You’d be hard-pressed to find a biscuit more nationally celebrated in Australia than the Anzac biscuit. Jam-packed full of rolled oats, shredded coconut and sweet golden syrup, it seems like most people have their own version of what makes the best Anzac biscuit recipe. But there was an original recipe for this tasty treat. It stems back to World War One and the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) from where the distinctive biscuits got their name.
The origin of the recipe
The Anzac biscuit’s story begins with its sibling, the hardtack biscuit. This was a staple ration for soldiers and sailors during the war. These biscuits were very hard and flavourless, but were eaten as a nutritional substitute for bread. The texture and hardness of the biscuits were so unpalatable that soldiers attempted to turn them into something more edible. Some even grated them up with water to form a porridge.
Australians started experimenting with more luxurious ingredients and were determined to steer away from the hardtack biscuit. Oats, golden syrup and coconut were added, and cooked in a similar way that ensured they lasted a while on the shelves. Where most biscuit recipes require eggs, they are omitted from the Anzac recipe. At the time this was because of the scarcity of eggs during the war time. It also helped to increase shelf life.
Despite the common assumption that Anzac biscuits as we know them were sent to soldiers on the front lines in World War One, it wasn’t until 1921 that the first recipe recognisable as the modern Anzac biscuit was published. It appeared in the 9th edition of St Andrew’s Cookery Book Dunedin. They were first named “Anzac Crispies” and later renamed “Anzac Biscuits”. Anzac biscuits quickly gained popularity and were sold at fetes and fundraisers to support the war efforts, a tradition which is still carried on today.
Nowadays baking these biscuits is a tradition done to commemorate April 25. Everyone has their favourite variation, whether that’s crunchy or slightly soft. Below are our best Anzac biscuit recipes, including some creative Anzac-inspired bakes like a tasty caramel slice with Anzac biscuit base and topping, and even an Anzac apple cake.
The best Anzac biscuits recipe of all time
Anzac caramel slice
Anzac biscuit apple loaf cake
Anzac biscuit sticky buns
Anzac caramel fudge with crumble topping
Anzac biscuit apple crumble
Anzac slice
Anzac biscuits with salted rosemary
Wheat free Anzac biscuits
Crunchy Anzac biscuits
Chewy Anzac biscuits
Macadamia Anzac biscuits
Anzac slice with golden icing
Bite-sized Anzac biscuits
Giant Anzac biscuits
Anzac Day cake
Wheat-free macadamia Anzac biscuits
How to make Anzac biscuits (video)
