Anzac Biscuits - with a little history thrown in

[Poppycat]

During World War 1, the wives, mothers and girlfriends of the Australian soldiers were concerned for the nutritional value of the food being supplied to their men. Any food they sent to the fighting men had to be carried in the ships of the Merchant Navy and most were lucky to maintain a speed of 10 knots (18.5 kilometers per hour). Most had no refrigerated facilities, so any food sent had to be edible after periods in excess of two months. A group of women came up with the answer - a biscuit with all the nutritional value possible. The basis was a Scottish recipe using rolled oats and the rest had to be items that did not readily spoil. They couldn't use eggs to bind because of the war, many of the poultry farmers had joined up so eggs were scarce. The binding agent used was golden syrup or treacle.

Originally called Soldiers' Biscuits, after the landing on Gallipoli they were named ANZAC biscuits which stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. I'm including the basic biscuit recipe for anyone interested in making them. (Probably similar to oatmeal cookies you already bake.)
Ingredients:
1 cup desiccated coconut
1 cup brown sugar
1cup rolled oats
1cup plain flour
1/2cup butter
3Tablespoons Golden Syrup
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2 Tablespoons boiling water

Combine dry ingred. Melt butter and golden syrup together. Mix bi-carb with boiling water and stir into butter mixture then pour this into centre of the dry ingred. Drop rounded mixture onto baking tray and press flatish - the more you flatten the crisper the biscuit. Bake for about 15 mins in a moderate oven. Makes about 30 biscuits. Enjoy

[Hootmon]

You forgot the 'make sure your Dental insurance is paid up' step.

They actually sound fairly tasty.

[icebear]

sounds better than hardtack!

[Cloud Watcher]

Is Golden Syrup another name for corn syrup?

[Hootmon]

Is Golden Syrup another name for corn syrup?

Its 'invert syrup'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_sugar_syrup

They chemically split sucrose (ordinary white sugar) into a very thick syrup made up of fructose and glucose.

Similar to corn syrup in texture, but the taste is a bit hard to describe, like butterscotch without the butter. It reminds me of barley sugar. My Mother (she is from England) used to give it to me for sore throats when I was a kid

Its sweeter than white sugar, so a little goes a long way.

[IamHis]

Sounds tasty, wonder if you could use Molasses as a substitue for
golden syrup?

[Sydney Spider]

I've substituted honey for the golden syrup and they turned out fine - but I think they taste better with the golden syrup.

[Poppycat]

Sounds tasty, wonder if you could use Molasses as a substitue for
golden syrup?

Golden syrup seems to be a thicker texture than honey and if I remember correctly, Molasses is more like that too. May work with a mixture of honey and molasses to temper the stronger taste. Is treacle not available in the US also? That is a good substitute.

[Poppycat]

You forgot the 'make sure your Dental insurance is paid up' step.

They actually sound fairly tasty.

Yep, really tasty and to avert the Dental thing, just make them thicker - don't flatten em quite so much. The crunchy is just how I like them and the crunch is usually only after initial cooking and with storage become softer.

Keep forgetting to say that April 25th is celebrated as Anzac Day throughout Australia which is what made me think about making some. Not sure if we have any 'Gallipoli' Servicemen to participate in the marches this year.

[Sandra17012]

I'd really like to try these. Can I buy golden syrup in the grocery store?

[Poppycat]

I'd really like to try these. Can I buy golden syrup in the grocery store?

Um, you can where I live. Can't tell where you are but here the grocery store is where you buy it. It is on the shelf with honey and other spreads. Otherwise, substitute honey and maybe molasses to make honey taste 'richer'.

Is Treacle available? That seems to be the English version of our Golden Syrup, just a darker version like Molasses so maybe specialty stores would stock something.

[Hootmon]

Is treacle not available in the US also? That is a good substitute.

I think Treacle is the same thing as Golden Syrup, isnt it?

I'd really like to try these. Can I buy golden syrup in the grocery store?

You should be able to find it in most stores that have an International section. Its in a green and gold can.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_syrup

[BelovedChild]

treacle and golden syrup are byproducts of sugarcane. anzac biscuits are a favourite biscuit in Australia, especially today - Anzac Day which is our soldiers special memorial Day.

[Poppycat]

I think Treacle is the same thing as Golden Syrup, isnt it?


You should be able to find it in most stores that have an International section. Its in a green and gold can.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_syrup

From my childhood memories Treacle was much darker in color and more intense in taste than 'mellow' Golden Syrup. Haven't had it in tins for sometime now so can't confirm the can, now I buy it in a very ordinary plastic jar with red screw lid. Miss the distinctive green and gold can.

[Reason&Hope]

Coincidentally, my 14 yo son wrote a report on Gallipoli last week.

[Poppycat]

Coincidentally, my 14 yo son wrote a report on Gallipoli last week.

Guess that would be tied into April 25th being commemorated as Anzac day. Ninety seven years ago now that the Anzacs landed at Gallipoli

[Wally]

Treacle; I have read this is similar to dark molasses (like Breir Rabbit).

It is also means creasote (the stuff you preserve railroad ties with).


This must be very durable, as can be attested by the smiles on the Diggers in the PNG jungles during WWII .

[Hootmon]

From my childhood memories Treacle was much darker in color and more intense in taste than 'mellow' Golden Syrup.

Hmm... I think I have seen a 'dark' version of it once.

I suppose either one would make good 'biscuits'.

It is also means creasote (the stuff you preserve railroad ties with).

...and Im pretty sure that wouldnt.

[Wally]

The recepie looks like a kind of shoo-fly pie cake/bread.

I'll have to get our Boy Scouts to try it. They are a brave group.