vegetarian

This healthy Anzac Biscuit recipe is a wholesome twist on the Aussie classic, packed with nutrient-dense ingredients that still offer the familiar, comforting taste. They’re easy to make, perfect for snacks or lunchboxes, and a great way to sneak in extra nutrition without compromising on flavour.

Health benefits

This Nourishing Anzac Biscuit recipe combines wholesome ingredients that offer numerous health benefits. The butter provides healthy fats essential for energy and nutrient absorption. Wholemeal spelt flour adds fibre and essential nutrients, supporting digestive health. Desiccated coconut and mixed seeds, such as sunflower, flax, and pumpkin seeds, offer a rich source of healthy fats, protein, and antioxidants. Rolled oats support the nervous system and provide soluble fibre for sustained energy. Ground cinnamon helps regulate blood sugar levels by improving insulin sensitivity and enhancing glucose metabolism. Together, these ingredients create a balanced, nutrient-dense biscuit that satisfies cravings while supporting overall well-being. 

Ingredients

The combination of oats, shredded coconut, butter and your choice of honey, rice malt maple syrup forms the base of these biscuits (instead of refined golden syrup). While additional ingredients like seeds and nuts are included for extra crunch and nourishment. Each ingredient plays a part in making this treat not only tasty but also more nutritious compared to the traditional version.

How to make this healthy Anzac biscuit recipe

Simply mix the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients in another. Combine them, roll the dough into small balls, and bake until golden. The biscuits will have a lovely chewy texture with a hint of crunch on the outside, making them the perfect healthy indulgence.

Make sure they’re sweet enough

I recommend that you taste the uncooked batter to see if you think it is sweet enough before baking. If not, add the extra rapadura or brown sugar, dried fruit or even cacao nibs. You want to keep the sugar content as low as possible, but you also want your kids to like them enough to enjoy eating these delicious, nourishing treats.

Time-saving Tip

I use a lot of ground seeds in my baking. One, because my lunchbox treats need to be nut free and secondly because seeds are so amazingly nutritious. For example, pepitas are a rich source of zinc, a mineral that often assists fussy eaters. So instead of supplementing to improve their desire and palate for food, include pepitas where you can. My kids aren’t a fan of their flavour so I grind them. If you plan to use them this way, you can grind a small batch of one or a mixture of seeds to keep in the fridge in an airtight glass container (a jar is good).

Serving suggestions and how to store

Serve these biscuits with a cup of tea or as an on-the-go snack. They’re great in lunchboxes or stored in an airtight container for up to a week. You can also freeze them cooked or freeze the dough and bake fresh batches whenever the craving hits!

This healthy Anzac biscuit recipe is a great postpartum snack

This nourishing Anzac biscuit recipe is especially beneficial for postpartum mums, offering a mix of nutrients that support recovery, energy, and overall well-being. The rolled oats are rich in fibre and slow-releasing carbohydrates, providing sustained energy to help combat postpartum fatigue. Oats are also known to support milk production in breastfeeding mothers. The healthy fats from butter, seeds, and coconut contribute to hormone balance and brain health, which are crucial during the postpartum period. The inclusion of mixed seeds and wholemeal spelt flour adds protein, essential fatty acids, and important minerals like magnesium and zinc, which support tissue repair and immune function. Cinnamon helps regulate blood sugar levels, offering a steady energy supply without sharp spikes. Altogether, these biscuits provide a comforting, nutrient-dense snack that supports the unique needs of new mums. 

Vary this healthy Anzac biscuit recipe to suit 

Check out the variations below the main recipe for tips on how to adapt this oatmeal cookie to your specific dietary needs. To make these gluten-free, simply swap the oats for certified gluten-free oats. For a nut-free version, omit the nuts and replace them with extra seeds. You can also replace butter with coconut oil to make these dairy-free, keeping them suitable for various dietary preferences.

For more delicious, healthy and easy to make wholefood treats, click HERE.

Print Recipe

4.69 from 48 votes

Nourishing Anzac biscuit

A delicious, quick and super nourishing take on the classic. This is one of the most popular sweet treats here at Well Nourished!

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Total Time35 minutes mins

Course: Snack

Servings: 15 biscuits

Ingredients

• 100 g butter
• 85 g rice malt syrup or honey (¼ cup)
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 30 g coconut sugar or rapadura (¼ cup) this is optional if you need extra sweetness
• 60 g wholemeal spelt flour (½ cup) 
• 50 g desiccated coconut (½ cup)
• 115 g rolled oats (1¼ cup) see gluten-free below
• 70 g mixed seeds (½ cup) ground (such as sunflower seeds, flax seeds and pepitas) or use LSA (using LSA means it is no longer nut free) or almond meal
• 30 g sesame seeds (¼ cup)
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Optional extras

• 1 tbsp dried fruit
• 1 tsp dulse flakes
• 1-2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tbsp cacao nibs

Instructions

• Pre-heat the oven to 180℃/350°F (fan forced) and line a large biscuit tray with baking paper.
• In a large pot, gently heat the butter and honey or rice syrup until melted (over a low heat). Remove from the heat. Add the bicarbonate of soda and mix very well.  
• Add the rest of the ingredients to the pot, and mix until well combined. The mixture should feel wet and sticky but presses together. If it feels a bit dry, add a tiny bit of water to bring them together.
• With wet hands squeeze the mixture into approximately golf sized balls, press between your palms to flatten slightly and place well apart on the baking tray (they spread).
• Bake until golden (approximately 10-20 minutes).
• The longer they are baked the crispier they become. So if you like a slightly chewy biscuit remove just as they start to brown. For a crunchy biscuit, leave a little longer. I also find the gluten-free version cooks quicker still.
• Cool, undisturbed on the tray (they will harden as they cool).

Thermomix Method

• First, grind your seeds, 10 seconds, speed 8. Set aside.
• Now melt your butter and syrup/honey, 1 minute, temp. 90, speed 3.
• Add the bicarb and mix 10 seconds, speed 3.
• Add the remaining ingredients and mix approx. 20 seconds, reverse, interval speed until combined.
• Roll and bake as per above method.

Store

• Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

Notes

Gluten and grain-free

Replace the oats with quinoa flakes (or millet flakes or rice flakes) and spelt flour with buckwheat or a gluten-free flour. You may have to adjust the amounts so that the mixture is sticky and moist but able to be squeezed into balls (with wet hands). Just keep adding more rolled grain and gluten-free flour until it feels right.

Dairy-free

Replace the butter with coconut oil (but they do loose the classic buttery ANZAC flavour). You may need to adjust the oil quantities slightly so the dough holds together. 

Vegan

Choose the dairy-free variation and rice malt syrup as your sweetener.

Coconut-free

Replace the coconut with more ground seeds.

Sesame-free

Replace the sesame seeds with sunflower seeds.

Fructose friendly

Choose rice malt syrup as your sweetener and omit the rapadura.

Make an Anzac slice

Press this mixture firmly into a small slice tin lined with baking paper. Allow to cool fully and chill in the fridge before slicing (to get a crumb free slice).

Chocolate chip Anzacs

If I know I have fussy guests for morning tea, I often press a piece of dark chocolate onto the top of the flattened biscuit dough. This usually gets fuss pots over the line!

 

 

I love to receive feedback - post yours in the comments below. Do you have an ANZAC day family tradition?

"I have made your nourishing Anzacs several times now and my grandmother wants me to write out the recipe for her...she's 87 and has been baking for over seven decades, so I think that's a huge compliment!"  Rachael, QLD