Dorset knob facts for kids
A Dorset knob is a special kind of hard, dry biscuit. It's a bit like a very crunchy cracker! Today, only one company makes them, and they only produce them for a short time each year.
Dorset knobs are made from bread dough, but with extra sugar and butter added. They are carefully shaped by hand and then baked three times. This triple baking makes them very crumbly and super dry, almost like really stale bread or a rusk.
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Why are they called Dorset Knobs?
These biscuits get their name because they look a bit like old-fashioned Dorset buttons, which were also called "Dorset knob buttons." Some people also think they look like small door knobs!
How do people eat Dorset Knobs?
Dorset knobs are often eaten with cheese, especially a local cheese called Dorset Blue Vinney. A famous writer named Thomas Hardy, who lived in Dorset, was said to love them! Because they are so hard, many people like to soften them first by dipping them in sweet tea.
Who makes Dorset Knobs?
In the past, many bakeries made Dorset knobs. But today, the only company that still makes them for sale is Moores Biscuits. This family bakery has been making biscuits in Dorset since before 1860! Samuel Moores started the bakery in 1880.
Moores Biscuits used to be in a village called Morcombelake, near Bridport in Dorset, England. Now, they have moved right into Bridport. They make many different traditional biscuits, but Dorset knobs are special. They are only baked during January and February each year. You can often find them sold in a unique, old-fashioned tin.
Fun and games with Dorset Knobs!
For many years, there was a fun event called the Dorset Knob throwing competition! It happened every year in the village of Cattistock on the first Sunday in May. People would try to throw a Dorset knob as far as they could. The record throw was an amazing 29.4 meters (about 96 feet) in 2012!
The festival also had other silly games, like a knob and spoon race, knob darts, knob painting, and even guessing the weight of a knob. In 2017, the competition moved to Kingston Maurward House. It was cancelled in 2018, with plans to hold it every two years starting from 2019.
Images for kids
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Dorset Knobs decorated with personalised designs
