Anzac biscuit
{{Short description|Biscuit popular in Australia and New Zealand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox food
| name = ANZAC biscuit
| image = ANZAC biscuits.JPG
| caption =
| alternate_name = ANZAC bikkies, Anzac slice
| associated_cuisine = Australia, New Zealand
| creator =
| type = Biscuit
| served =
| main_ingredient = Rolled oats, flour, desiccated coconut, sugar, butter, golden syrup
| variations =
| calories =
| other =
}}
The Anzac biscuit is a sweet biscuit, popular in Australia and New Zealand, made using rolled oats, flour, sugar, butter (or margarine), golden syrup, baking soda, boiling water and optionally desiccated coconut.{{cite web | title = ANZAC biscuit recipes | work = Australian War Memorial website | url = https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/anzac/biscuit/recipe | access-date = 24 April 2019 }}{{Cite web |last=nicola |date=2011-04-12 |title=Origins Of The ANZAC Biscuit |url=https://www.armymuseum.co.nz/the-anzac-biscuit/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=National Army Museum |language=en-NZ}} Anzac biscuits have long been associated with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) established in World War I.{{Cite web |title=Blundells Bikkies |url=https://www.nca.gov.au/education/learning-resources/blundells-bikkies |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=National Capital Authority |publisher=Australian Government}}
It is thought that these biscuits were sent by wives and women's groups to soldiers abroad because the ingredients do not spoil easily and the biscuits kept well during naval transportation.{{citation |url=http://www.anzacday.org.au/miscellaneous/bikkies.html |title=ANZAC Biscuits |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050206001545/http://www.anzacday.org.au/miscellaneous/bikkies.html |archive-date=2005-02-06 |access-date=2017-07-26 }}{{cite web | title = ANZAC Biscuits The history & recipe | work = Digger History website | url = http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-food/anzac-biscuits.htm | access-date = 4 October 2019}}
Anzac biscuits should not be confused with hardtack, which was nicknamed "ANZAC wafers" in Australia and New Zealand.{{cite web | title = ANZAC biscuit recipes | work = Australian War Memorial website | url = http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/anzac/biscuit/recipe.htm | access-date = 17 August 2011 | archive-date = 28 April 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120428034516/http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/anzac/biscuit/recipe.asp | url-status = dead }}
Anzac biscuits are an explicit exemption to an Australian ban on commercial goods that use the term "Anzac", so long as they are sold as "biscuits" and not "cookies".
Origins
The origin of Anzac biscuits is contested between Australia and New Zealand. The first known recipe for the biscuit significantly predates the formation of the ANZAC Corps,{{Cite news |last=Fuss |first=Eloise |date=2018-04-23 |title=Who made the first Anzac biscuit? |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-24/who-made-the-first-anzac-biscuit/9687810 |access-date=2023-04-21 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} and many early recipes differ from the modern version.{{Cite news |last=Huckstep |first=Anthony |date=2020-04-21 |title=Historic biscuits: 'Where the pavlova divides us, the Anzac unites us' |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/food/2020/apr/22/historic-biscuits-where-the-pavlova-divides-us-the-anzac-unites-us |access-date=2023-04-21 |issn=0261-3077}} For example, historical recipes have variously included nontraditional ingredients such as eggs, fruit, and jam.{{cite web |title=Anzac biscuits to make for Anzac Day or a commemorative event |url=https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/commemoration/event-planning/anzac-biscuits |access-date=9 July 2022 |publisher=Australian Government, Department of Veterans' Affairs}}
The earliest known recipe combining the words 'Anzac' and 'biscuit' is a recipe from 1916 for "ANZAC ginger biscuits" which was published on 4 June 1916 in the Perth edition of The Sunday Times.{{cite web |title=The Sunday Times, Perth, Western Australia, June 4, 1916 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/58013699 |newspaper=Sunday Times |date=4 June 1916 |access-date=2 May 2020}}{{Cite web |title=ANZAC Biscuits but not as you know them… {{!}} Australian War Memorial |url=https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/anzac-biscuits-not-you-know-them |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=www.awm.gov.au}} However, this recipe contains no mention of oats, which are present in modern Anzac biscuits. The first recipe for "Anzac Biscuits" appears in an Australian publication, the War Chest Cookery Book (Sydney, 1917), but this recipe was also for a different biscuit.{{cite web |last1=Fuss |first1=Eloise |title=First printed recipe for Anzac biscuits very different to modern recipe |url=https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/eat-drink/2018/04/24/first-anzac-biscuit-recipe/ |website=The New Daily |access-date=26 November 2019}}{{cite web|last1=Reynolds|first1=Allison|title=The real origins of the Anzac biscuit revealed|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/delicious-sa/the-real-origins-of-the-anzac-biscuit-revealed/news-story/7ab7ff63b5399ea16059bb0a072c8ffc|access-date=26 November 2019|website=The Advertiser}} The same publication also included the first two recipes for biscuits resembling modern Anzac biscuits, under the names of "Rolled Oats Biscuits" and just "Biscuits". The first recorded instance of the combination of the name "Anzac biscuit" and the recipe now associated with it was found in Adelaide dating to "either late 1919 or early 1920".{{cite news |last1=Fuss |first1=Eloise |title=Anzac Day 2018: Who made the first Anzac biscuit? |newspaper=ABC News |date=23 April 2018 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-24/who-made-the-first-anzac-biscuit/9687810 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=26 November 2019}} Another early recipe for the Anzac biscuit dates back to 1921, published in an Australian newspaper called The Argus.{{cite web|title=Australia strikes a blow in the battle for the Anzac Biscuit|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/australia-strikes-a-blow-in-the-battle-for-the-anzac-biscuit-20140130-31oy8.html|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=30 January 2014 |access-date=4 October 2019}} These early recipes did not contain desiccated coconut, which is present in many modern Anzac biscuits.{{Cite web |title=ANZAC Biscuits |url=https://www.weber.com/AU/en/recipes/desserts/anzac-biscuits/weber-204256.html |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=www.weber.com |language=en}} The first recipe for an Anzac biscuit containing desiccated coconut is recorded to be from the city of Adelaide in 1924.{{cite news|title=Anzac Day 2018: Who made the first Anzac biscuit?|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-24/who-made-the-first-anzac-biscuit/9687810|newspaper=ABC News|date=23 April 2018 |access-date=4 October 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Fuss |first1=Eloise |title=Who made the first Anzac biscuit? |url=https://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2014/04/24/3991366.htm |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=26 November 2019}}
In New Zealand, a 1919 recipe for Anzac Crispies in the eighth edition of the St Andrew's Cookery Book had similar ingredients to modern Anzac biscuits.{{cite web |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/9668401/Battle-of-the-Anzac-biscuit |title= Battle of the Anzac biscuit |access-date= 16 March 2020|author= Jenny Tabakoff|year= 2014|work= stuff}}
Current popularity
Today, Anzac biscuits are manufactured commercially for retail sale. Because of their historical military connection with the ANZACs and Anzac Day,{{Cite web |date=2022-04-25 |title=Find out about Anzac Day – and how to make Anzac biscuits |url=https://metro.co.uk/2022/04/25/what-is-anzac-day-and-how-to-make-traditional-anzac-biscuits-16528024/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=Metro |language=en}} these biscuits are still used as a fundraising item for the Royal New Zealand Returned Services' Association (RSA){{cite web |url=https://www.rsa.org.nz/news-and-stories/afm-group-donates-over-50000 |title=AFM Group donates over $50,000 |date=2024-05-17 |publisher=NZ Returned Services Association }} and the Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL).{{cite web |url=https://www.rslaustralia.org/latest-news/rsl-anzac-biscuits-are-back-for-2025 |title=RSL Anzac Biscuits are back for 2025! |date=2025-03-19 |publisher=RSL Australia }} Special collectors old-style biscuit tins with World War military artwork are usually produced in the lead up to Anzac Day and sold in supermarkets, in addition to the standard plastic packets available all year.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} The official RSL biscuit is produced by Ital Food Group under licence.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}
A British (though still Australian-produced) version of the Anzac biscuit, supporting the Royal British Legion, is available in several major supermarket chains in the UK.{{cite web | title = Anzac Tea Dance to raise funds for The Royal British Legion | date = 27 January 2009 | work = British Legion website | url = http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/news/fundraising/anzac-tea-dance-to-raise-funds-for-the-royal-british-legion | access-date = 17 August 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110725044226/http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/news/fundraising/anzac-tea-dance-to-raise-funds-for-the-royal-british-legion | archive-date = 25 July 2011 | url-status = dead}}
Legal issues
Similarly to the use of the term Anzac, the Anzac biscuit is protected by regulations that restrict commercial production of the product. Primarily, such regulations pertain to the name and recipe. They must be referred to and sold as Anzac "biscuits" or "slice" and never as "cookies".{{cite web |title=Use of the word ‘Anzac’ Guidelines |url=https://www.dva.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-11/guidelines-use-of-the-word-anzac-nov22.pdf |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=12 January 2025 |work=Australian Government – Department of Veteran Affairs}} While it is legally acceptable to substitute ingredients in a recipe to cater to dietary requirements, there is a commercial disallowance for any substantial modification of the recipe such that they deviate too far from traditional Anzac biscuit recipes.{{cite web |date=October 2020 |title=Use of the word 'Anzac' Guidelines |url=https://www.dva.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/about%20dva/recognition/guidelines-use-of-the-word-anzac.pdf |publisher=Australian Government: Department of Veterans' Affairs}} Variations of recipes posted on social media or written in cookbooks that merely include Anzac biscuits are excluded from regulations.
As a result of the restrictions on the recipe, the Subway chain of restaurants dropped the biscuit from their menu in September 2008. After being ordered by the Department of Veterans' Affairs to bake the biscuits according to the original recipe, Subway decided not to continue to offer the biscuit, as they found that their supplier was unable to develop a cost-effective means of duplicating the recipe.{{cite news | last = Fewster | first = Sean | date = 22 September 2008 | title = Subway dumps Anzac biscuit from the menu | work = The Advertiser | url = http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/fast-food-giant-cuts-anzac-biscuit/story-e6frea83-1111117545075 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121034400/http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/fast-food-giant-cuts-anzac-biscuit/story-e6frea83-1111117545075 |archive-date=21 January 2012 |access-date= 25 April 2020}} In April 2025, the biscuit returned to the Subway menu.{{cite news | last = White | first = Robert | date = 16 April 2025 | title = Viral Anzac treat is back on menus after a 17 year long hiatus | work = News.com.au | url = https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/eat/viral-anzac-treat-is-back-on-menus-after-a-17-year-long-hiatus/news-story/487f8ad43dfdcbd4aa6d134c6a20b097 }}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Australian cuisine}}
{{Oats}}
{{Portal bar|Australia|Food}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anzac biscuit}}
Category:Australian snack foods