Anzac biscuits

Anzac biscuits are as quintessentially Australian as Vegemite and lamingtons. Ensconced in national pride and beheld with reverent affection, Anzac biscuits were originally developed by hardworking mothers and wives, keen to send biscuits to their loved ones at the battlefront of World War I.

The word Anzac is an anagram of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, who suffered heavy losses during the protracted campaign waged for possession of the Dardanelle Straits in Turkey. Lauded as a turning point for Australia's burgeoning sense of identity, Anzac biscuits are probably one of the few edibles which engender fierce patriotism wrapped up with the birth of the fighting Aussie spirit.

The Anzac biscuit keeps tremendously well, specifically devised to withstand long transport in warm cargo holds whilst maintaining its crunch factor. Due to the national shortage of eggs, Anzac biscuits are also unusual in their incorporation of golden syrup as the binding agent, and the readily-available ingredients make them an easy, cheap and effective crowd pleaser.

Anzac biscuits
From Edmonds Cookery Book

1/2 cup plain flour
1/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup coconut
3/4 cup rolled oats
50g butter
1 tablespoon golden syrup
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons boiling water

Mix together flour, sugar, coconut and rolled oats.
Melt butter and golden syrup.
Dissolve baking soda in the boiling water and add to butter and golden syrup.
Stir butter mixture into dry ingredients.
Place level tablespoonfuls of mixture onto cold greased trays.
Bake at 180C for about 15 minutes or until golden.

Makes 20.

TIPS:
The mixture will be a little dry but they seem to bind as they bake so don't worry too much about making precise patties or balls.

The baking soda will make them rise in the oven, and I found flattening them down again with a spoon about 4 minutes into the baking quite effective. You have to time this well though--wait too long and the biscuits will just split, as the mixture will no longer be pliable. The ones pictured here are a little on the chunky side for my liking. In fact Niki's probably look more like the real deal.