Why are they called Anzac biscuits?
Anzac biscuits are named after the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, the Anzacs of the First World War. The sweet oat-and-coconut biscuits became linked with the troops and with Anzac Day.
The biscuits are made with rolled oats, flour, sugar, desiccated coconut, butter and golden syrup, bound with bicarbonate of soda. They contain no eggs, which helped them keep for a long time.
Popular stories say families sent Anzac biscuits to soldiers overseas. Historians say they were more often sold at fundraisers at home to support the war effort.
Protected name
The word Anzac is protected by law in Australia. Commercial products can use it only with permission, and the biscuits must stay close to the traditional recipe.
Under government guidelines, they should be called Anzac biscuits, not Anzac cookies, and selling them under the Anzac name without following the rules can lead to penalties.
Many Australian families bake Anzac biscuits around Anzac Day on 25 April, and they are sold to raise money for veterans' charities such as the RSL. Some like them chewy and others crunchy, a matter of friendly debate.
Did You Know?
Soldiers' rations included a very hard biscuit called the Anzac tile, different from today's sweet biscuits.