Anzac biscuit

The origin of Anzac biscuits is contested between Australia and New Zealand. The first known recipe for the biscuit significantly predates the formation of the ANZAC Corps, and many early recipes differ from the modern version. For example, historical recipes have variously included non-traditional ingredients such as eggs, fruit, and jam. The earliest known recipe combining the words 'Anzac' and 'biscuit' is a recipe from 1916 for "ANZAC ginger biscuits" which was published on 4 June 1916 in the Perth edition of The Sunday Times. However, this recipe contains no mention of oats, which are present in modern Anzac biscuits. The first recipe for "Anzac Biscuits" appears in an Australian publication, the War Chest Cookery Book (Sydney, 1917), but this recipe was also for a different biscuit. The same publication also included the first two recipes for biscuits resembling modern Anzac biscuits, under the names of "Rolled Oats Biscuits" and just "Biscuits". Another early recipe for the Anzac biscuit dates back to 1921, published in an Australian newspaper called The Argus. These early recipes did not contain desiccated coconut, which is present in many modern Anzac biscuits. The first recipe for an Anzac biscuit containing desiccated coconut is recorded to be from the city of Adelaide in 1924. In New Zealand, a 1919 recipe for Anzac Crispies in the eighth edition of the St Andrew's Cookery Book had similar ingredients to modern Anzac biscuits. ==Current popularity==

Today, Anzac biscuits are manufactured commercially for retail sale. Because of their historical military connection with the ANZACs and Anzac Day, these biscuits are still used as a fundraising item for the Royal New Zealand Returned Services' Association (RSA) and the Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL). Special collectors of old-style biscuit tins with World War military artwork are usually produced in the lead up to Anzac Day and sold in supermarkets, in addition to the standard plastic packets available all year. The official RSL biscuit is produced by Ital Food Group under licence. A British (though still Australian-produced) version of the Anzac biscuit, supporting the Royal British Legion, is available in several major supermarket chains in the UK. ==Legal issues==

Similarly to the use of the term Anzac, the Anzac biscuit is protected by regulations that restrict commercial production of the product. While it is legally acceptable to substitute ingredients in a recipe to cater to dietary requirements, there is a commercial disallowance for any substantial modification of the recipe such that they deviate too far from traditional Anzac biscuit recipes. Variations of recipes posted on social media or written in cookbooks that merely include Anzac biscuits are excluded from regulations. In April 2025, the biscuit returned to the Subway menu. ==References==