Gluten-Free ANZAC Biscuits – Australia & New Zealand’s favourite bikkie!
I fell in love with these iconic sweet biscuits while living in Australia for many years. ANZAC biscuits are a firm favourite for most Australians & New Zealanders who nostalgically have a family handed-down recipe for these chewy, crisp, buttery and robust oat biscuits. Adding golden syrup, an essential ingredient gives it a caramel sweetness and helps bind the oats into a perfectly crisp biscuit.
Why are they called ANZAC biscuits?
ANZAC is an acronym for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps which was formed in 1915 while the troops were stationed in Egypt. At the same time, back in Australia & New Zealand, the wives, mothers and girlfriends of these ANZAC soldiers were concerned about their nutritional well-being and started brainstorming recipe ideas that could withstand two months of sea travel without refrigeration. Eventually, they converted a traditional Scottish oatmeal biscuit recipe into a sturdier and forgiving biscuit that would fill every soldier’s pocket for that quick fix of home and nutrition.
How are ANZAC biscuits stored?
The traditional storage container was a Billy Tea tin. Made from tin with an airtight tin lid, which guaranteed no moisture inside the tin that could soften and spoil the biscuits. To this day, many shops and supermarkets sell this traditional tin with ANZAC biscuits, especially around ANZAC day.
What is ANZAC Day?
ANZAC day is recognised every year on 25th April in Australia and New Zealand. The day starts at the crack of dawn with an official ceremony at a war shrine to remember the war casualties and veterans associated with the landing at Gallipoli on 25th April 1915.
After the ceremony, it is customary to hand out ANZAC biscuits with some warm refreshments.
Nowadays, ANZAC biscuits are sold by Veterans’ organisations and schools to raise money for the care and welfare of aged war veterans.
Gluten-Free ANZAC Biscuits
Ingredients
- 150 g store-bought or homemade gluten-free plain flour
- 90 g gluten-free oats
- 1 tsp xanthan gum
- 50 g desiccated coconut
- 150 g caster sugar
- 125 g butter
- 2 tbsp golden syrup
- 2 tbsp boiling water
- 1½ tsp bicarbonate of soda/baking soda
- 1 tsp vanilla essence/extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 160°C /310°F.
- Prepare two baking trays with baking paper or silicone mats.
- In a medium bowl, mix the flour, oats, xanthan gum, coconut and sugar together.
- Melt the butter and golden syrup gently over medium-low heat in a small pan, stirring occasionally.
- Turn the heat off. Add the bicarb. of soda and boiling water. Once the mixture has stopped frothing, add the vanilla extract and stir.
- Pour the warm butter mixture into the flour mixture along with the vanilla extract. Mix well using a wooden spoon.
- Using your hands, roll the dough into small balls resembling the size of a walnut and place them 7 cm apart on the prepared baking trays. Press each ball down slightly with the back of a spoon or bottom of a glass.
- If using almonds to decorate, press one whole almond on top of each biscuit.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Allow them to cool slightly on the baking tray before transferring the biscuits to a wire rack.
- Leave them to cool on the trays as the biscuits will harden up in a few minutes.
- Store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
Video
Notes
- Keeps for 2 months in an airtight biscuit tin
- Unbaked biscuit dough can be frozen in balls
Hi Sandra,
This recipe was so easy to make. Since I didn’t have maple syrup, I used honey and it still tasted delicious. Thank you very much for sharing your recipes with us.
Sorry, meant golden syrup😊
That is great to hear! I’ve done the same thing using substitutes like maple syrup or honey. You seem to be making quite a few things from my blog. Thanks for your enthusiasm, Vathsala!
Hi there,
I made these last night and while they are good they seem overly salty. I’m wondering if the bicarbonate of soda measurement is a typo and should read teaspoons rather than tablespoons.
Thank you Christine for pointing this out. Yes, it is a typo and should read teaspoons. I am so sorry that your biscuits were salty. I hope you will make them again with the correct measurements. Thanks again!
I will definitely make them again with the correct bicarbonate of soda measurement. The texture is great!
Great to hear! They will taste so much better now 🙂
Hi Sandra, can I substitute chia seeds for xanthan gum in this recipe?
Hi Louise, Chia seeds mixed with some water are a great substitute for eggs, but not as a replacement for xanthan gum. I tested it with chia seeds and left out the x.gum, the Anzac biscuits didn’t hold their shape and crumbled when lifted from the tray. Xanthan gum is an essential ingredient in this recipe.