The ultimate guide to store-bought ANZAC biscuits: Which ones to buy and which ones to avoid?
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Get ready to indulge in the heavenly goodness of fluffy dried oats, mouth-watering coconut, and luscious golden syrup, all baked to perfection, resulting in the iconic treat that Aussies have loved for decades — the ANZAC biscuit!
This delicious snack has a fascinating history dating back to World War I and has since become an Aussie favourite, loved by people of all ages. However, let's face it, as much as we adore them, baking ANZAC biscuits from scratch can be time-consuming.
That's why many of us now turn to the convenience of store-bought ANZAC biscuits. But not all store-bought ANZAC biscuits are created equal. Some can taste as good as homemade, while others might not even come close to satisfying your craving.
If you're a lover of the iconic ANZAC biscuit but don't have the time or the patience to whip up a batch yourself, fear not! Our friends over at The Guardian have got your back.
They went on a mission to discover the best store-bought ANZAC biscuits available at major supermarkets. The stakes were high as they held a blind taste test with five testers, including a former pastry chef (talk about expertise!), who put seven different store-bought ANZAC biscuits to the test.
The biscuits were assessed on various factors, from their appearance (an even golden brown), aroma (biscuity, of course!), mouthfeel (either chewy or with a satisfying crunch), to the most crucial factor: flavour (balanced, perfumed with golden syrup and earthy with oats).
Coffee breaks were allowed, but there was a strict 'no dunking' rule. So, you may ask, were the taste testers impressed? Would they proudly serve these biscuits to their beloved family members?
After much crunching and munching, the results are in! Here's what they found:
Drum roll, please! It's time to unveil the champion of The Guardian's store-bought ANZAC biscuit taste test — the Irrewarra All Natural ANZAC Biscuits, available at Woolies for just $9.65 for a pack of 6 biscuits.
Scoring a whopping 85.4/100, these biscuits blew the competition out of the water! Testers couldn't help but swoon over the depth and complexity of their flavour, with hints of molasses and caramel that tantalised their taste buds. And let's not forget about the ‘buttery’ film that was left on their fingers — one tester described it as 'lovely'!
But that's not all; when biscuit number six was presented, there was an instant lift in the mood among the testers. With its generous size, appealing colour, and likeness to the Cookie Monster's favourite snack, this biscuit had already won them over before they even took a bite.
So what sets these biscuits apart? It turns out that the secret ingredient was butter — the only biscuit on the lineup with it. Perhaps this is what gave them their competitive edge!
In second place are the Coles Bakery ANZAC Biscuits, available for just $3 for a pack of 12 biscuits.
Scoring an impressive 73.2/100, these biscuits caught the testers' attention with their fluffy and lighter mouthfeel — perfect for those who prefer a less dense biscuit. Subtle coconut notes and a pleasing hum of golden syrup added to their charm, making them a true contender in the taste test.
While they may not have taken the top spot, these biscuits still deserve a place on your grocery list. At such an affordable price, you can stock up on them for your next afternoon tea or snack time. Who knows, they may even become your new favourite!
Taking third place in the competition is the Woolworths Bakery ANZAC Biscuits — available for a steal at just $5.50 for a 24-pack from the supermarket.
While they may not have scored as highly as the top two contenders, these biscuits are still worth a try, especially if you're on a budget. Scoring 55/100, they had a mixed reception amongst the testers. Some found the appearance to be a bit underdone, while others thought it was a lovely shade of yellow.
Unfortunately, several tasters found the biscuit to be too chewy and overly sweet, with a coconut aroma and flavour that was a bit too intense. One tester even remarked that just chewing the biscuit felt like 'an intense workout'!
Despite these criticisms, there were still some positives to be found — the biscuits had a nice golden colour and a pleasant aroma, and some testers even enjoyed the chewiness. So if you're willing to overlook the overly sweet flavour, give these biscuits a shot; you may be pleasantly surprised!
In fourth place is the Unibic ANZAC Biscuits, available for just $2.99 for a 300g pack from ALDI. While the sound of crunching was satisfying, unfortunately, the biscuit's overly dry mouthfeel and lingering crumbs left our testers unimpressed. They scored 54.2/100.
And in fifth place, we have the Baker's Finest RSL ANZAC Biscuits, priced at $3.40 for 300g and available at major and independent supermarkets. Scoring 49.2/100, testers described the biscuit as being overly sweet with a pronounced coconut flavour that lacked depth and complexity. In short, they found it to be a bit one-dimensional.
While these two biscuits didn't fare as well in the taste test as the top three contenders, they still have their merits — give them a try and see what you think!
The taste test at The Guardian didn't stop at traditional ANZAC biscuits! The testers also tried out some non-traditional ANZAC-inspired treats, such as Carman's Muesli Cookie: Golden Oat and Coconut, priced at $6 for nine cookies. However, the testers found these cookies to be dry and did not resemble the classic biscuit we all know and love.
Another non-traditional option they tested was Belvita Soft Bakes Golden Grain, priced at $4.50 for four. While these bites were dense and moist, unfortunately, the testers couldn't identify any ANZAC biscuit qualities in them.
This just goes to show that the classic ANZAC biscuit has a certain quality that's hard to replicate! So, if you're a purist when it comes to ANZAC biscuits and looking for that traditional flavour and texture, you might want to stick with the classic options.
But if you're open to trying something different, these non-traditional treats could still be worth a taste test of their own!
Happy snacking, fellow sweet tooths! And a big thank you to The Guardian and their team of taste testers for doing the hard work of finding the best store-bought ANZAC biscuits for us.
Now we can satisfy our cravings without any disappointment. But remember, there's always room for experimentation in the kitchen, so don't hesitate to whip up your own batch of homemade ANZAC biscuits if you have the time and inclination. Check out the recipe here!
And if you come across any other great ANZAC-inspired treats, be sure to let us know in the comments below!
This delicious snack has a fascinating history dating back to World War I and has since become an Aussie favourite, loved by people of all ages. However, let's face it, as much as we adore them, baking ANZAC biscuits from scratch can be time-consuming.
That's why many of us now turn to the convenience of store-bought ANZAC biscuits. But not all store-bought ANZAC biscuits are created equal. Some can taste as good as homemade, while others might not even come close to satisfying your craving.
If you're a lover of the iconic ANZAC biscuit but don't have the time or the patience to whip up a batch yourself, fear not! Our friends over at The Guardian have got your back.
Five testers conducted a blind taste test of seven store-bought ANZAC biscuits available in Australian supermarkets. Credit: Facebook/Artisan Foods.
They went on a mission to discover the best store-bought ANZAC biscuits available at major supermarkets. The stakes were high as they held a blind taste test with five testers, including a former pastry chef (talk about expertise!), who put seven different store-bought ANZAC biscuits to the test.
The biscuits were assessed on various factors, from their appearance (an even golden brown), aroma (biscuity, of course!), mouthfeel (either chewy or with a satisfying crunch), to the most crucial factor: flavour (balanced, perfumed with golden syrup and earthy with oats).
Coffee breaks were allowed, but there was a strict 'no dunking' rule. So, you may ask, were the taste testers impressed? Would they proudly serve these biscuits to their beloved family members?
After much crunching and munching, the results are in! Here's what they found:
Testers noted the depth and complexity of the flavour, with notes of molasses and caramel, and the lovely butter film left on their fingers. Credit: Woolworths.
Drum roll, please! It's time to unveil the champion of The Guardian's store-bought ANZAC biscuit taste test — the Irrewarra All Natural ANZAC Biscuits, available at Woolies for just $9.65 for a pack of 6 biscuits.
Scoring a whopping 85.4/100, these biscuits blew the competition out of the water! Testers couldn't help but swoon over the depth and complexity of their flavour, with hints of molasses and caramel that tantalised their taste buds. And let's not forget about the ‘buttery’ film that was left on their fingers — one tester described it as 'lovely'!
But that's not all; when biscuit number six was presented, there was an instant lift in the mood among the testers. With its generous size, appealing colour, and likeness to the Cookie Monster's favourite snack, this biscuit had already won them over before they even took a bite.
So what sets these biscuits apart? It turns out that the secret ingredient was butter — the only biscuit on the lineup with it. Perhaps this is what gave them their competitive edge!
The fluffy and lighter mouthfeel caught the testers' attention, with subtle coconut notes and a pleasing hum of golden syrup. Credit: Coles.
In second place are the Coles Bakery ANZAC Biscuits, available for just $3 for a pack of 12 biscuits.
Scoring an impressive 73.2/100, these biscuits caught the testers' attention with their fluffy and lighter mouthfeel — perfect for those who prefer a less dense biscuit. Subtle coconut notes and a pleasing hum of golden syrup added to their charm, making them a true contender in the taste test.
While they may not have taken the top spot, these biscuits still deserve a place on your grocery list. At such an affordable price, you can stock up on them for your next afternoon tea or snack time. Who knows, they may even become your new favourite!
Several testers found the biscuit too chewy, with an overly sweet coconut aroma and flavour. Credit: Woolworths.
Taking third place in the competition is the Woolworths Bakery ANZAC Biscuits — available for a steal at just $5.50 for a 24-pack from the supermarket.
While they may not have scored as highly as the top two contenders, these biscuits are still worth a try, especially if you're on a budget. Scoring 55/100, they had a mixed reception amongst the testers. Some found the appearance to be a bit underdone, while others thought it was a lovely shade of yellow.
Unfortunately, several tasters found the biscuit to be too chewy and overly sweet, with a coconut aroma and flavour that was a bit too intense. One tester even remarked that just chewing the biscuit felt like 'an intense workout'!
Despite these criticisms, there were still some positives to be found — the biscuits had a nice golden colour and a pleasant aroma, and some testers even enjoyed the chewiness. So if you're willing to overlook the overly sweet flavour, give these biscuits a shot; you may be pleasantly surprised!
While these two biscuits didn't fare as well in the taste test as the top three contenders, they still have their merits. Credit: IGA, Woolworths.
In fourth place is the Unibic ANZAC Biscuits, available for just $2.99 for a 300g pack from ALDI. While the sound of crunching was satisfying, unfortunately, the biscuit's overly dry mouthfeel and lingering crumbs left our testers unimpressed. They scored 54.2/100.
And in fifth place, we have the Baker's Finest RSL ANZAC Biscuits, priced at $3.40 for 300g and available at major and independent supermarkets. Scoring 49.2/100, testers described the biscuit as being overly sweet with a pronounced coconut flavour that lacked depth and complexity. In short, they found it to be a bit one-dimensional.
While these two biscuits didn't fare as well in the taste test as the top three contenders, they still have their merits — give them a try and see what you think!
The taste test at The Guardian didn't stop at traditional ANZAC biscuits! The testers also tried out some non-traditional ANZAC-inspired treats, such as Carman's Muesli Cookie: Golden Oat and Coconut, priced at $6 for nine cookies. However, the testers found these cookies to be dry and did not resemble the classic biscuit we all know and love.
Another non-traditional option they tested was Belvita Soft Bakes Golden Grain, priced at $4.50 for four. While these bites were dense and moist, unfortunately, the testers couldn't identify any ANZAC biscuit qualities in them.
This just goes to show that the classic ANZAC biscuit has a certain quality that's hard to replicate! So, if you're a purist when it comes to ANZAC biscuits and looking for that traditional flavour and texture, you might want to stick with the classic options.
But if you're open to trying something different, these non-traditional treats could still be worth a taste test of their own!
Happy snacking, fellow sweet tooths! And a big thank you to The Guardian and their team of taste testers for doing the hard work of finding the best store-bought ANZAC biscuits for us.
Now we can satisfy our cravings without any disappointment. But remember, there's always room for experimentation in the kitchen, so don't hesitate to whip up your own batch of homemade ANZAC biscuits if you have the time and inclination. Check out the recipe here!
And if you come across any other great ANZAC-inspired treats, be sure to let us know in the comments below!
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