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Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Recipe: Healthier ANZAC Biscuits

Healthier ANZAC Biscuit Recipe - gluten free, low sugar, low fat, healthy

Psst: It's Australia Week on Southern In-Law! 
Check out the other recipes: Healthy Cheesymite Scrolls//Healthy Chocolate Crackle Slice (AKA: Lamington Rice Crispy Treats)

ANZAC Biscuits are another Australian Classic - and something I always looked forward to as a treat on ANZAC Day or Australia Day. It's a sweet biscuit/cookie that was originally created to send to soldiers abroad during World War 1. 

They use rolled oats, flour, dessicated coconut, sugar, butter, golden syrup, baking soda and boiling water, so they kept well during naval transportation and still arrived safe to eat (because you don't want to be the Mum responsible for killing your tough soldier son with a biscuit - right?).

Needless to say, they're delicious - and my American husband is totally an ANZAC Biscuit fan! 

Soft and Chewy ANZAC Biscuit Recipe - gluten free, low fat, healthy, low sugar, eggless, egg free

One of the biggest arguments for Australians is actually quite simple - crunchy vs soft. 

Some like their ANZAC Biscuits crunchy (SIL Mama is a crunchy only fan) whilst others like them soft (as Jesse, SIL Dad and I do). This recipe makes deliciously soft ANZAC biscuits but they can also be cooked longer for crunchy fans!

Healthier ANZAC Cookie Recipe - Gluten free, low fat, low sugar, eggless, freezer friendly, healthy recipeANZAC Biscuits traditionally use alot of butter.... that's why most people would describe them as "buttery", "moist" etc.

But as you guys know, that's not how we do it here on Southern In-Law! I wanted to lighten up this Aussie classic, but still keep the classic taste, texture and feel - and oh, how I succeeded!

These cookies didn't last long at all at our house... they were in a container on the bench and they were snaffled within a day or two. But that's how you know a recipe is good!

I've converted the traditional recipe to be gluten free, low fat, lower sugar in a way that no one would even know they're better for you.    

So let's get onto that recipe! >>

Healthier ANZAC Biscuit Recipe - Gluten free, low fat, low sugar, eggless, freezer friendly, healthy recipe

Healthier ANZAC Biscuits makes 16
gluten free, low fat, lower sugar, egg free

3/4 cup (90g) gluten free plain flour
1/2 cup (50g) dessicated coconut
1/3 cup (60g) brown sugar/unrefined cane sugar
2 tbsp (30g) golden syrup 
4 tbsp (60g) butter (you may also use a vegan butter alternative to make these vegan)
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tbsp boiling water

  1. Preheat your oven to 180°C/355°F
  2. Prepare 2 baking sheets by lining with baking paper
  3. In a bowl, combine your oats, flour and coconut 
  4. Stove top method: place your butter, golden syrup and sugar in a small pot over a medium heat. Melt your butter and mix with your sugar and syrup. Once combined turn off the heat and add in your water and baking soda.
    Microwave method: add butter, golden syrup, sugar and water in a bowl and microwave on high in 20-30 second bursts until melted. Add in your baking soda.
  5. Combine your wet and dry ingredients, mixing until all combined. 
  6. Drop your cookie mixture by tablespoons onto your baking sheet, leaving room for the cookies to spread slightly. 
  7. Bake for 7-12 minutes, or until golden. Cookies will firm up once cooled. 
  8. To store: Leave your ANZAC biscuits to cool completely before storing in an airtight container. They'll stay fresh for quite some time, however, we have only kept them for around 3 days (as they all got gobbled up!)
But tell me, crunchy, chewy or soft - how do you like your cookies?
And what's one food you only eat on certain days of the year?
We only ever ate lamingtons, damper or ANZAC biscuits on Australia Day and we only ever have Christmas Pudding at Christmas time.


24 comments:

  1. Oh my. This looks delicious and sounds delicious!
    I usually prefer my cookies to be soft and chewy. Then again, it depends on what type of cookie.
    The one thing I eat on certain days of the year is the Chinese New Year cake.

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  2. Kristy @ Southern In-LawJanuary 22, 2014 at 10:05 AM

    Ooh, I've never heard of the Chinese New Year cake so I'll have to find out what exactly it is!

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  3. Loving all of your Aussie-inspired baking this week, Kristy!
    You know, I've only tried Anzac cookies once since moving here and really wasn't impressed. They were kind of bland and VERY crunchy...not my kind of cookie!!
    I think I'm going to give these a whirl over the weekend (as well as Lamingtons), and get into the Aussie Day spirit!

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  4. Kristy @ Southern In-LawJanuary 22, 2014 at 11:44 AM

    Oh I promise these are DEFINITELY not bland or crunchy haha. That sounds awful!


    I am actually having so much fun with this Aussie week, haha ;P

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  5. Nothing beats fresh beer battered fish and hot chips while sitting on the white sandy beach watching the sun go down on a hot summers night.

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  7. Sunnie@moderngirlnutritionJanuary 23, 2014 at 4:02 AM

    These look insanely good! Hope youre doing well Kristy!! :)

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  8. Kristy @ Southern In-LawJanuary 23, 2014 at 6:35 AM

    Thank you, lovely! They're delicious! :) xx

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  9. Kristy @ Southern In-LawJanuary 23, 2014 at 6:36 AM

    It looks really interesting - I'm super intrigued. Perhaps I'll have to make one :P

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  10. Kristy @ Southern In-LawJanuary 23, 2014 at 8:04 AM

    They're so fun to make - you'll have to send me a picture if you make one! :)

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  11. Absolutely fabulous idea. Just fine this for our first valentines day as husband and wife x

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  12. Kristy @ Southern In-LawFebruary 11, 2014 at 9:38 AM

    Thanks Melanie! You might also like our latest Valentines Project: http://www.southerninlaw.com/2014/02/DIY-valentines-project-i-love-you-because-sign-handmade-valentines-gift-ideas.html

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  13. Is golden syrup the same as, or similar to, maple syrup?

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  14. Kristy @ Southern In-LawMarch 3, 2014 at 1:42 PM

    Hi Jennifer, golden syrup is totally different from maple syrup. It's much thicker and is a type of pale treacle (if you know what that is)

    That said, you can replace the golden syrup in this recipe with brown rice syrup or maple syrup - the flavour will be different, but they'll still be delicious!

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  15. Nice Images.....This blog is really nice and even funny.I like it so much....Now a days photo booths are very popular for any kind of occasion and it is a part of entertainment.Theboothfairy also provide photo booth in Sydney.Recently i have also ordered a photo booth.They really provide very good services.

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  16. Wow.. The photobooth work has undoubtedly increased the importance of the occasion to a great extent. My colleagues has suggested that shootingstarsphotobooths are quite explicit in their work. I am planning to spend the coming weekend at their photobooth along with my kids.

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  17. I just found this idea... love it! More ideas: buy canvas and paint and create; Create a mixed CD together (is that too old school); Dance in the living room; Bike or Segway tour ; Play a game of questions (questions can be found onine) - That's all I have :-)

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  18. Hey,nice idea.This is the ultimate Valentines Date!Who doesn't love being spoiled and feeling loved on this special day?!?!Included is bunches of great ideas that can be utilized any day of the year for any date.Love Hunt.Best Wishes.

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  19. Love this! Making my jar now and that paper is so much cuter than Popsicle sticks!

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  20. The paper is definitely much cuter - and takes up less space too! You can use just about any jar instead of having to find one to fit the sticks!

    ReplyDelete

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