Old-School Aussie Nostalgia With a Zesty Twist ~ the Ultimate Yo-Yo Biscuit
These Aussie Yo-Yo Biscuits are pure Aussie nostalgia. Buttery, tender and melt-in-your-mouth, sandwiched together with a zesty orange cream filling – they’re the kind of biscuit that disappears shockingly fast. Perfect for morning tea, lunchboxes, bake sales or just a quiet cuppa on the couch.

They’re simple to make, pretty to look at and always, always a hit.
Why You’ll Love These Yo-Yos
These homemade Yo-Yo Biscuits have everything you love about the classic old-school favourite — a buttery, crumbly texture that melts in your mouth and a bright, zesty orange cream filling that lifts every bite. They’re perfect for morning or afternoon tea, lunchboxes, gifting, bake sales or entertaining, and they’re easy to customise with different flavours or colours if you want to make them extra fun. If you grew up with Yo-Yos, this recipe will take you straight back to childhood. And if you didn’t, you’re about to discover exactly why they’re such a beloved Aussie biscuit.
Flavour & Filling Ideas
The traditional orange cream is gorgeous, but you can absolutely play around:
- Orange Yo-Yos – as written: buttery biscuits with orange zest filling
- Lemon Yo-Yos – swap zest for lemon zest/juice for a tangy twist
- Passionfruit Yo-Yos – stir in fresh passionfruit pulp for a tropical hit
- Vanilla Yo-Yos – keep it simple with vanilla in the filling
- Coloured Yo-Yos – add a drop or two of food colouring to match themes (baby showers, parties, team colours etc.)
They’re ideal for high teas, birthdays and special events because you can customise them to suit the occasion.
Perfect For…
These Yo-Yo Biscuits are perfect for just about any occasion — morning or afternoon tea, school and work lunchboxes, bake sales, baby showers, bridal showers and all the big celebrations like Easter or Christmas. They’re also ideal for those cosy “just because” baking days when you want something sweet without too much fuss. They pack and travel beautifully too, making them brilliant for sharing with friends, family or anyone who deserves a little homemade treat.
Tips for the Best Yo-Yo Biscuits
- Use room temperature butter – it creams better and gives the right texture.
- Don’t overbake – they should be pale and just set, not browned.
- Weigh your dough balls if you want perfectly even sandwiches.
- Cool completely before filling so the icing doesn’t melt.
- Adjust icing texture – add a tiny splash more boiling water if too thick.
Storage
These Yo-Yo Biscuits keep really well, which makes them perfect for baking ahead. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, keeping them somewhere cool and dry so they stay buttery and tender. If you live in a warmer climate, you can pop them in the fridge — just remember to bring them back to room temperature before serving so the texture softens again. For longer storage, freeze the unfilled biscuits in an airtight container or zip-lock bag, then add the cream filling when you’re ready to serve for the freshest result.
More Baking Recipes You May Love
- Mini Jam Drop Biscuits
- Macadamia Nut Shortbread Fingers
- Banana Bread with Oil
- Basic Chocolate Chip Cookies (5 Ingredients)

Aussie Yo-Yo Biscuits
Ingredients
Biscuits
- 125g butter, at room temperature
- ½ cup caster sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup custard powder
- ¾ cup plain flour
- ¾ cup self-raising flour
Filling
- 50g butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup icing sugar
- 1 teaspoon boiling water
- Finely grated zest of ½ orange
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180℃ (160℃ fan forced). Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.
- Cream butter and sugar in a bowl until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks and vanilla and beat well to combine.
- Add custard powder, plain flour and self-raising flour and mix until a dough forms. Roll heaped teaspoons of mixture into balls (I weigh each ball and mine weighed about 18g each). Place onto prepared trays leaving a little room for spreading. Using the back of a fork, lightly squash each biscuit to mark the top.
- Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes or until biscuits move when pushed gently with your fingertip. Remove and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Meanwhile, to make the filling, combine butter, icing sugar, boiling water and orange zest in a bowl until well combined. Spread half of the biscuits with the orange filling cream (be generous) then sandwich together with the remaining biscuit halves. Allow to set before serving, if you can wait!
Notes
- MEASUREMENTS
We use Australian metric measurements. 1 teaspoon = 5ml, 1 tablespoon = 20ml and 1 cup = 250ml
We use free range extra large size eggs. Each egg weighs approximately 59g.





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