ANZAC BISCUITS

The Anzacs are the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, who fought with courage and distinction at Gallipoli in World War I and after.

These biscuits are a traditional and popular Australian biscuit (cookie) - and easy to make. The recipe below is a version based on, but not entirely faithful to, the Australian Women's Weekly recipe, one of many Anzac recipes.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup plain flour (ie no raising agents)
• 1 cup sugar (white or half white, half brown)
• 3/4 cup dessicated coconut
• 4 oz / 125g butter
• 2 tablespoons golden syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1 tablespoon boiling water

Method:

Combine oats, sifted flour, sugar and coconut in a large bowl. In a saucepan, melt butter and golden syrup over a gentle heat. Mix bicarb soda with boiling water, add to melted butter mixture and add this to the dry ingredients. Stir until combined. You can now construct separate biscuits (cookies) or a slice.

Separate Biscuits (Cookies): Take teaspoonfuls of mixture and place on a lightly greased oven tray; allow room for spreading. Cook in a slow oven 150degC / 300degF for 20 minutes. Loosen while warm, then cool on trays. If you leave them a little longer, they'll be crisper (but they're nice chewy too). Makes about 35.

Slice: Place mixture in a lamington/slice tin and bake for 20-30 min at 160degC / 325degF. Important: slice into pieces when you take it from the oven, cool in the tin then remove pieces. If you let it go cold in the tin without slicing, you'll have one Large Piece, and only 1.

Variations:

• You can replace half the white flour with wholemeal.
• You can add some spices; mixed spice, or ginger.
• You can add a little wheatgerm or bran to the dry ingredients.
• You can replace the golden syrup with honey.

These will all vary the taste a bit, and deviate from the classic Anzac, but it's a forgiving recipe.

I've placed this recipe on the site because these biscuits are mentioned in Darcy's Christmas - and to readers outside Australia they might be unknown.

Click here to return to Part Five of Darcy's Christmas, or make a choice from the list below.

Darcy's Christmas: Title Page | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

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Disclaimer:This recipe works and tastes good, but I can't take responsibility for your versions, or any legal liability associated with the recipe or its use.

Page updated 3 January 1998