ANZAC Day Biscuits Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free and Wheat-Free

ANZAC Day is an important day in New Zealand and ANZAC biscuits are very traditional at this time. It is believed the biscuits were sent by wives to soldiers abroad because they kept well and were easily transportable (by Navy Ships!). In addition, rolled oat-based biscuits were sold and consumed at fetes, galas and parades to raise funds for the war effort.

I fondly remember making these as a child – and eating the mixture before the cookies even got to the oven! Here is my healthier version of the traditional ANZAC cookies for you free of refined sugar and flour – and yes we did eat some of the mixture when making these!

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups rolled oats
½ cup desiccated coconut
½ cup chopped/sliced almonds
3 tablespoons coconut oil
2-3 tablespoons of honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon water (if required)

Directions:

Pre-heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan forced) and line a baking tray with baking paper.

Place oats, coconut, almonds, coconut oil, vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of honey (to start), into a food processor and pulse to combine.

Check the consistency - the mixture will feel a bit crumbly than your normal mixture but you should be able to form a rough ball, if not just add a bit more honey and if required you can also add a little bit of water.

Form into small balls and place onto the baking tray, flattening either with your hands or a fork (I like mine thick and chunky so left them like this!)

Bake for approximately 20 until golden brown. These will keep well in an air-tight container for about a week (but I promise they will be eaten before this!!).

Note: Oats a technically free from the gluten found in wheat, barley and rye but cannot be tested for a different protein which is in oats. Plus they are often processed in the same location as other gluten-based products. For those that are celiac and/or allergic to gluten, you need to check this on the oats that you are purchasing and currently here in New Zealand Celiac NZ recommends against oats for those with celiac disease. You can read more in my blog here. 

You can a video of me making this with my boys over on my you-tube channel!



Lest We Forget

xxx Dr Julie Bhosale