ANZAC Biscuits

ANZAC Biscuits

April 25: ANZAC Day

Australia and New Zealand remember their veterans with an annual national holiday on April 25. We join the commemoration by baking special cookies called ANZAC biscuits. ANZAC is an acronym for the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps, and cookies are called biscuits there. During World War I, these hearty treats were sent to troops abroad.  Today, these are still popular with soldiers and civilians alike.

Islander’s family used to mail care packages to her Daddy while he was deployed in the U.S. Navy.  She still sends Treats to the Troops and encourages others to do the same, perhaps including ANZAC biscuits in the box.

Recipe

(Adapted from Australian Women’s Weekly)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1 cup flour, sifted
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ¾ cup dessicated coconut
  • ½ cup (1 stick) butter
  • 2 tablespoons golden syrup
  • ½ teaspoon of baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon of boiling water

Directions

In a large bowl, mix the oats, flour, sugar and coconut. In a small pot, melt the butter and golden syrup, stirring over low heat on the stove top.  In a small cup or dish, combine the baking soda with boiling water, then pour this into the melted butter mixture, stirring well. Add this to the dry ingredients. Blend well until everything begins to stick together.

ANZAC Biscuits

Pack into 1-inch rounds and place on a greased baking sheet. Flatten each with the bottom of a glass, carefully forming disc shapes.  Bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees F for about 20 minutes or until slightly browned. Remove from the oven and let set for 10 minutes. Cool on wire racks to harden.  Yield: About 3 dozen.

ANZAC Biscuits

Notes

  • The measurements in this recipe were originally in metric system and were converted to the U.S. equivalent.
  • We got the dessicated coconut from About Australia online shop.
  • Thanks to Sister Durie K. for the cookbook, “The Big Book of Beautiful Biscuits.”
  • Thanks to Lisa L. for the golden syrup. She sent us the Lyle’s brand from Europe. We would often mail Treats to the Troops and to her naval reserve unit while she served abroad.
  • Thanks to Eric L. for the koala clip and aboriginal kangaroo leather pouch used for the photo props. Islander met this generous gentleman from New South Wales in Australia while mutually attending a session at an international conference for work in Toronto, Canada.