Viennese Whirls

Viennese Whirls are a type of biscuit that originated in the United Kingdom. Despite their name, they are not from Vienna, Austria. They are made from shortbread dough, piped into a whirl shape, and often filled with jam and buttercream.

History

The exact origins of Viennese Whirls are unclear, but they are believed to have been inspired by Austrian pastries. They became popular in the United Kingdom in the 20th century, and are now a staple of British baking.

Ingredients and Preparation

Viennese Whirls are made from a simple shortbread dough, which consists of butter, sugar, and flour. The dough is piped into a whirl shape using a piping bag and a star-shaped nozzle. After baking, the biscuits are often sandwiched together with jam and buttercream.

The jam used in Viennese Whirls is traditionally raspberry jam, but other types of jam can also be used. The buttercream is made from butter and icing sugar, and sometimes flavored with vanilla.

Variations

There are many variations of Viennese Whirls. Some recipes include additional ingredients such as chocolate, nuts, or spices. There are also variations in the shape of the biscuits, with some being piped into rosettes or other designs.

In Popular Culture

Viennese Whirls have been featured on the popular British baking show, The Great British Bake Off. In the show's seventh series, the bakers were challenged to make Viennese Whirls as part of the biscuit week.

See Also

• List of British desserts
• Shortbread
• The Great British Bake Off