ANZAC Biscuits (or cookies for my American friends)

[alwaysjbj]

With ANZAC day approaching (25th) I'm planning on doing some baking, and I thought I'd post the recipe for ANZAC Biscuits and a little history for the non-Australian/New Zealanders on my f'list.

Anzac biscuits received their name during the First World War. Up until that time people had been baking “Soldier’s biscuits” for the troops, based on a recipe derived from the Scottish oat cake. The main feature was that no eggs were used otherwise the biscuits would spoil on the long journey to the front.

These were renamed as Anzac biscuits after the campaign at Gallipoli.

ANZAC Biscuits

Ingredients

1 cup plain flour
1 cup rolled oats (regular oatmeal) uncooked
1 cup desiccated coconut
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 tbsp golden syrup
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 tbsp boiling water

Method

Combine the flour (sifted), oats, coconut and sugar in a bowl.
Melt the butter and Golden Syrup in a saucepan over a low heat..

Mix the bicarbonate of soda with the water and add to the butter and Golden Syrup.

Pour the liquids into the dry ingredients and mix well.

Spoon dollops of mixture, about the size of a walnut shell, onto a greased tin leaving as much space again between dollops to allow for spreading.

Bake in a moderate oven, 180C / 350F, for 15-20 minutes.

Cool on a wire rack and seal in airtight containers.

Tips

The American tablespoon is a little smaller than the British tablespoon, so be generous with your Golden Syrup and Water.



ETA: Oh yeah... I forgot to mention... keep an eye on them, they burn very easily!

Comments

[married-n-mich.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the history and the recipe. I added this post to my Recipe memories. I might actually make these one day!

[debris4spike]

It is one of the recipes this Brit actually knows!! I am not a great cook - but love them - and always make them for ANZAC Day ( which is 2 days after St. George's day!!)

It is a date I always remember - especially having watched the mini-series some years ago. Which was amazing. My Grandfather was in The English Army - but spent a lot ot time with the ANZACs when he regiment was decimated - which made that series all the more poignant.

[silentflux]

Very cool! Thanks for the little history lesson & the recipe :) I'll definitely be trying that out this weekend...

[copykween.livejournal.com]

These look good! I might try them. Oh, does bicarbonate of soda = baking soda?

[alwaysjbj.livejournal.com]

They are (too) yummy!

Hmm...don't know... we have bi-carb and we have baking powder... but not baking soda...so it is possible.

[alwaysjbj.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. I hope you enjoy. Oh, and just keep a close eye on them...they go from not cooked to burnt very, very quickly!

[alwaysjbj.livejournal.com]

You're welcome, I hope you enjoy.

[alwaysjbj.livejournal.com]

I never saw the mini-series (actually didn't even know there was one) but the movie (Gallipoli) is very good.

ANZAC biscuits are just toooo nice. LOL. I don't make them very often because they are far too tempting!

[copykween.livejournal.com]

Ok....I'll look into it a bit and try them!

[jerusha]

Oooh, I'll have to give these a try! But what is Golden Syrup?

[alwaysjbj.livejournal.com]

Bugger... I guess it's an Australian thing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_syrup (It lies when it says it tastes similar to honey...it doesn't! More like a light treacle)

You can use treacle instead, it will just have a slightly stronger taste... hope that helps.

[jerusha]

I don't know that we have treacle either, but we do have corn (Karo) syrup, which seems to be about the same thing. Maybe this weekend, or next after finals...

[alwaysjbj.livejournal.com]

I think maybe you guys call treacle molasses.

Although I imgaine any sweet sticky substance should do the trick LOL. I hope they work out for you.

[debris4spike]

The series was great - with Paul Hogan - 5 episodes - well worth a look. As to the film - that is the only fil I went to see 3 times in a month when I was a student. It was amazing - and I really kept expecting them to change the ending! I still find it good - but superb at the cinema.

But I agree with the ANZAC biscuits - very moor-ish!

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

You lost me at "burn very easily". :-)