HOW TO PREPARE TIM TAMS.

Tim Tams are a popular Australian chocolate biscuit treat known for their crunchy texture and creamy chocolate filling. Here’s a simplified recipe to make Tim Tams at home:

Ingredients:

For the Biscuit:

• 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup (60g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• Pinch of salt

For the Filling:

• 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups (180g) powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons boiling water

For the Coating:

• 300g dark chocolate, chopped
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Instructions:

1. Make the Biscuit:

• In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add the vanilla extract and egg, and beat until well combined.
• In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until a dough forms. It should be soft and slightly sticky.
• Divide the dough into two portions, shape each into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

2. Bake the Biscuits:

• Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of the chilled dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.
• Use a knife or cookie cutter to cut out rectangular shapes, about 2 inches long and 1 inch wide. Place them on the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack.

3. Make the Filling:

• In a bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy.
• Gradually add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder, mixing well after each addition.
• Add the boiling water and beat until the filling is smooth and spreadable. The filling should be thick but easy to spread.

4. Assemble the Tim Tams:

• Spread a generous amount of the filling onto the flat side of half of the cooled biscuits.
• Top with the remaining biscuits to create sandwich cookies.

5. Coat with Chocolate:

• Melt the dark chocolate and vegetable oil together in a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water (double boiler), stirring until smooth and melted.
• Dip each assembled Tim Tam biscuit into the melted chocolate, coating it completely.
• Place the coated biscuits on a wire rack or parchment-lined tray to set.

6. Chill and Serve:

• Refrigerate the Tim Tams for about 30 minutes, or until the chocolate coating is firm.
• Serve and enjoy your homemade Tim Tams!

Tips:

• Storage: Keep the Tim Tams in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. They can also be frozen for longer storage.
• Variations: You can customize the filling by adding a hint of peppermint extract for a minty version, or use milk or white chocolate for coating instead of dark chocolate.

Making Tim Tams at home allows you to enjoy this iconic Australian treat anytime, and they’re sure to impress with their chocolatey goodness!