Like an oatmeal cookie but better, Anzac biscuits are soft and chewy in the middle with crispy, caramelized edges. Made in one bowl, no mixer needed!
Let me introduce you to my new favorite cookie! It comes all the way from the other side of the world.
One of the great things about our trip to New Zealand last month was the opportunity to try the food. Unlike other trips where I knew what I was getting into with the cuisine (i.e. Italy, Portugal), I wasn’t sure what to expect in New Zealand. Former British colony…pub food?
I was surprised and excited to discover that, while pub food was definitely part of the menu, there is a huge variety of cuisines and that it is all really well prepared and delicious. I loved the focus on local ingredients in every restaurant we went to, and could NOT get over the coffee.
Seriously, it may sound weird, but the coffee.was.amazing. You could be at a random truck stop in the middle of the countryside, and they would have an espresso machine and serve you the best flat white you’ve ever had. I couldn’t get over it and frankly, probably overdosed on espresso during our two weeks because I couldn’t stop myself.
Always, along with your flat white, there were fresh pastries and cookies (or “biscuits”) to be had. Sometimes savory pies, sometimes sweet ones. Sometimes cheese scones! But always an assortment of cookies.
These Anzac biscuits first caught my eye at the unreal breakfast buffet at our hotel in Queenstown, the QT Queenstown. If you ever have the chance to go, you must stay there. It was the most insane breakfast I’ve ever had at a hotel, with the most beautiful view over the lake.
This isn’t sponsored at all – I just absolutely loved it. Can you blame me?
That’s not a stock photo, I promise. I took that photo on the first morning we spent in Queenstown, sipping my (delicious) coffee by the window. New Zealand is, without a doubt, the most effortlessly beautiful place I’ve ever been.
So back to the cookie. As I was perusing the fresh fruits and smoothies, meats and cheeses, full English breakfast, and extensive bread and pastry sections, this humble nubby oatmeal cookie caught the corner of my eye.
I added it to the pile and, as is my practice, saved my breakfast dessert for last. Imagine my shock when what I was expecting to be an average oatmeal cookie turned out to be something COMPLETELY different.
The flavor was buttery and caramelized. The outer edges were crispy. The interior was chewy and textured and soft. There was a hint of some other rich flavor I couldn’t put my finger on.
I immediately went back for another.
Brian and I both devoured these cookies at every opportunity for the rest of our trip, and the first weekend after we got home I set my mind to recreating them.
I discovered after some research that these lovely cookies, called “Anzac biscuits” in Australia and New Zealand, are actually extremely simple to make.
Most recipes call for melted butter (a feature you know I love in a cookie, as displayed in my recipe for the easiest chocolate chip cookies). You can stir the dough together in one bowl. And the best part is, they don’t contain eggs so they can totally be vegan if you use melted coconut oil instead of butter (though I think the flavor the butter imparts is excellent).
What makes Anzac biscuits unique, though, is their use of golden syrup in the dough. This, it turns out, was that mystery flavor I couldn’t put my finger on when I tried them before.
Golden syrup (also called light treacle) is a cane sugar syrup used often in British and Australian/Kiwi baking. It is a natural byproduct of the cane sugar refining process, one step removed from molasses (also called “dark” or “black” treacle). It’s not commonly sold in stores in the US, but you can buy it on Amazon here!
Golden syrup has a light and buttery flavor, and its viscosity is similar to honey or corn syrup. In fact, if you don’t want to buy golden syrup, you could use corn syrup here instead with similar results. I wouldn’t recommend honey since it has a very distinct flavor (unless you want that).
The golden syrup adds a butteryness and richness to the Anzac biscuits, while also keeping them fresh longer because as an invert sugar, it is hygroscopic (meaning it attracts and retains moisture). This recipe was actually developed during WWI to last long enough to send to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) troops, and I’m sure this is why golden syrup was used. Baking science is so cool!
The one thing I did discover through the course of my testing (and if you follow me on Instagram, you know I went through several rounds of testing, poor me) was that although the basic ingredients are uniform in most published recipes for Anzac biscuits, the baking times and temperatures recommended vary wildly from recipe to recipe. This was frustrating.
After a few overly crunchy tests, I found that slightly flattening the cookie dough balls and then baking for 10 minutes at 350 degrees F was the appropriate method. This yielded perfectly crisp edges, yet chewy interiors, just the way I remembered it.
I hope you try these humble yet delicious Anzac biscuits for yourself. They’re worth it!
Anzac Biscuits
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
- 2 tablespoons golden syrup (can sub corn syrup if necessary)
- 2 tablespoons hot water
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 3/4 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2-3 cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large microwave-safe bowl (or on the stove), melt the butter and golden syrup until bubbling. Whisk in the baking soda and hot water – it may bubble even more, and that’s ok.
- Whisk in the sugar and salt until well-combined, then stir in the flour, rolled oats, and shredded coconut until a dough is formed.
- Scoop the dough by rounded tablespoons (I use a #40 size tablespoon cookie scoop), roll dough into balls in your hands, and place at least 2 inches apart on the cookie sheets. These cookies spread! Flatten each dough ball slightly with your fingers.
- Bake for 10 minutes, or until cookies are brown around the edges but still pale in the center. They may look underdone, but they will firm up as they cool. Serve!
Notes
Like this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment or tag me on Instagram @katiebirdbakes, and sign up for my email list to receive my recipes straight to your inbox every time I post!
Terrible. Too thin, too dry. Not the Aussie spirit.
Hi Claudia – I’d love to know what you’d do differently or how the recipe deviates from your ideal Anzac biscuit. I’ve never had these come out dry when they are baked for the time directed in the recipe (just 10 minutes). If you baked them longer than that, they definitely could come out dry. thanks!
Well didn’t spread but still yummy made only with 1/4 c of sugar. Hubby approved. Will make again!
Thanks Betty, glad you enjoyed! The sugar in the recipe actually is important for the cookies to spread, so I’d recommend using the full amount or using a granulated sugar substitute if you’re cutting back.
To those who may not understand the “culture” of the Anzac biscuit and why it is disrespectful to change the recipe or call them cookies, it may be useful to point out that ANZAC actually stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, for whom these biscuits/bikkies were created. Also, the true recipe actually calls for brown sugar, that also enhances the flavor. May I respectfully suggest that, with the modifications you (and others) have made, you modify their name–perhaps even Anzac style biscuits, as they are not the true Anzacs, which will last many weeks.
Made these biscuits – what a wonderful texture and distinct flavor from the butter, syrup, oats, and coconut. I will definitely be making again! I did find that my second batch came out a little lighter colored at 350degrees for 9 minutes (instead of 10, but each oven is different). I used silpat on my baking sheet and they spread out the perfect amount.
Thanks for the recipe, Katie!
Awesome – thanks for the detailed review Sara!
A perfect impulse-bake recipe!
Thank you!!