Anzac Biscuits are associated with the Australian, and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), established in World War I. The biscuits were baked by the soldiers' wives and women's groups and sent to soldiers abroad. The women chose this particular recipe because the ingredients didn't spoil quickly. The biscuits were able to survive their long journey by ship to various locations.
During the early 1900s, the biscuits were often referred to as 'Rolled Oat Biscuits' and 'Soldier's Biscuits' in cookbooks. It wasn't until the 1920s that they were renamed 'Anzac Biscuits'. This is because, on the 25th of April 1915, ANZAC soldiers, as a part of the allied expedition, set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula, leading to many casualties. The biscuits were renamed in honour of the ANZAC soldiers that fought and died at Gallipoli on that solemn day.
We love to make Anzac Biscuits every year on Anzac Day in remembrance of the soldiers who fought for Australia and New Zealand. They make a delicious treat all year round; however, they are particularly special to us today.
Here are the ingredients that you'll need to make the bikkies:
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 tbsp golden syrup
- 2 tbsp boiling water
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup coconut
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 170 degrees Celcius.
Step 2: Place the butter, golden syrup, and boiling water into a saucepan, adding the baking soda last. Stir while slowly while heating the pan. Continue until the mixture starts to froth or bubble, and then remove it from the heat.
Step 3: Add the sugar, flour, oats and coconut to the mixture. Mix it all together until the mixture becomes well-formed, and then roll it into little balls. Flatten the balls with a fork or with your hand and place them on a greased baking tray.
Make them relatively flat if you like them crunchy, or flatten them less if you like them crunchy on the outside but slightly soft in the centre, like we do!
Step 4: Bake the Anzac biscuits in the oven for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
We hope you enjoy making this yummy recipe as much as we do. It's not so much the biscuits themselves that makes them special but the spirit and sacrifice of the soldiers who inspired their name.