Anzac Biscuits
The origins of the Anzac cookies may be traced back to World War One. The acronym ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
During World War 1, wives and women's organisations delivered Anzac cookies to soldiers serving overseas. Unlike other foods, such as bread, which is mushy and turns mouldy rapidly, the components do not deteriorate readily and are extremely resilient.
The biscuits are so long-lasting that troops are claimed to have written messages on them and sent them far distances to friends and family.
And today these cookies have been produced more and appear on the supermarket shelves of New Zealand, especially Amazon so you can also buy them online.
Ingredients:
85g porridge oat; 85g desiccated coconut; 100g plain flour; 100g caster sugar; 100g butter, plus extra butter for greasing; 1 tbsp golden syrup; 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
Instructions:
- Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Put the oats, coconut, flour and sugar in a bowl. Melt the butter in a small pan and stir in the golden syrup. Add the bicarbonate of soda to 2 tbsp boiling water, then stir into the golden syrup and butter mixture.
- Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and pour in the butter and golden syrup mixture. Stir gently to incorporate the dry ingredients.
- Put dessertspoonfuls of the mixture on to buttered baking sheets, about 2.5cm/1in apart to allow room for spreading. Bake in batches for 8-10 mins until golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
