The Real Story of Anzac Biscuits From Wartime Fundraiser to National Icon
When many Australians and New Zealanders think of Anzac biscuits, they imagine care packages sent to soldiers fighting at Gallipoli in 1915. It’s a heartwarming image: concerned families at home baking these golden, chewy treats to sustain their loved ones at the front. However, the historical reality tells a different story.
As one military account colourfully describes:
“Biscuits! Army Biscuits! Consider the hardness of them. Remember the cracking of your dental plate, the breaking of this tooth, the splintering of that.” (From “Army biscuits” by Ormond Burton in “The ANZAC book”)
This quote isn’t describing the sweet oaty treats we know today. The standard issue military “biscuit” during the Gallipoli campaign was actually a rock-hard tooth-breaker also called a ship’s biscuit – nothing like the Anzac biscuit we enjoy with our tea.
The Home Front Connection
The true origin of Anzac biscuits is primarily connected to the home front war effort. While there is some evidence that rolled oats biscuits were sent to troops on the Western Front later in the war, their main purpose was actually fundraising at home.
These biscuits were commonly sold at fetes, galas, parades, and other public events to raise money for the war effort. Fundraising was coordinated by local Patriotic Funds, which raised an impressive 6.5 million pounds for the New Zealand war effort alone. Because of their connection to supporting overseas troops, they were initially known as “soldier’s biscuits.”
It wasn’t until after World War I that the popular rolled oat biscuit had the name “Anzac” applied to it, and the legend as we know it began to take form.
A Recipe Born from Necessity
What made the original recipe so practical was its carefully chosen ingredients. The biscuits contained:
- Rolled oats
- Sugar
- Flour
- Butter
- Golden syrup
Notably absent were eggs, which were scarce during wartime. Golden syrup served as the binding agent instead. This combination of ingredients created biscuits that were not only nutritious and energy-dense but also had a long shelf life – essential qualities during wartime.
Legal Protection of “Anzac”
Few people realize that the term “Anzac” is actually legally protected in Australia. Federal laws regulating its use date back to 1920, with the first regulations gazetted in 1921. The government of the day wished to prevent commercial exploitation of the word, which had become synonymous with the bravery of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli.
The Minister of Veterans’ Affairs administers the Protection of Word “Anzac” Regulations, which require ministerial approval for use of the word in connection with any trade, business, profession, entertainment, or other specific contexts.
For Anzac biscuits specifically, two general rules apply:
- The biscuits must be made to a traditional recipe (though some variation is permitted)
- They must be called “Anzac biscuits” – the term “cookies” is explicitly frowned upon
Traditional 1928 Anzac Biscuit Recipe
This recipe from 1928 predates the Gallipoli campaign but represents one of the earlier documented versions of what would become Australia’s beloved national biscuit.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 lb butter (about 225g)
- 1 tablespoon golden syrup
- 1 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 2 tablespoons boiling water
- 1 cup wheatmeal (oatmeal)
- 1 cup desiccated coconut
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Method:
- Melt the butter and golden syrup in a mixing bowl
- Add the baking soda dissolved in boiling water
- Add all the dry ingredients listed above
- Take a teaspoonful at a time and roll in the hands into a small round shape
- Put on tray and bake in a slow oven (about 150-160°C) for 25 minutes
- Leave on the tray a few minutes to harden
Recipe credit: Mrs. J. E. Richardson, Matamata, N.Z. (First Published in The Australian woman’s mirror. – 1928)
Today, Anzac biscuits remain an important part of Australia and New Zealand’s cultural heritage. They are traditionally baked and consumed around Anzac Day (April 25), which commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders “who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.”
The evolution of the Anzac biscuit from fundraising item to national icon reflects how food traditions often carry deeper cultural significance than their simple ingredients might suggest. While the direct connection to Gallipoli may be mythical, the biscuit’s genuine connection to the war effort and to supporting troops makes it no less meaningful as a symbol of sacrifice, resourcefulness, and national identity.
So next time you bite into an Anzac biscuit, remember that you’re not just enjoying a sweet treat – you’re participating in a living tradition that connects present-day Australians and New Zealanders with their shared history.
