ANZAC Bikkies

For the American readers, bikkies are what we call what you would call cookies (it's short for biscuits).

Originally called Soldier's biscuits and renamed in honour of the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who landed in Gallipoli on 25th April, 1915, ANZAC biscuits are a staple of the Australian bikkie diet. The families of soldiers used to make these because they were cheap and easy, non-perishable (they contain no eggs or milk), and need no refridgeration. As a bonus they are totally yummy. I made some last night in honour of ANZAC day and thought I'd post the recipe I use, which is the original Women's Weekly recipe from the Beautiful Biscuits book.

1 cup rolled oats
1 cup plain flour
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup coconut
125g (4oz) butter
2 tablespoons golden syrup
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 tablespoon boiling water

Combine oats, sifted flour, sugar and coconut. Combine butter and syrup, stir over low heat until melted. Mix soda with boiling water, add to melted butter mix, stir into dry ingredients. Place tablespoons full of mixture onto oven trays, leave room for spreading (they REALLY spread). Cook in slow oven (I do them at 150 degrees celcius) for 20 mins (if you have an oven that cooks a bit unevenly like mine, swap the trays at the 10 min mark i.e. take the tray from the bottom shelf and put it on the top and vice versa).

They are nice and chewy hot, but try and save some for the next day because they're great crunchy.

Go on, have a go at them :). Hopefully they'll look like this.

Sami