What are Anzac Biscuits and why are they important?

What are Anzac biscuits?

One of the traditions that Australians use to commemorate ANZAC day is making and of course eating Anzac biscuits. Anzac biscuits have a deep golden colour, a nice caramelised flavour, and can sometimes be crunchy or soft/chewy. These are not just your ordinary biscuits. They are a symbol of national pride and connects the country to a part of its past. You would also commonly see them being sold at some fundraising events. But they’re not exclusively eaten only during those occasions as they’re readily available in supermarkets and cafés throughout Australia all year round.

Are they the same as Hardtack Biscuits?

There can sometimes be a bit of confusion between the two because of the name as Hardtack biscuits are also sometimes known as Anzac tiles or Anzac wafer biscuits. But the Anzac biscuits that we now know today aren’t the same ones as Hardtack biscuits which were supplied to the soldiers in Gallipoli. The two main differences are the shelf life (Hardtack lasts so much longer) and the taste (Hardtack are often thought of as unpalatable).

History

The origin of the iconic Anzac biscuits are still contested. It has historically been known as a staple inclusion in the care packages that families and charities used to send overseas to our brave soldiers. This is because the ingredients used to make them do not spoil easily (but again, not as long as Hardtack) and it kept well during naval transportation.

Regulations

Anzac biscuits are protected because of their association with ANZAC soldiers. There are regulations in place with regards to the use of the word ‘Anzac’ when commercially producing and selling Anzac biscuits. According to the DVA, they should “not substantially deviate from the the generally accepted recipe and shape, and must be referred to as ‘Anzac Biscuits’ or ‘Anzac Slice’ (not ‘Anzac Cookies’)”. But if certain ingredients need to be substituted to cater to certain dietary requirements, then it wouldn’t be considered a deviation.

Recipe

Anzac biscuits are fairly simple to do and are made with simple ingredients that you’d probably already have on hand. Check out the video and recipe below if you’re keen to make some on ANZAC day. They turned out really nice and were somehow both chewy and crunchy at the same time!

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup plain flour
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
• 125 g butter
• 2 tbs golden syrup
• 1 tbs boiling water
• 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Directions:

• Preheat your oven to 160°C.
• Melt the butter then add syrup.
• Add in dissolved bicarbonate of soda and water.
• Mix dry ingredients in a bowl, add the liquid mixture and stir.
• Place small balls of the mixture (about 1 teaspoon) onto a greased tray.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly brown.
• Put biscuits onto a cooling rack to cool.

Sources:

– https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/anzac-biscuits
– https://www.theguardian.com/food/2020/apr/22/historic-biscuits-where-the-pavlova-divides-us-the-anzac-unites-us

Disclaimer All content and information in this post is for purposes of sharing my experiences only, does not constitute professional advice and does not establish any kind of professional-client relationship.

Like and follow us on our social media pages to keep up to date!
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr