Prep 20minBake 30minMakes about 30

These "very Moroccan" cookies are dead-easy to make, but still special with the addition of orange flower water. They have a crisp macaroon-like character that softens and becomes chewy the longer they're kept.

Ingredients

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Line two large oven trays with non-stick baking paper.
2. Spread the almonds on one of the baking trays and toast in preheated oven, shaking the tray occasionally, for 8-10 minutes or until lightly golden and aromatic. Set aside for 5 minutes to cool slightly.
3. Use a food processor to process the almonds until finely ground. Transfer to a medium mixing bowl.
4. Sift together the icing sugar and baking powder over the almond meal. Add the egg yolks and orange flower water and use an electric mixer to beat until well combined and a soft dough forms. Roll heaped teaspoonfuls of the mixture into balls. Roll in the extra icing sugar to coat lightly and then place on the lined oven trays about 5cm apart. Flatten the balls until about 1cm thick and then press a whole extra almond into the center of each, if desired.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, swapping the trays around halfway through baking, or until lightly golden around the edges and cracked on top. Remove from the oven and cool on the trays.

This recipe is from Anneka's SBS Food online column, Bakeproof: Moroccan Spice.

CLICK HERE for more Bakeproof recipes.

Photography by Alan Benson.

Prep 20minBake 18-20minMakes about 20

ANZAC biscuits were sent in food parcels to Australian and New Zealand troops stationed in Europe in World War I. They were designed to withstand the long trip while providing something home baked, comforting and a little sustaining for the soldiers. Using only basic ingredients and equipment, these biscuits are a gentle reminder of the ANZAC legacy and spirit.

Ingredients

Method

1. Preheat oven to 170°C/375°F (150°C/340°F fan-forced). Line 2 large oven trays with baking paper.
2. Put the rolled oats, flour, coconut and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl and stir to combine.
3. Put the butter, water and golden syrup in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until the butter melts. Remove from the heat, add the bicarbonate of soda and stir to combine – this mixture will foam. Add to the dry ingredients and stir with the wooden spoon until well combined.
4. Roll heaped tablespoonfuls of the mixture into balls and place about 7cm/2¾in apart on the lined trays. Use your fingers or the bottom of a glass to flatten the balls until about 1cm/½in thick and about 6cm/2¼in in diameter. 
5. Bake in preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, swapping the trays after 10 minutes, or until golden and cooked through. Remove the biscuits from the oven and cool on the trays. Repeat with any remaining biscuit mixture.

Prep 15minBake 18-20minMakes about 20

Simple and super quick to make, these shortbread will satisfy even the most hard-core chocoholic! For extra crunch, try adding some chopped roasted hazelnuts to the mixture with the chopped chocolate.

Ingredients

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C (140°C fan-forced). Line two large oven trays with non-stick baking paper.
2. Place the butter, sugar, flour, cornflour, cocoa powder, hazelnut meal and vanilla in the bowl of a food processor (see Baker's Tips) and process for 1 minute or until the mixture starts to form a dough (be careful not to over-mix).
3. Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl, add the chocolate and bring together with your hands to combine evenly.
4. Roll tablespoonfuls of the mixture into balls and place on the lined trays about 5cm apart. Flatten each with a fork so that they are about 1cm thick.
5. Bake for 18-20 minutes, swapping the trays halfway through baking, or until cooked through. Remove from the oven and cool on the trays.

This recipe is from Anneka's SBS Food online column, Bakeproof: Cookies in a hurry. CLICK HERE for more Bakeproof recipes.

Photography by Alan Benson.

Prep 15min (+ 30min cooling time)Bake 20minMakes about 30

Prep 15minBake 12-15min (per batch)Makes about 20

These macaroons are commonly crumbled and used in the traditional Danish Lagkage (layer cake), a traditional Danish birthday cake. They are wonderfully crisp on the outside while being mor-ishly soft on the inside and are truly addictive as a ‘sweet’ treat. While not traditional, I’ve taken the liberty of adding a sprinkling of flaked almonds for extra texture.

Ingredients

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a large baking tray with non-stick baking paper.
2. Put the almond meal, icing sugar and bicarbonate of soda in a medium bowl and mix until evenly combined.
3. Use an electric mixer with a whisk attachment to whisk the egg whites and salt in a medium clean, dry bowl until stiff peaks form. Add the almond meal and icing sugar mixture and use a spatula or large metal spoon to fold together until evenly combined.
4. Use two metal teaspoons to spoon slightly heaped spoonfuls of the mixture onto the lined tray about 4 cm apart to allow for spreading. Sprinkle with the flaked almonds and then bake in the third top of the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until golden and aromatic.
5. Cool the macaroons on the tray. Repeat with the remaining mixture to make about 20 macaroons in total.

This recipe is from Anneka's SBS Food online column, Bakeproof: Danish Baking. CLICK HERE for more Bakeproof recipes. 

Photography by Alan Benson. 

Prep 15min (+ cooling time)Bake 45-55minMakes about 24

Knowing what is going into your muesli bars is the key to good ones – it makes them so much healthier and tastier.

Ingredients

260g (180ml / ¾ cup) good-quality honey
125ml (½ cup) sunflower oil or light olive oil
250g (2½ cups) rolled oats
30g (1½ cups) puffed millet
45g (½ cup) desiccated coconut
1½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
55g (⅓ cup) sweetened dried cranberries
75g (½ cup) currants
80g (½ cup) raw almonds, coarsely chopped (see Baker’s Tips)

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 140ºC (120°C fan-forced). Lightly grease a shallow 20 x 30cm (base measurement) slice tin and line the base and sides with non-stick baking paper.
2. Put the honey and oil in a small saucepan over medium heat and stir until well combined and heated through. Set aside.
3. Put the rolled oats, millet, coconut, cinnamon, cranberries, currants and almonds in a large bowl and mix to combine evenly. Add the honey mixture and stir to combine well. Using damp hands, press the mixture firmly into the lined tin. Press the mixture with the back of a spoon to make the surface smooth and even.
4. Bake for 45–55 minutes or until the surface is dark golden brown all over. Cool completely in the tin before cutting into 24 bars with a sharp knife.

Prep 20minBake 20minMakes 30

These simple shortbread-like biscuits, subtly scented with orange blossom water, are incredibly more-ish. They are just as good when flavoured with vanilla or rosewater, to taste, too.

Ingredients

125g butter, softened

90g (¾ cup) icing sugar, sifted

200g (1⅓ cup) plain flour, sifted

1 tablespoon orange blossom water, or to taste

30 whole blanched almonds

Prep 20minBake 20minMakes about 30

Reminiscent of the traditional and timeless Anzac biscuits, these morish treats have the addition of almond and sesame (for extra crunch) and mandarin (for a surprising flavour twist). This variation is not intended to be disrespectful of the ANZAC spirit – just a modern variation to enjoy with a cuppa and to reflect on the legacy left and sacrifice made by our service men and women.

Ingredients

95g (1 cup) rolled oats
150g (1 cup) plain flour
90g (1 cup) desiccated coconut
220g (1 cup, firmly packed) brown sugar
95g (¾ cup) slivered almonds
40g (¼ cup) sesame seeds
Finely grated rind 1 mandarin
125g butter, cubed
2 tablespoons treacle
2 tablespoons water
½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Line 2 large oven trays with baking paper.
2. Put the rolled oats, flour, coconut, brown sugar, almonds, sesame seeds and mandarin rind in a large mixing bowl and stir to combine.
3. Put the butter, treacle and water in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until the butter melts. Remove from the heat, add the bicarbonate of soda and stir to combine – the mixture will foam. Add to the dry ingredients and stir with the wooden spoon until evenly combined.
4. Roll tablespoonfuls of the mixture into balls and place about 5cm apart on the lined trays. Use your fingers or the bottom of a glass to flatten the balls until about 1cm thick. 
5. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, swapping the trays after 10 minutes, or until golden and cooked through. Remove the biscuits from the oven and cool on the trays. Repeat with any remaining biscuit mixture.

Prep 10minBake 20minMakes about 30

Prep 30min (+10min chilling time)
Bake 12min (per batch)Makes about 36

Prep 20minBake 40-45minMakes 16 serves

Mary Queen of Scots' fondness for shortbread is said to be the reason for its increased popularity in the 1500s. Nowadays it is loved so much there is even a National Shortbread Day on the 6th January each year! The key to good shortbread is slow baking until it is pale golden and cooked through – if over baked, or baked too quickly, it will become slightly bitter in taste due to the ‘burnt’ butter.

Ingredients

Method

1. Preheat oven to 160ºC (140ºC fan-forced). Use a 20cm cake tin to draw a circle on two separate pieces of non-stick baking paper, turn over and set aside.
2. Use an electric mixer to beat the butter and sugar until starting to become pale and creamy, but not too aerated (do not over mix).
3. Sift together the plain flour and rice flour, add to the butter mixture and use a wooden spoon and then your hands to mix until evenly combined and a soft dough forms. Divide the dough in half and shape both portions into discs.
4. Place each disc in the centre of the marked circles on the baking paper and use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll each out to fill the circles. Use your fingertips to neaten the edges and then pinch the edges to create a decorative edge. Use the baking paper to lift the shortbread rounds onto two oven trays. Sprinkle with the extra sugar, dividing evenly between the rounds. Use a large sharp knife to mark each round into 8 wedges and then use a fork to pick each wedge three times.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, swapping the trays around half way through baking, or until pale golden and cooked through. Cool on the trays. Cut into wedges to serve.

This recipe is from Anneka's SBS Food online column, Bakeproof: Best of British Baking.