Anzac cranberry cookies
November marks cranberry season. I love their tartness in sweet and savoury dishes, and they perfectly capture the festive season with their scarlet hue. A nod to my childhood in Australia, these Anzac biscuits combine cranberries with coconut and macadamia. The smell of these crunchy cookies baking on a wintry day is guaranteed to bring a smile. They also make a lovely homemade Christmas gift.
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain flour
- 1 cup jumbo rolled oats
- ¾ cup desiccated coconut
- ¾ cup caster sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 120g butter
- 4 tablespoons golden syrup
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ cup chopped macadamias
- ½ cup chopped cranberries
Directions
- Step 1 Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (fan force). Line two baking trays with baking paper or silicone mats.
- Step 2 Combine the flour, oats, coconut and sugar in a large bowl and make a well in the middle.
- Step 3 Melt the butter and golden syrup together in a medium saucepan over low heat. When the butter has melted, remove from the heat and stir in the baking soda (the mixture will bubble up).
- Step 4 Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Then add the macadamias and cranberries and stir to evenly distribute.
- Step 5 Roll the cookie dough into twelve balls and flatten. Each tray should fit six large cookies.
- Step 6 Bake each batch for 15 minutes or until deep golden brown. Wait to cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
Variations:
- For a vegan version, swap the butter for a vegan margarine, like Stork.
“Cooking with kids is not just about ingredients, recipes and cooking. It’s about harnessing imagination, empowerment, and creativity.” Guy Fieri
Baking is a great festive activity to get your children involved in. Cooking teaches them essential life skills, like communication and fine motor skills. Cooking for others supports empathy and also helps develop self-esteem, as it gives children a sense of responsibility and control in their lives. You might like to try our tips for ‘mindful cooking’ with children, to turn cooking into an opportunity for mindfulness and self-development.
