Many an Aussie grew up on Anzac Biscuits. This is a sweet biscuit (aka cookie) that’s golden, buttery, chewy and crunchy all at once and it’s perfect for dunking in a cuppa. Just sayin’.

Update: Please make sure to read the ‘measuring ingredients’ section in the notes of the recipe. It’s very important for making sure you get the right consistency for your dough.

Birdseye view of 5 cookies on a wire rack.

If you’ve never tried an Anzac Biscuit, you’re in for a real treat. If you have, you know how good these babies are. That buttery, caramel flavour is just sensational and coconut and oats make these traditional Aussie treat chewy and addictive.

What are they?

Originally known as ‘Soldiers Biscuits’ back in the day, Anzac biscuits were made by women back home who would send these cookies to soldiers abroad.

They became known as Anzac Biscuits after the landing in Gallipoli using the acronym of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

They were – and still are – made using ingredients that wouldn’t spoil so you won’t find any eggs in these sweet biscuits (also omitted due to their scarcity in war time).

Lest we forget.

Anzac Day, 25th of April every year is the anniversary of our troops landing in Gallipoli and a day for Australia and New Zealand to remember the soldiers who gave their lives. While eaten all year round, this is the day many an Aussie will break out an Anzac bikkie.

A stack of Anzac Biscuits on a wire rack.

How to make them – step by step

My Easy Anzac Biscuits recipe is made using traditional ingredients and steps, like oats, coconut, golden syrup, melted butter and baking soda dissolved in boiling water before adding it to the mixture.

  1. Start by mixing all the dry ingredients together in a bowl (photo 1). Mix them well so they’re evenly distributed.
  2. Now melt together the butter and golden syrup over low heat. Mix baking soda with boiling water and add that to the butter too (photo 2).
2 photos: Mixing together ingredients for cookies in a bowl and in a saucepan.
  1. Now pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix it all together (photos 3 & 4).
2 photos: Pouring wet ingredients into dry ingredients, mixed into cookie dough.
  1. I like to use a cookie scoop to portion the dough but don’t press it together too tightly. Sit them on baking trays about 2 inches apart. Definitely don’t overcrowd the trays as they do spread.
  2. Bake for 14 minutes for the perfect combo of crunchy edges with chewy middle. The longer they bake the crunchier they become so bake them to your preference however, if you like a very crunchy bake them for around 20-22 minutes – they should be quite a dark caramel colour at this point.

Measuring Ingredients

I’ve made these Anzac biscuits a bajillion times and many readers swear by this recipe but some have noted their dough is dry or crumbly. The dough should not be dry or crumbly, rather quite sticky, so there are a couple of things that can affect this. One is the way you might be measuring out your dry ingredients and two is the size of your tablespoon (some are 15ml and some are 20ml)

A few baking guidelines to live by, as a little bit of extra or not enough of anything in a baking recipe can make a huuuuge difference.

  1. Weigh ingredients if a weight is given in any recipe. Kitchen scales are cheap and last forever so it’s worth the investment, plus with a scale you can measure directly into your bowl, so less washing up. Win, win!
  2. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, spoon and level. Use a regular spoon to place it into the cup measure, then use the back of a knife to scrape away the excess. 

Here’s a little test I did using 1 cup of flour to show the difference the way you measure can make. 

  • Spooned and levelled = 130g PERFECT!
  • Scooped directly from container = 150g  (that’s an extra 15% flour)
  • Fluffed up then scooped = 137g (closer)
  • Fluffed up, then spooned and levelled 125g (this would probably be close enough but there’s the extra step of fluffing up the flour first, not necessary)

So, I’d love to know, which way is your standard way of measuring?

A close up of cookies on a wire rack.

Why dissolve baking soda in water first?

I don’t know the science behind this but I tried a batch of my cookies with and without this step and I found the batch with the baking soda dissolved in boiling water first;

  1. Turned far more golden 
  2. Turned out chewier

Both of these points are quintessential factors in a perfect Anzac bikkie.

Substitutions

  • Golden syrup: Please, please try to get real golden syrup. If you can’t find it in your grocery store, try online. If you really can’t get it try a ratio of 2 parts molasses or treacle to 1part honey or maple syrup. It won’t be the same but it will come close.
  • Coconut: I use shredded coconut but traditionally desiccated (very finely cut) coconut was used. You can use sweetened or unsweetened but I prefer unsweetened as there is already plenty of sweetness in the recipe.

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4 cookies on a wire rack with a milk bottle in the background.

Aside from having a lovely story, these biscuits honestly are so delicious. My favourite way to eat them is dunked in a cup of tea. So, so good. 

Why are you still reading, go whip up a batch of these Easy Anzac Biscuits for Anzac Day or any day!

More recipes you’ll love

A stack of Anzac Biscuits on a wire rack

Easy Anzac Biscuits

Yield: 22 biscuits
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 14 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time: 24 minutes
4.6 from 34 ratings
Crunchy on the edges and chewy in the middle this easy Anzac Biscuits recipe is an Aussie classic. These buttery, golden biscuits (aka cookies) can be thrown together and baked all in under 30 minutes.
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Ingredients

  • 130  g  plain (all-purp) flour (1 cup / 4.6oz)
  • 150 g  granulated white sugar (¾ cup / 5.3oz)
  • ¼ teaspoon  salt
  • 1 ½ cups rolled oats (not quick oats) (180g / 6.3oz)
  • ⅔ cup fine desiccated coconut (50g / 1.8oz)
  • ¼ cup golden syrup (notes)
  • 113  g  unsalted butter (½ cup / 1 stick)
  • 1  teaspoon  baking soda (bicarb)
  • 1 ½ tablespoons boiling water (6 teaspoons – see notes)

For best results, always weigh ingredients where a weight is provided

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 180C / 350F / 160C fan forced.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, oats, coconut and salt until well combined. Set aside.
  • Combine the golden syrup and butter in a small saucepan and melt together over low heat.
  • Mix the baking soda with the boiling water and add to the butter mixture. It should start to get frothy straight away.
  • Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients
  • Use a small cookie scoop to scoop balls of loose cookie dough onto baking trays at least 2 inches apart. Don’t overcrowd the trays as they spread.
  • Bake for 14 minutes, turning the tray at the halfway point (notes)

Notes

  1. I use a standard Australian tablespoon which is 20ml (= 4 teaspoons worldwide).
  2. For best results, you should always weigh ingredients like flour and sugar. Believe it or not, the way you measure ingredients can make a big difference.
    • Kitchen scales are relatively cheap and last forever
    • if you can’t weigh the ingredients, use the spoon and level method (don’t scoop).
  3. This dough should be quite sticky, not dry. If it’s dry you may be using a different method to measure your dry ingredients (see note 2) or your tablespoon may be only 15ml (see note 1)
  4. Golden syrup: Golden syrup is readily available in Australia and the UK. If you are unable to find it in your local grocery store, try to get it online – it’s worth using the right thing.
    If that option is no good, you could mix a little treacle or molasses with honey or maple syrup (2 parts molasses / treacle to 1 part honey / maple syrup). The flavour won’t quite be the same but it will be similar.
  5. Scooping the dough: I use a small cookie scoop and don’t press the dough too firmly into the scoop after scooping it.
    If you don’t have a cookie scoop, you want about 2 tablespoons of the dough, then roll into balls but don’t roll them too firmly. The air pockets increase the chewy factor. Yum!
  6. Baking time: 14 minutes will give you the perfect golden colour and a chewy centre. If you want biscuits that are crunchy all the way through, cook for 20-22 minutes until they are a darker golden-brown.
MORE COOKIE RECIPES
Calories: 156kcal
Author: Marie Roffey
Course: Dessert, Snack, Sweets
Cuisine: Australian, Cookies
Have you tried this recipe?Don’t forget to leave a rating and comment below and let me know how it was! I love hearing from you. Nutrition information is approximate and derived from an online calculator. The brands you use may cause variations.