Anzac Biscuits
If you’re looking for a quick, easy, and delicious treat that’s perfect for weeknights, Anzac Biscuits are here to save the day. These chewy, slightly crispy cookies from Australia and New Zealand are packed with oats, shredded coconut, and the perfect hint of golden sweetness.
What makes them even better? They’re fun and simple to make, and great for baking with kids! The bubbling reaction that happens when you mix baking soda with hot melted butter and honey is like a mini science experiment in your kitchen.
With their chewy texture, crispy edges, and easy prep, Anzac Biscuits are a sweet win for busy families. Gather your little helpers, whip up a batch, and enjoy a moment of connection and deliciousness—all in less time than it takes to watch an episode of Paw Patrol.
Why You’ll Love Anzac Biscuits
- Quick and Easy: With simple ingredients and a quick prep time, these cookies are ready to satisfy your sweet tooth in under 30 minutes.
- Kid-Friendly Fun: The easy recipe with a fun bubbling chemical reaction adds an a hands-on, science-y twist that kids will love.
- Perfect Batch Size: This recipe makes just 24 cookies—perfect for a small treat without a ton of leftovers.
Discover your next culinary adventure…
At The Gingered Whisk, we love recipes that help families explore global traditions in a fun and approachable way. These biscuits are more than a sweet treat—they’re an opportunity to introduce your kids to a piece of Australian and New Zealand culture while creating meaningful moments in the kitchen.
If you’re inspired by this recipe, you’ll also love these ideas for exploring global flavors with your family:
- Greek Lemon Chicken Soup: A cozy bowl packed with flavor and family-friendly comfort.
- Brazilian Cheese Bread: Another hands-on recipe perfect for making with kids.
- Mango Lemonade: A fun and delicious drink from Africa.
Each of these recipes, like Anzac Biscuits, is about more than just food—it’s about building curiosity, connection, and a love for exploring the world through flavors and traditions.
Anzac Biscuits hold a special place in the hearts of Australians and New Zealanders. These humble yet delicious cookies were originally created during World War I to send to soldiers serving overseas. The ingredients—rolled oats, coconut, flour, and traditionally golden syrup—were chosen because they could withstand long journeys without spoiling.
Named after the ANZACs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps), these biscuits became a symbol of home, love, and care. Today, they’re often made to commemorate ANZAC Day on April 25th, a national day of remembrance for those who served and died in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.
What makes Anzac Biscuits so special isn’t just their delicious chewiness or crispy edges—it’s the story they carry. They represent resilience, connection, and the power of food to bring people together, no matter the distance.
Golden syrup can be hard to find in the United States, and so I substituted a combination of honey and molasses to make it more accessible for more families to be able to enjoy. If you are lucky enough to find golden syrup, use that!
How to make these cookies
These cookies are so simple to make, they are great for weeknight baking! Here is a super brief overview so you know what to expect, but for the full set of directions and recipe, please make sure you scroll down to the recipe card below.
- Preheat the oven and line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Mix the oats, coconut, flour, sugar, and salt in a medium sized bowl.
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter, honey, and molasses.
- Place the baking soda in a large bowl and then pour the boiling water on top, watch it fix! Then add the melted butter mixture and watch it fiz even more!
- Stir in the flour/oat mixture until just combined.
- Scoop 2 Tablespoon worth of dough onto the cookie sheet and flatten slightly with your fingers.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow to cool for a few minutes on the tray before moving to a wire rack.
Tips for Baking with Kids
- Let kids measure and mix the dry ingredients—it’s a simple and mess-friendly task.
- Supervise them as they watch the bubbly butter mixture—it’s a fun (but hot!) science moment.
- Encourage them to shape and flatten the cookies. Imperfect cookies taste just as good!
Storage information
Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days.
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Anzac Biscuits
Ingredients
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- 1 cup desiccated coconut unsweetened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 10 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 Tablespoons honey
- 1 Tablespoon molasses
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 Tablespoons boiling water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 F.
- Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, stir together the flour, oats, coconut, granulated sugar and salt.
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter, honey, and molasses together, over medium heat, stirring until it comes together. It doesn’t need to boil, it just needs to melt and come together.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the baking soda and then pour the boiling water over it. Stir once or twice to make sure all the baking soda is dissolved. It will fiz!
- Pour the melted butter mixture over the dissolved baking soda and watch it fiz even more and expand in size.
- Stir in the flour/oat mixture until well combined. It will be kind of crumbly, but shouldn’t be dry crumbly, it should be fairly moist.
- Measure out 2 Tablespoon sized balls of dough with a cookie scoop and place on the prepared baking sheet about 1-2 inches apart. Flatten slightly with your hand.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until golden brown. The cookies will be soft when you take them out of the oven but the will firm up a bit when cooled.
- Allow the cookies to sit on the baking pan for 5 minutes after removing from the oven, and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool the rest of the way.
