ANZAC Biscuits

  Posted on June 14, 2011  by Leslie Blythe  No comments

A mug from Australia

My friend Sharon, who lives in Brisbane, Australia, (which is too far!!!!), sent me this wonderful mug.  It has the recipe for ANZAC Biscuits printed on it.  I had never heard of them! Thank you Sharon, I love it!   Here is what I found out….

Anzac biscuits are a sweet biscuit popular in Australia and New Zealand, made using rolled oats, flour, desiccated coconut, sugar, butter, golden syrup, bicarbonate of soda and boiling water. Anzac biscuits have long been associated with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) established in World War I.

It has been claimed the biscuits were sent by wives to soldiers abroad because the ingredients do not spoil easily and the biscuits kept

well during naval transportation. Today, ANZAC biscuits are manufactured commercially for retail sale.

Biscuits issued to soldiers by the Army, referred to as “Anzac tiles” or “Anzac wafers”, differ from the popular Anzac biscuit. Anzac tiles and wafers were hard tack, a bread substitute, which had a long shelf life and was very hard.

ANZAC Biscuits

Makes 2 dozen

1 cup rolled oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup desiccated coconut
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 Tbs boiling water
1/2 cup butter
1 Tbs golden syrup

Combine oats, flour, coconut and sugar.

In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the syrup and butter together. Mix the soda and the boiling water and add to the melted butter and syrup.

Add butter mixture to the dry ingredients. Drop by teaspoons on greased cookie sheets (or baking paper).

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 18 to 20 minutes.