These vegan gluten free ANZAC biscuits are a real treat. They have crunchy and caramelised edges and soft chewy centers. All you need is 20 minutes, a bowl and a few simple ingredients. An Aussie and Kiwi favourite.

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🍪 What Are ANZAC Biscuits?
I recall being taught to bake ANZAC Biscuits in primary school (so so soooo long ago) for awareness of ANZAC Day.
One of the most important days on our Australian calendar, Observed on the 25th of April each year.
This day remembers and honours those who fought for our great nations (Australia & New Zealand) during the Gallipoli Campaign and all wars.
Lest We Forget.
ANZAC biscuits are a classic treat, still popular today. Though the modern biscuits as we know them today may differ to the original recipes.
These are great little bickies (yes, we Aussies shorten 'biscuit' to 'bickie') to dunk in your cup of tea.
ANZAC biscuits came about from having few ingredients during the time of war. The ingredients need to be suitable for transporting long distances and not spoil easily. You can read more about the ANZAC Biscuit origins here.
You only need to spare 20 minutes of your time to whip these up, and boy are these DELISH!
What Does ANZAC stand for?
The name ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, which is the group of soldiers that fought in the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey in 1915.
🌿 Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Vegan and gluten-Free, yet with the same delicious buttery coconut flavour.
- Easy to make, this recipe is simple to follow, so you can whip up a batch of delicious ANZAC biscuits in no time.
- These biscuits are great for a quick snack on-the-go, or as a sweet treat to enjoy with your morning or afternoon tea.
🥥 Ingredients You'll Need
Notes on some of the ingredients, the full list of ingredients and their measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Rice flour is the gluten-free alternative to wheat flour in this recipe. It is flavourless, picking up the other flavours really well.
Desiccated coconut adds a subtle sweetness and a chewy texture to the biscuits.
Raw sugar adds a caramel flavour to the biscuits.
Rolled oats, do not use quick oats, the result will differ. They add to the texture. Whilst oats are naturally gluten-free, most are handled in facilities that also handle gluten foods, be sure to check the labels for “gluten-free certification”
Dairy-free butter provides a rich butteriness.
Golden syrup is a thick, amber-colored sugar syrup aka light treacle. It is a popular baking ingredient in Australia. The golden syrup will help to give these biscuits their distinct butterscotch flavour. Golden syrup can be purchased online (affiliate link).
Bicarbonate soda is a raising agent that helps to create some shape in the biscuits.
Boiling water is used to dissolve the bicarbonate soda.
🍪 How to Make Vegan Gluten Free ANZAC Biscuits
Step One - Preheat the oven to 175C (347F) and line a baking tray with baking paper.
Step Two - In a large mixing bowl, combine the rice flour, desiccated coconut, raw sugar, and rolled oats. Mix well.
Step Three - In a small saucepan, melt the dairy-free butter and golden syrup over low heat until melted and combined.
Step Four - In a separate small bowl, mix the bicarbonate soda with boiling water and stir until it dissolves. Add this to the butter and golden syrup mixture, it will fizz up, give it a stir. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and combine until a semi-crumbly dough forms.
Step Five - Roll tablespoon-sized balls of dough and place them onto the lined baking tray, leaving a 3cm gap between each biscuit. Gently press the balls with your palm to flatten them slightly.
Step Six - Bake the biscuits in the oven for 12 minutes or until golden brown. Let the biscuits cool on the tray for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tip: do not try and transfer the biscuits from the tray to the wire rack whilst hot, as they are still soft and will crumble.
☕Serving Suggestions
With a hot cuppa, these biscuits go perfectly with a hot cup of tea or coffee. Check out this list of fresh herbal tea.
Pack them in your lunchbox or take them on the go for a sweet treat
Try them with some flavour milk like cocoa oat milk, blueberry milk or vegan strawberry milk.
❓FAQ
Yes, traditional ANZAC biscuits contain gluten as they are made with wheat flour. However, this recipe for Vegan Gluten Free ANZAC Biscuits is specifically designed for individuals with gluten sensitivities. Instead of wheat flour, this recipe uses rice flour and rolled oats, which are naturally gluten-free.
Store in the pantry in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks.
🍪Related Recipes
For healthy refined sugar-free bickies try black sesame cookies.
- Vegan Ginger Cookies
- Fudgy dairy-free brownies that are also oil-free and have hidden sweet potatoes
- Peppery Gingerbread Cookies (Gluten Free)
- Dainty Vegan Meringue with Rose Water
- 6 Nutritious and Delicious Recipes for Vegan Desserts
Vegan Gluten Free ANZAC Biscuits
Ingredients
- 1 cup Rice Flour
- ½ cup Desiccated Coconut
- 1 cup Raw Sugar
- 1 cup Rolled oats use gluten free oats
- 125 grams Dairy free butter
- 2 tablespoon Golden syrup
- ¾ teaspoon Bicarbonate soda
- 2 tablespoons Boiling water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to a low 175ºC (347ºF)
Prepare Dry Indegrients
- In a mixing bowl, combine oats, rice flour, raw sugar and coconut1 cup Rice Flour, ½ cup Desiccated Coconut, 1 cup Raw Sugar, 1 cup Rolled oats
Prepare Wet Ingredients
- Over low-medium heat in a small pot, combine and stir dairy free butter and golden syrup until melted. Turn off the heat. In a small separate bowl, add the bicarbonate soda and boiling water, it will fizz up. Add this to the melted 'butter' mixture.125 grams Dairy free butter, 2 tablespoon Golden syrup, ¾ teaspoon Bicarbonate soda, 2 tablespoons Boiling water
- Pour the frothy mixture over dry ingredients, and combine all ingredients until a crumbly dough has formed.
- Roll a tablespoon of dough into a ball and place it onto a lined baking tray. Repeat until all done. Leave plenty of room between each biscuit for spreading. Bake for 12 minutes or until golden. Allow the ANZAC biscuits to cool on the trays for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire cooling rack to cool to room temperature
Video
Notes
Nutrition
N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.
nancy
the coconut buttery profile is super addictive. i think i've since made 3 batches
Bassima
Those biscuits turned out perfectly! My family loved it! Thanks for the recipe!
Alexandra
So wonderful to have an option that many can enjoy - my vegan best friend loved these, as did I!
veenaazmanov
I love the description you gave to these Anzac Biscuits. Best tea time or snack box option too. Yummy...
plantbasedfolk
Thank you Veena, yes a snack box is great, the problem is they don't last long as everyone eats them haha
GUNJAN
Oh my gosh! I cannot stop drooling over these biscuits. These look amazing and absolutely delicious. I wish I could just bite into them right now.
plantbasedfolk
Thank you Gunjan 🙂
Shashi
I keep hearing about anjac biscuits so I'm glad to have stumbled on your recipe!
plantbasedfolk
Thank you for stopping by!
Dannii
I love any kind of oat biscuits, and these sound amazing.
Kushigalu
These cookies are something new to me. So buttery and delicious. Love it
plantbasedfolk
Glad you think so too!
Nart
Tried this recipe and it didn't disappoint at all. My mom loves these biscuits with her morning coffee.
plantbasedfolk
That's a wonderful combination; coffee and ANZAC biscuits. 🙂
Sara Welch
I just switched to a gluten-free diet and this is a must-try recipe! Looks too good to pass up!
plantbasedfolk
Thank you Sara, gluten free recipes can be fun!