ANZAC Biscuits

Anzac biscuits are associated with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) which was established during World War I. It is believed that these biscuits were sent by wives and women's groups to soldiers abroad because the ingredients do not spoil easily and so the biscuits remained good to eat after time it took to transport them.

While there is evidence that soldiers on the Western Front in France and Belgium received oats-based biscuits there is little information regarding their consumption by the ANZACs troops.

However, these biscuits became popular and named ANZAC biscuits becasue they were sold at fetes, galas, parades in Australia and New Zealand to raise funds for the war effort. At that time, they were referred to as “soldier’s biscuits” and later called ANZAC biscuits.

We discovered these when we moved to Australia. It was only a few years ago we tried making them and since we enjoyed the taste and the thought behind making these biscuits it has become a regular bake for ANZAC Day in our house.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of rolled oats
• 1 cup of plain flour
• ¾ cup of desiccated coconut
• 2/3 cup of sugar
• 1/3 cup of golden syrup / honey
• 125 gm of unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 2 table spoons of water

Method

• Put all dry ingredients in to a bowl.
• Put the golden syrup and butter in a small pan and heat gently till the butter melts and mises with the syrup.
• Then mix pout the wet warm mixture into the bowl of dry ingredients.
• Mix well with a spatula first and then with your hands.
• Preheat your oven to 160 C.
• With your hands shape the mix into palm size biscuits or you can use any mould to shape your biscuits. Try and keep the thickness of the biscuit between 1 and 1 ½ centimetre to ensure even and quick cooking.
• Place the biscuits on a tray lined with grease proof paper.
• Cook in middle of the oven for 10 mins till golden brown.
• Allow them to cool a little before removing them from the tray and leaving on a rack to completely cool.
• The store in a closed container.