Anzac Biscuits

If you remember, I believe I promised a recipe of an authentic Australian dish that my new nephew Stuart made for his and my niece's wedding reception. Anzac biscuits are actually what we would call "cookies" in this country, and let me tell you--they are yummy! The guests were certainly enjoying them. I saw folks with three, four, or even more on their plates, and there were no leftovers at the end of the evening! These are easy to prepare, use basic ingredients, and would be excellent to serve at any kind of celebration or as a simple family treat.

In case you'd like a little background on this tasty bit of indulgence, Wikipedia says, "An Anzac biscuit is a sweet biscuit popular in Australia and New Zealand, made using rolled oats, flour, dessicated coconut, sugar, butter, golden syrup, bicarbonate of soda and boiling water. Anzac biscuits have long been associated with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) established in World War I. It has been claimed the biscuits were sent by wives to soldiers abroad because the ingredients do not spoil easily and the biscuits kept well during naval transportation."

This recipe is slightly different than the original. Many variations have been developed, and you can find recipes with ginger or an assortment of nuts, macadamia or almonds being the most common that I've seen. And I imagine it might be simple to make a healthier version using low-fat margarine/butter and sugar substitutes. All I know is, I'm definitely going to have to get Stuart to make another batch!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup regular oats
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 tablespoons water
• 1/4 cup stick margarine or butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons golden cane syrup (such as Lyle's) or light-colored corn syrup
• Cooking spray

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
2. Combine first 5 ingredients in a bowl. Add water, margarine, and syrup; stir well. 
3. Drop by level tablespoons 2 inches apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. 
4. Bake at 325°F for 12 minutes or until almost set. 
5. Remove from oven; let stand 2 to 3 minutes or until firm. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire racks.

Enjoy!
Sherry

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