These Iced Vovo biscuits are a delicious take on the iconic Aussie biscuit! Crunchy golden biscuits topped with pink marshmallow fondant icing, raspberry jam and sprinkling of coconut.
Taking just 20 minutes to prepare, they are SO much fun and guaranteed to put a smile on everyones face!
The old-school Iced Vovos with their crumbly biscuit base and fluffy marshmallow top, with a strip of raspberry jam and sprinkling of desiccated coconut, are a childhood favourite that still continues to please!
Alongside my mini marshmallow tarts, and marshmallow cookies, these classic crowd pleasers are perfect for kids parties and bake sales, and make a fun after-school treat!
Just like my other classic Australian recipes the Wagon Wheel marshmallow slice, Monte Carlo biscuits, Yo Yo biscuits, hedgehog slice, and lemon coconut slice, these iced vovo biscuits are as popular as ever, and loved by all ages!
Why You're Going To Love This Recipe
- Simple ingredients - iced vovo biscuits are made with basic pantry ingredients.
- Versatile - these cute marshmallow cookies are perfect for parties, bake sales, morning tea and lunch boxes!
- Crowd pleaser - iced vovo biscuits are such a popular classic with both adults and kids alike!
- Conventional and Thermomix - both methods are written in the recipe card at the end of the post.
What You Need
This easy iced vovo biscuits recipe is made with basic ingredients - in fact, you may already have them in your kitchen!
Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.
- Butter - I recommend using unsalted butter in this recipe. If you use salted butter then omit the pinch of salt. Use butter softened to room temperature.
- Caster sugar - also known as superfine sugar. This fine sugar dissolves easily when combined with the other ingredients.
- Egg - I use large size eggs which weigh approx 55g/2oz. have your egg at room temperature for the best results.
- Vanilla extract - or vanilla essence or vanilla bean paste, if you prefer.
- Plain flour - also known as all-purpose flour.
- Baking powder - this is the raising agent in these biscuits.
- Salt - enhances the flavours in the biscuit, however if using salted butter then omit the salt.
- Pink marshmallows - you will need approx 18 regular size pink marshmallows. You can use a mixture of pink and white marshmallows however you won't get as vivid a pink colour as you do when you use just pink marshmallows.
- Butter - a little butter is mixed with the marshmallows to help create the spreadable consistency needed to spoon over the biscuits.
- Icing sugar - with the butter, this helps create that classic marshmallow fondant.
- Desiccated coconut - a finely ground coconut. Don't use shredded coconut as this is too coarse.
- Raspberry jam - raspberry jam gives the classic iced vovo flavour, but you could substitute with another flavour such as strawberry jam, if you prefer. Slightly warming the jam before using makes it easier to spread neatly in the middle of the iced vovo biscuit.
Equipment Required
You don't need any fancy equipment to make these fun biscuits with marshmallow and coconut.
- Medium bowl and hand beaters or stand mixer - or Thermomix.
- Rolling pin.
- Two baking trays - greased and lined with baking paper.
- Microwave-safe bowl and microwave.
- Flat plate - for the desiccated coconut.
- Oven - I specify fan-forced temperature in my recipes. If you have a conventional oven, increase the temperature by 10-20 Degrees celsius.
Step By Step Instructions
These pretty jam and marshmallow biscuits with their buttery base and soft marshmallow fondant topping are SO scrumptious you will never buy store-bought ones again!
Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.
Step 1 - Cream The Butter And Sugar
Place the softened butter and caster sugar in a medium bowl and beat until pale and fluffy.
Step 2 - Add The Egg And Vanilla Extract
Add the egg and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture.
Beat until well combined.
Step 3 - Add The Dry Ingredients
Sift over the plain flour, baking powder and salt and mix to combine.
Step 4 - Roll And Chill
Divide the dough into 2 equal portions. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out each portion on lightly floured baking paper sheets. Roll each portion out to between ½ - 1 cm thick.
Chill the dough on the baking paper sheets in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
Step 5 - Cut The Biscuits Into Rectangles
Cut the dough into small rectangles (approximately 8cm x 5cm), using a knife then place the rectangles on to greased and lined baking trays.
Press together the scraps of dough, roll and repeat until all the dough has been used.
Step 6 - Bake
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven until they appear 'dry' on top. Do NOT overcook. You want them to be very pale in colour, like in the image below.
Step 7 - Prepare The Marshmallow Icing
Place the marshmallows and butter into a large microwave-safe bowl.
Heat for 30 seconds and stir. Heat for a further 15-30 seconds, and stir until the mixture is smooth.
NOTE: Be VERY careful as the melted marshmallow will be very hot and sticky.
Sift the icing sugar over the top.
Stir until the fondant mixtute is smooth.
Step 8 - Decorate
Use a teaspoon, spread strips of the pink marshmallow mixture down both long sides of the rectangular cookies, leaving a strip clear in the centre.
Place the coconut onto a flat plate. Place the cookie onto the coconut, marshmallow side facing down.
Very lightly press the cookie so that the coconut sticks to the marshmallow.
Spread a small amount of slightly warmed jam down the centre.
Repeat to decorate the remaining iced vovo biscuits.
Expert Tips
- Use room temperature ingredients for the best results.
- Allow room in-between the cookies when placing on the baking trays as they can spread slightly when baking.
- You can chill the rolled dough in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Do not over bake the cookies - they want to be just lightly golden.
- Be careful when handling the hot marshmallow mixture - the melted marshmallows will be VERY hot when out of the microwave, and as they are very sugary they can cause nasty burns.
- To warm the raspberry jam, heat in the microwave on 10 second bursts, stirring in between, until it becomes slightly runny and can be easily spread.
- If you don't have a microwave you can melt the marshmallow mixture in a saucepan over low heat.
- To use up the white / other marshmallows use them in your favourite rocky road recipes, or in this rice bubble marshmallow slice.
FAQs
Store the cooled biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
No, I do not recommend freezing iced vovo biscuits - enjoy them freshly baked!
The Australian company Arnotts invented the Iced Vovo along with many other iconic Australian biscuits.
Related Recipes
Looking for more delicious and fun bakes to take you on a journey down memory lane? Try these other popular classic recipes:
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Iced Vovo Biscuits
Ingredients
For The Cookies
- 170 g (¾ cup) unsalted butter room temperature
- 150 g (¾ cup) caster sugar
- 1 egg large, room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 300 g (2 cups) plain flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- pinch of salt
To Decorate
- 100 g pink marshmallows approx 18 regular size
- 30 g butter
- 50 g (⅓ cup) icing sugar
- 65 g (¾ cup) desiccated coconut
- ⅓ cup raspberry jam slightly warmed
Instructions
To Make The Cookies
- In a medium bowl, beat the softened butter and caster sugar together until pale and creamy. If using a Thermomix: Insert the Butterfly into the Thermomix bowl. Add the softened butter, caster sugar and mix for 20 seconds, Speed 4. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix for a further 40 seconds, Speed 4 (or until pale and creamy).
- Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat until combined. If using a Thermomix: Reduce to Speed 2 and with the butterfly still turning, add the egg and vanilla extract through the MC hole. Increase to Speed 4 for 20 seconds. Remove the butterfly.
- Sift over the plain flour, baking powder and salt and beat on low to combine. If using a Thermomix: Add the plain flour, baking powder and salt to the bowl. Mix for 10 seconds, Speed 4. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and repeat for a further 10 seconds.
- Divide the dough into 2 equal portions. Using a floured rolling pin, roll out each portion on lightly floured baking paper sheets to ½-1cm cm thick.
- Chill the dough on the baking paper sheets in the fridge for at least 1 hour (up to 2 days).
- Preheat oven to 175 degrees celsius (fan-forced). Grease and line two baking trays with baking paper.
- Use a knife to cut the dough into small rectangles (approximately 8cm x 5cm). Press together and roll out the remaining dough. Cut out more rectangles until all of the dough has been used.
- Bake the cookies for approximately 10 minutes or until they appear 'dry' on top. Do NOT overcook.
Decorate The Cookies
- Place the marshmallows and butter into a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 30 seconds and stir (be careful as the marshmallow will be very hot and sticky). Heat for a further 15-30 seconds or until smooth and melted.
- Sift the icing sugar over the top and stir until smooth.
- One by one, use a teaspoon to spread strips of the pink marshmallow mixture down either side of the rectangular cookies (leaving a strip clear in the centre).
- Place the coconut onto a flat plate. Press the cookies onto the coconut so that it sticks to the marshmallow.
- Spread a small amount of slightly warmed jam down the centre.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients for the best results.
- Allow room in-between the cookies when placing on the baking trays as they can spread slightly when baking.
- You can chill the rolled dough in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Do not over bake the cookies - they want to be just lightly golden.
- Be careful when handling the hot marshmallow mixture - the melted marshmallows will be VERY hot when out of the microwave, and as they are very sugary they can cause nasty burns.
- To warm the raspberry jam heat in the microwave on 10 second bursts, stirring in between, until it becomes slightly runny and can be spread easily.
- If you don't have a microwave you can melt the marshmallow mixture in a saucepan over low heat.
- To use up the white / other marshmallows - use them in your favourite rocky road recipes, or in this rice bubble marshmallow slice.
- Storage - store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Freezer - I do not recommend freezing these biscuits.
Angela Barrow
Made these for the first time as I dislike the store ones and they are a huge hit in this house, thank you for this wonderful recipe.