There is a legion of Human Powered Health bakers in our program, none more so than New Zealander Henrietta Christie. We tasked the 20-year-old to make us some of her favorite during and post-ride snacks and she came back with these traditional cookies (or biscuits as they call them). 

Popular in Australia and New Zealand, ‘ANZAC biscuits’ have long been associated with the armed forces of those countries. This is because the cookies would travel well and not spoil due to their ingredients. 

“These biscuits [yes, cookies to Americans] are great because you can bake them to be chewy or hard and crunchy,” explains Christie. “Either way really works. Also, the history related to these biscuits adds some extras and special meaning to them.”

As a result, they are also the ideal mid or post-ride snack. Packed with both slow-burn energy through the oats and a sweet sugar kick, ride with a couple of these cookies in your back pocket and you’ll soon conquer an energy crash.

For Christie, it’s not just about the end product but the positive impact that the process has on her mindset. 

“Baking is something anyone can enjoy and do,” she says. “It’s a great way to bring people together and I find baking very relaxing and enjoyable – when it’s going well,” she jokingly adds.

Christie was helped along the way by her puppy Cid, so it’s vital that you also have a small or furry friend when preparing the cookies.

Ingredients

 

8 oz Standard Grade Flour
1 ½ flatspoons ground cinnamon
15 oz rolled oats
4 oz White Sugar
2 oz Brown Sugar
8 oz Coconut flakes
4 oz Butter
2 oz Golden Syrup
2 Tablespoons water
1 teaspoon Baking Soda

Preparation time – 10 minutes
Cooking time – 16 minutes
Serves – 18 biscuits

Method

Preheat oven to 300°F conventional bake. Line a baking tray with baking paper.

In a medium-sized bowl, sift together the flour and cinnamon. Add the rolled oats, coconut and sugars; mix well. Think of it as an effort on the bike and see how many watts you can produce.

Combine the butter, golden syrup and water in a small saucepan and stir over low-medium heat until the butter melts and the mixture is well combined (ensure the mixture does not simmer or boil). Remove from heat and stir in the baking soda. Add immediately to the dry ingredients and use a wooden spoon to stir until well combined.

Roll 1-2 tablespoons of mixture into balls and place onto tray about 2 inches apart. Use your fingers to flatten each slightly (until they are about an inch thick) and bake for 16 minutes (for a chewy biscuit) or 20 minutes for a crunchier biscuit

Set aside for 5 minutes to cool slightly before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Keep in an airtight container for up to a week.

If like Henrietta, you have a dog, make sure that they are rewarded for their effort in helping you. 

Put the biscuits aside for when you come back in from a particularly difficult day in the saddle or wrap them in foil and place them in your jersey back pocket. A brilliant recovery ‘pick me up’. 

Try the recipe out for yourself and get in touch with us on social media to show us your creation!