If you’re on the hunt for a melt-in-your-mouth, classic treat that feels like a warm hug, this Delicious Viennese Whirls with Jam Filling Recipe is exactly what you need. I absolutely love how these buttery, swirled biscuits come together with that dreamy vanilla buttercream and a generous dollop of sweet seedless jam. Whether you’re making them for afternoon tea or just a cozy snack, you’ll find they’re truly irresistible—and once you try my tips, you’ll wonder why you ever bought this kind of biscuit from the store!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Classic British Charm: These Viennese Whirls bring a little piece of traditional teatime magic to your kitchen.
- Perfectly Buttery Texture: The combination of butter and flours makes every bite melt in your mouth with delicate crumb.
- Customizable Jam Filling: You’ll love switching up the jam flavors—try raspberry, strawberry, or even apricot.
- Simple Yet Impressive: These biscuits look like you spent hours on them, but I promise, they’re easy to make with my friendly guidance.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Getting the ingredients right is the secret to those perfect Viennese Whirls. I like to use softened butter for that creamy texture, and soft icing sugar to keep everything light and sweet. The mix of plain flour and corn flour gives them that signature delicate crumb that bakes up beautifully every time.
- Butter or Block Margarine (softened): Use unsalted if you can, it helps control the overall saltiness—or go with margarine as a budget-friendly option.
- Icing Sugar (Powdered Sugar): Sift it to avoid lumps; it dissolves quickly and helps keep the texture smooth and fine.
- Plain Flour: This gives your whirls structure; make sure it’s fresh for the best rise and texture.
- Corn Flour (Corn Starch): Essential for tenderness—don’t leave this out! It softens the dough wonderfully.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds that classic, comforting sweetness that you’ll want to smell wafting through your kitchen.
- Seedless Jam (strawberry or raspberry): Choose good-quality seedless jam or jelly—this is the star that seals your whirls together with a fruity burst.
Variations
One of my favorite things about this Delicious Viennese Whirls with Jam Filling Recipe is how easy it is to tweak for different tastes. I’ve played around with flavors and even swapped out ingredients, so you can totally make it your own depending on what you’ve got in the pantry or your dietary needs.
- Jam Flavors: I once tried blackberry jam instead of raspberry, and it gave the biscuits a lovely deep flavor that my family adored.
- Buttercream Variations: Adding a pinch of lemon zest into the buttercream is a trick I discovered to add freshness and cut through the sweetness beautifully.
- Gluten-Free Version: Substitute a gluten-free plain flour blend and cornflour to keep the texture as soft and tender as the original.
- Dairy-Free Option: Use a good plant-based margarine and ensure your icing sugar is vegan-friendly to keep everything luscious.
How to Make Delicious Viennese Whirls with Jam Filling Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Get Ready to Pipe
First things first: preheat your oven to 180°C (or 160°C if you’re using a fan-assisted oven). Line a couple of baking sheets with greaseproof paper because these little whirls spread a touch and you want clean, crisp edges. Setting up now means you’re ready to go as soon as the dough is mixed.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar Until Fluffy
This is where the magic starts. Grab your softened butter or margarine and icing sugar, then beat them together in a large bowl. I like to use a hand mixer here to save my arm, but if you don’t have one, a sturdy wooden spoon and some elbow grease work too. You want it light, pale, and fluffy—that takes a good few minutes, so don’t rush.
Step 3: Fold in Your Flours to Form Dough
Sift together your plain flour and corn flour, then gently fold them into your butter mixture. This is key—the dough should be soft and paste-like without being sticky or dry. Folding gently avoids knocking the air out and keeps that crumbly texture you want. If the dough feels too stiff, it might mean your butter was a little too chilled.
Step 4: Pipe Perfect Swirls
Here’s where your biscuit artistry shines! Fit a piping bag with a large star nozzle, spoon your dough in (you might need to do this in two batches), and pipe swirly circles about 3 to 4 cm in diameter on your baking sheets. Leave space between each swirl, as they’ll spread a bit while baking. This step can feel tricky at first, but trust me: practice makes perfect, and even “imperfect” whirls taste incredible.
Step 5: Bake Until Pale Golden and Dry on Top
Pop your trays into the oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Keep an eye on them because ovens vary, and you want them looking just pale golden—too brown and they lose that tender texture. They should look dry on top, and when you press gently, they’re firm but not hard. After baking, leave them to cool on the trays until you can handle them, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 6: Whip Up the Vanilla Buttercream and Assemble
While your biscuits cool, whip softened butter with icing sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Then, take one biscuit, spread or pipe a thick layer of buttercream, add a teaspoon of seedless jam on top, and sandwich it with another biscuit. Your sandwiches will be the star of any snack table!
Pro Tips for Making Delicious Viennese Whirls with Jam Filling Recipe
- Butter Softening Magic: I learned that letting the butter soften at room temperature for about 30 minutes makes creaming easier and results in fluffier dough.
- Don’t Overbake: These biscuits bake quickly, so setting a timer and checking early saved my batch from becoming too hard.
- Piping Confidence: Warm your hands beforehand or rest the dough in the fridge between batches to keep it firm enough for neat piping.
- Jam Selection Matters: Using seedless jam avoids those pesky seeds getting stuck and disrupting the smooth sandwich experience.
How to Serve Delicious Viennese Whirls with Jam Filling Recipe
Garnishes
I love dusting the tops of these whirls very lightly with some extra icing sugar just before serving—it adds a sweet, snowy touch that looks lovely on plates. Sometimes I top them with tiny fresh berries or a sprig of mint for an elegant finish.
Side Dishes
These Viennese Whirls pair beautifully with a hot cup of tea or coffee. I often serve them alongside a fresh fruit salad or a dollop of clotted cream for a traditional British twist that always impresses guests.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I like arranging these whirls in a pretty circular pattern on a cake stand, layering them with edible flowers for a floral vibe. Another fun idea is to drizzle melted chocolate over the buttercream before sandwiching for a decadent touch.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover whirls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to four days. Keeping them in a cool, dry place helps preserve the buttery crumb and keeps the buttercream from melting or becoming grainy.
Freezing
Believe it or not, you can freeze these biscuits! I freeze them unfilled in single layers on a baking tray first, then transfer to a freezer bag. When I want a treat, I thaw at room temperature and then assemble with fresh buttercream and jam. This way, the fillings stay fresh and yummy.
Reheating
Reheat is really not necessary since these biscuits are best eaten at room temperature, but if you want to warm them slightly, a few seconds in the microwave (without fillings) helps soften them up just a bit.
FAQs
-
Can I make Viennese Whirls without a piping bag?
While piping bags with star nozzles are ideal for that iconic swirl shape, you can use a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off if you don’t have one. The effect won’t be quite as neat, but your whirls will still taste delicious!
-
What types of jam work best for Viennese Whirls?
Seedless raspberry or strawberry jam is classic, but apricot and blackberry jam are fantastic too. Just make sure the jam is thick and not too runny to avoid soggy biscuits.
-
How long do Viennese Whirls last?
Properly stored in an airtight container, these biscuits can last up to 4 days at room temperature. For longer storage, freeze the unfilled biscuits separately for up to one month.
-
Can I skip the buttercream and just use jam?
You can, but the classic Viennese Whirls are all about the creamy buttercream and jam combo. The buttercream adds richness and balances the jam’s sweetness perfectly.
Final Thoughts
If you ask me, few things beat the joy of sharing these Delicious Viennese Whirls with Jam Filling Recipe fresh from your oven with loved ones. I remember the first time I tried making them at home—it was an absolute game-changer compared to store-bought versions. Now, they’re a staple on my tea table, and I’m always thrilled to pass on this recipe to friends because it’s that good and genuinely so simple once you know the tricks. So go ahead, give it a whirl (pun intended!)—I promise you’ll be hooked.
Print
Delicious Viennese Whirls with Jam Filling Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 42 minutes
- Yield: 10 sandwich biscuits
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Description
Classic Viennese Whirls are delicate, buttery biscuits piped into elegant swirls and sandwiched with smooth vanilla buttercream and sweet seedless jam. Perfectly melt-in-the-mouth, these treats are ideal for afternoon tea or any special occasion.
Ingredients
For the Biscuits
- 200 g Butter or Block Margarine (softened)
- 50 g Icing Sugar (Powdered Sugar)
- 200 g Plain Flour
- 2 tbsp Corn Flour (Corn Starch)
For the Filling
- 75 g Butter or Block Margarine (softened)
- 150 g Icing Sugar (Powdered Sugar)
- 1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 10 tsp Seedless Jam (Seedless Jelly) (strawberry or raspberry)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan-assisted, Gas Mark 4, or 350°F). Line two baking sheets with greaseproof paper and set aside.
- Make the Biscuit Dough: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter or margarine with the icing sugar until light and fluffy. Sift in the plain flour and corn flour, then gently fold into the mixture until it forms a soft, paste-like dough.
- Prepare to Pipe: Fit a piping bag with a large star nozzle. Spoon the dough into the piping bag; you may need to do this in two batches depending on the size of your bag.
- Pipe the Biscuits: Pipe the dough onto the lined baking sheets in swirly circles about 3–4 cm in diameter. Leave enough space between each swirl to allow for slight spreading during baking.
- Bake the Biscuits: Bake for 10–12 minutes or until the biscuits are pale golden and dry on top. Watch carefully to avoid over-baking. Once baked, leave to cool on the baking sheets until they are cool enough to handle.
- Cool Completely: Transfer the biscuits to a wire rack to cool fully while you prepare the filling.
- Prepare the Buttercream Filling: Cream together the softened butter and icing sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla extract until combined.
- Assemble the Whirls: Spread or pipe a generous amount of vanilla buttercream on the base of one biscuit, add a teaspoon of seedless jam on top of the buttercream, then sandwich with another biscuit swirl. Repeat until all biscuits are used.
Notes
- Classic homemade Viennese Whirls are a perfect melt-in-the-mouth treat for afternoon tea.
- Use softened butter for easier creaming and a smoother dough.
- Piping the dough creates the signature swirl shape; ensure your piping bag tip is large and star-shaped.
- Bake until just pale golden to keep the biscuits tender rather than crunchy.
- Seedless raspberry or strawberry jam complements the vanilla buttercream best.
- Store Viennese Whirls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich biscuit
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 40mg