtual Vegan says
They are so very popular in England. Kind of like Graham Crackers are here. It’s funny they are so unknown here.
Vegan Heaven says
Yummy! These look so delicious! I love baking with spelt flour and I’ll definitely have to give these a try. 🙂
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you Sina. Spelt flour is my favourite flour for baking. Let me know what you think when you make them!
Linda @ Veganosity says
Oh my gosh, that really is confusing. I’d be just as confused if I moved to the UK. 🙂 The biscuits look perfect for tea. I especially like that they’re not too sweet.
A Virtual Vegan says
Thanks Linda.I’ll get used to it eventually I’m sure!
Molly Kumar says
These look perfect. Me n Mom love digestive biscuits with our tea and I’ll definitely try making these soon.
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you Molly. You will both love them!
Michelle Blackwood says
I miss digestive biscuits, used to eat them all the time when I lived in England. I can’t believe that now I can make them. Thanks for the recipe. Pinning
A Virtual Vegan says
You’re welcome Michelle :O)
Manju | Cooking Curries says
Biscuits – Cookies – its always a dilemma isnt it? Whatever you call them, they look delicious!
A Virtual Vegan says
Thanks Manju!
Hedi Hearts says
They look just perfect. The only thing missing is some gorgeous vegan chocolate to make them chocolate digestive!
A Virtual Vegan says
Oh I know! I am a chocoholic though and trying to cut back…hence the plain biscuits. I might well add a chocolate digestive recipe in the future when my resolve weakens!
Sheryl says
I made these yesterday and ate more than I should. Brought some to work for a friend and she loved them, too. I met digestive biscuits during a trip to Edinburgh in 1999. I was a vegetarian then and missed them on my last trip to the UK in 2012 as I’ve been vegan for 15 years. They’re perfect. I used white whole wheat flour and they tasted great. They go very well with good single malt Scottish whisky, BTW.
A Virtual Vegan says
Oh no….don’t go telling me they go great with whisky….now I’ll have to try it! ;O) It should keep my husband happy though. He’ll never say no to sampling some whiskey! I am so glad you enjoyed the biscuits and it’s good to know they turn out well with white whole wheat flour.I will add a little note to the recipe so others know.
Thanks so much for stopping by to comment Sheryl. I really appreciate it :O)
Donna says
Ah I have been craving digestives since this popped up on my FB feed the other day. Love the ingredient list and will be trying these this afternoon with the kids 🙂
A Virtual Vegan says
They are great for kids to make. I hope you all enjoy them!
Sharon says
How many biscuits to a serving?
A Virtual Vegan says
Each biscuit counts as one serving and they are 100 calories each. That assumes you get 18 biscuits out of the mixture. My cutter was pretty big so if yours is smaller and you end up with more biscuits they will have less calories each. Hope that helps :O)
Kirk says
I made these a couple of nights ago and they were perfect, so delicious! The prep time is listed as 5 mins which is a bit optimistic but the bake time was spot on. Thanks for a great recipe.
A Virtual Vegan says
I am thrilled you loved these so much Kirk. I think I made a mistake when inputting the prep time. I agree that 5 minutes is a little optimistic. I have corrected it. I think 15 is a little more realistic! Thank you so much for stopping by to leave your feedback. I appreciate it :O)
Kirk says
… just wanted to add that it was such a nice dough to work with that I adapted it to a savory cracker, that turned out pretty great. Omitted the sugar, added 1.5T savory yeast flakes and some diced olives
A Virtual Vegan says
What a great idea! I’m going to try that next time I make a batch. Thanks Kirk :O)
Keoma says
These are delicious! Recipe is easy, with simple unexpensive ingredients. Taste better than the store bought version! Thanks so much for posting and sharing this! X from the Netherlands.
A Virtual Vegan says
I am so glad you are enjoying them so much. Thank you for stopping by to let me know. I really appreciate it :O)
Mel says
These are amazing, thank you for such a good recipe! Im in love and they’ll be gone in a few hours!!!
A Virtual Vegan says
Thanks so much Mel! It sounds like you are like me when cookies are around ;O)
Gary says
I’ve been really craving digestives since moving from England, and these look amazing. My flatmate can’t have wheat though (gluten in most other grains is ok), do you think I sub the spelt for something like barley or buckwheat? Also, how much bicarbonate of soda would you recommend if I wanted to add it? Thanks in advance x
A Virtual Vegan says
Hi Gary. I haven’t personally tried this recipe with anything other than wholewheat and spelt so I can’t guarantee the results. I think buckwheat could work. Oat flour probably would too, or just a gluten-free flour blend. I’m not sure about barley as I’ve never baked with it.
As for bicarbonate of soda, I think add 1/2 a level teaspoon and you could probably leave out the baking powder completely.
I hope they work out for you and what a lucky flatmate you have!
Sue says
Great cookies. We’ve made them a few times now!