Anzac biscuits are an Aussie staple, with families typically passing their cherished recipe down through the generations. But not all Anzac bikkies are created equal as some people prefer their biscuits to be dense and chewy, while others prefer to bite down on something crisp and crunchy.
Ahead of this year’s celebrations on April 25, consumer advocacy group Choice has tested eight of the ready-made options available in supermarkets. The biscuits were rated on their price, ingredients and nutritional value. Here’s how the supermarket offerings fared.
For those who like to chow down on a chewy, oaty Anzac biscuit, there are several worthy contenders available in supermarkets, including Coles Bakery’s 12 pack of Anzac Biscuits. These biscuits were described as being “very sweet, soft and chewy” and are also slightly larger than your typical biscuit, meaning you get more bang for your buck as $3 for 12.
Another worthy contender is Woolworths Anzac Biscuit Family Pack, which is perfect for those who live in a family household as you’ll get 24 bikkies for just $6 ($0.25 per biscuit). Similar in size to Coles’ offering, Choice reckon these biscuits are “sweet, soft and chewy”. They’re also suitable for vegans.
Arnott’s Simple Batch Anzac Biscuits are described by Choice as being perfect for “purists”, thanks to the basic ingredients list. “Not a preservative, hydrogenated oil, or weird sugar derivative in sight,” Choice says.
Another crunchy option are Bakers Finest RSL Anzac Biscuits. Perhaps the best thing about these bikkies is that they come in a commemorative reusable tin, which makes the $10 price tag for 50 “smallish” biscuits all the more reasonable. In terms of taste though, Choice says these biscuits have a “mild flavour and a high crunch factor”.
Bargain hunters should look no further than Unibic Anzac Biscuits which will set you back just $3 for a pack of 24, so that’s just $0.13 per biscuit. According to Choice taste-testers, the cheapest biscuits in the test are “dark-golden and simple-tasting” with a “slight crunch and fine textured crumb”.
Gluten-free options are becoming more and more popular, with supermarkets stocking various options for those who cannot, or prefer not, to eat foods containing gluten. This now extends to Anzac biscuits, and the consumer advocacy group put a number of GF options to the test.
First up was Aldi’s Has No Gluten Free Anzac Biscuits. These biscuits come in at just $0.31 each ($2.79 for a pack of nine) ($0.31 per biscuit), however Choice describes them as being good for people with “strong jaws who like a good hard chew”, so proceed with caution if you wear dentures.
Coles I’m Free From Anzac Biscuits were also put to the test, and deemed a good choice for those who like their snacks on the crunchy-side. At #$3 for 10, these biscuits were described as being “super crispy”.
While the last gluten-free option was the priciest of all eight products, coming in at a whopping $1.10 per biscuit ($10.95 for a pack of 10). However it’s worth noting that $1.50 from the sale of each commemorative pack of Gloriously Free Oats Anzac Biscuits goes to veterans charity Legacy. As well as containing no gluten, these pricier bikkies are also suitable for vegans or those with allergies to dairy and eggs.