ANZAC biscuit (Soldiers biscuit) recipe and history

This biscuit was called Soldiers Biscuit or Rolled Oat Biscuits (recipe here to download) during the First World War. The documentation of the name ANZAC (the acronym for Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) for the biscuit did not surface until after the War (in the early 1920’s (nearly 100 years ago!)). In order words, this biscuit helped with the war effort.

The women and girls of the soldiers during the time, were concerned about the food and nutritional quality shipped to the combat zones away from home of Australia and New Zealand. At the time, the merchant ships from the Navy going to the zones, did not have refrigeration technology. Due to this, the food would only last for two months (if that), which made them hardly usable by the time of arrival.

The biscuit was created using the basics of a classic Scottish recipe (I looked up Scottish Oat Cakes on Google and it is true), with some alterations. The ingredients were hard wearing, does not spoil easily and does not require eggs (as there was a shortage of them during the time). Golden syrup or treacle was used instead of eggs to combine the wet and dry ingredients. If you were to do some research into the recipe, the quantities vary, however the ingredients and method are the same. Various women’s committee groups were involved in making and supplying the biscuit, as the War went on.

By the time the Second World War occurred, refrigeration technology was installed into the merchant ships so food would last longer and the demand for the biscuits were not as high.

This historical information was from a fantastic book by Jane Hingston “Afghans, Barbecues and Chocolate Fish: The ABC of Kiwi Food”

With a biscuit so good, you would like to make the whole tray to yourself. I would.

If you enjoy this kind of video (some ASMR and game related music), please leave a comment, or go to my Twitter page of the announcement of this video.

Soundtrack:
Infiltration Into The Jungle
Album: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Soundtrack (2004)
Artist: Norihiko Hibino

Snake Eater (Instrumental)
Album: Metal Gear Solid 3: The First Bite (2004)
Artist: Norihiko Hibino

Special Thank You to Kelly Lacy (kellymlacy) and Bruce lam (Brucelam5) from Pexels for the opening footage.

Australia and New Zealand have a public holiday called ANZAC day (similar to Veteran’s Day) on 25 April every year. The community club (The Returned Services Association (RSA)) for those in service and retired (Army, Navy, Airforce and so on) and members of the community (like myself), hold an appeal (Red Poppy Appeal) close to the time of selling paper red poppies for a coin (also metal pins at certain places and online for a set price). The money donated and given goes to the welfare trust of the currently serving and Veterans.

When the time comes, please give generously and remember:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.