Zeera Biscuits/ Jeera Biscuits (Cumin in English) are very popular savory biscuits from Pakistan, which are sold in bakeries as well as packaged biscuits. These make the perfect tea-time snack, famously eaten dipped in tea! These biscuits have a delicious blend of buttery, sweet, and savory flavors which is complimented well by the warm, earthy taste from the cumin seeds. I am sharing a simple recipe to make these at home, and trust me, once you try out this recipe, you will not go back to the store-bought ones.
You can also try out other Pakistani bakery style biscuits, which I have shared in this video here and in this post here.
Table Of Contents
Recipe at a GlanceStep by Step ProcessFAQsServing SuggestionsSubstitutions & VariationsStorage and Make Ahead
Recipe at a Glance
Butter- Softened, Unsalted
Icing/ Powdered/ Confectioner’s Sugar
Milk powder – any brand , unsweetened but you could skip
Salt
Flour- All-purpose
Cumin seeds- Whole (Zeera/ jeera)
Step by Step Process
Cream butter & icing sugar, add all remaining ingredients and mix until just combined
Roll out between two sheets to ¼ inch thickness and refrigerate.
Prick with a fork to create that signature look and cut circles.
Bake on a lined baking sheet lined for 12-15 minutes at 375 F until golden brown rotating half way through.
Cool completely before storing.
FAQs
What should I do if my biscuits become soft?If your Zeera Biscuits have softened, you can easily crisp them up by reheating them in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for a few minutes until they are warm and crunchy again.
Can I freeze the dough or baked biscuits?For freezing, you can prepare the Zeera Biscuits dough in advance, shape it into logs or discs and place the dough in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and freeze. When ready to bake, simply slice/ shape the frozen dough and bake directly from the freezer.To freeze baked biscuits, arrange the biscuits in a single layer on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer until they are firm. Transfer the frozen biscuits to a freezer-safe container or resealable bag, separating the layers with parchment paper.When ready to eat, thaw the frozen biscuits at room temperature or gently reheat them in the oven to restore crispness.
Serving Suggestions
You can serve Zeera Biscuits for tea-time snacks as they pair up perfectly with a cup of tea. However, these also taste great on their own.
Substitutions & Variations
Milk powder can be skipped or substituted with corn flour.
Storage and Make Ahead
Zeera Biscuits should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature after cooling down completely, to maintain their crispness and flavor. Alternatively, you can also store them in the refrigerator for longer shelf life.
For freezing, you can prepare the Zeera Biscuits dough in advance, shape it into logs or discs and place the dough in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and freeze.
When ready to bake, simply slice/ shape the frozen dough and bake directly from the freezer.
Zeera Biscuits
Zeera Biscuits/ Jeera Biscuits are very popular savory biscuits from Pakistan. These biscuits have a delicious blend of buttery, sweet, and savory flavors which is complimented well by the warm, earthy taste from the cumin seeds.
Prep Time
30 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Additional Time
10 minutes
Total Time
1 hour
Ingredients
125 grams Butter- soft, unsalted
25 grams Icing/ Powdered/ Confectioners sugar
1 tablespoon Milk powder
1 ½ teaspoons Salt
175 grams All-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons Cumin seeds (zeera)
Instructions
Cream butter and sugar.Add milk powder, salt, cumin seeds and flour.Mix until just combined.Roll out between two parchment/ wax/ baking paper* sheets to almost ¼ inch thickness.Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.Prick with a fork to create that signature look.Cut 2-3 inches diameter circle.Place on a baking sheet lined with silicone mat or parchment/ baking paper or unlined ungreased baking tray.Bake in a preheated oven for 12-15 minutes at 375 F until golden brown, rotating half way through.Cool completely before storing.
Notes
*you can use plastic wrap as well.
Did you make this recipe?
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© Nadia
Cuisine:
Pakistani
/
Category: Cookies & Biscuits
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