Celebrate ANZAC Day by making biscuits

The ANZAC biscuit is an Australian favourite and perfect for a healthy dessert or afternoon treat with a cup of tea. Try our great basic biscuit recipe or a unique dried fruit variation below.

As the story has it, the original ANZAC biscuits were baked by the doting mothers and wives of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers and sent across the oceans as a token of their love. It’s an eggless, sweet biscuit with a long shelf life, which made it ideal for the brave men to keep by their side on the battlefield. These crunchy biscuits have since become an Australian favourite and are traditionally eaten on ANZAC Day… but adored all year round!

There are hundreds of different variations of the ANZAC biscuit recipe, some with interesting additions like fruit and some even coated in icing. Traditionally comprised of oats, sugar and butter, the batter relies on golden syrup to bind the ingredients together. Try this basic ANZAC biscuit recipe or an interesting variation featuring dried fruit below.

Basic ANZAC biscuits

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup plain flour, sifted
• ½ cup sugar
• ¾ cup desiccated coconut
• 2 tablespoons golden syrup
• 125 grams butter
• ½ teaspoon bicarb soda
• 1 tablespoon hot water

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 160 degrees C.
2. Line a large baking tray with non-stick baking paper.
3. Combine the oats, flour, sugar and coconut in a large bowl.
4. Combine the golden syrup and butter in a small saucepan over a low heat. Stir gently until the mixture melts.
5. In a separate bowl combine the bicarb soda and water and add to the butter mixture. Move this batter to the dry ingredients bowl and mix well.
6. Drop large spoonfuls of the biscuit batter onto the baking tray, allowing room for the biscuits to spread during baking.
7. Pop the tray in your preheated oven for approximately 10 minutes or until golden.
8. Remove from the oven and cool on wire racks.

Note: Store biscuits in a sealed container.

Fruit and oat biscuits

This is a modern twist on the traditional ANZAC biscuit recipe.

Ingredients: 

• 6 Granny Smith apples
• 4 cups traditional oats
• 2 carrots, finely grated
• ½ cup sultanas
• ¼ cup prunes, finely sliced
• ½ cup dried apricots, finely sliced
• 1 tablespoon golden syrup
• Pinch of cinnamon
• Pinch of nutmeg

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 160 degrees C.
2. Line a large baking tray with non-stick baking paper.
3. Peel, core and chop the apples, then place them in a pot with a small amount of water and stew until soft.
4. In a separate bowl, combine the stewed apple pieces, the oats and carrots. Stir to combine.
5. Add the dried fruit and give the mixture another stir.
6. Drizzle the golden syrup over the mixture, then add the cinnamon and nutmeg, and stir well until all ingredients are combined.
7. Drop large spoonfuls of the biscuit batter onto the baking tray, allowing room for the biscuits to spread during baking.
8. Pop the tray in your preheated oven for approximately 10 minutes or until golden.
9. Remove from the oven and cool on wire racks.

Note: Store biscuits in a sealed container.

More on ANZAC Day

ANZAC Day dawn services
Celebrate ANZAC Day with ginger slice
DIY ANZAC Day poppy