Dorset Food & Drink Guide 2016 | Page 18

Moores Biscuits I n 1850 Samuel Moore devised an unusual biscuit at his family bakery in Morcombelake.Soon they were popular around the area, and counted Thomas Hardy among their fans. Now Dorset Knobs are recognised around the world, have their own annual throwing contest and form the staple for the bakery, now in its fifth generation of the Moore family. In the past the bakery made shortbread, butter biscuits and Easter cake as well as the thrice-baked round biscuits. Now it’s Knobs for about three months of the year, and butter biscuits, with no preservatives, the rest of the baking season. The West Country range includes butter, and butter with Stem Ginger, Lemon, Pecan Nuts, Fudge Pieces or Chocolate Chips. A popular gift pack offers a chance to sample either Butter, or Butter with Lemon or Fruit and Spice and Butter Shortbread. Easter biscuits and ginger biscuits are also available, either at the shop on the main road through Morcombelake or at many shops and fine delicatessens in the region. The secret of the Dorset Knob, ideally eaten with Blue Vinny cheese, or perhaps dunked in local cider, is the best simple ingredients – flour, sugar, margarine and yeast, baked twice in the traditional way, and, for the third baking a low heat bake for more than four hours to allow each biscuit to dry out to perfection. 18