Afghan Biscuit is the New Zealand's traditional baked biscuit. They make these biscuits with cornflakes. Traditionally it topped with a chocolate icing and a half walnut. Since these are not baked with any leavening agent, these cookies tend to soft and chewy.
We are starting the ABC Bake around the world, where each day will be a dish starting with alphabets.
Check the roundup of the entire collection of baked dishes around the World in the A to Z order.
Today is A for Afghan Biscuit from New Zealand
I am not sure how I landed to check out these cookies. I had originally planned on making An Pan from Japan. My initial plan was to bake bread from different countries, so An Pan was suitable. However, my list kept changing on daily basis. So I went on to pick Aghi Gesgoudz. I was so happy when I realized I could do these Afghan Biscuits instead. I adapted mine from here and read about it in Wiki as well.
The fun part was, I had cornflakes with almonds ready at home and that made baking these biscuits very quick. The biscuits are rich and dense and have a crunchiness because of the cornflakes. And on top, the chocolate icing makes it even more interesting. I skipped topping it with walnuts as my boys won't eat it.
My enjoyed these cookies with the cornflakes on it. Chinnu saw me adding it and said he doesn't want the almonds added. I couldn't parse it fully and said he has to eat it along with it. He was hesitant and finally gave it. He was quite taken in with the taste and texture in the end.
I was searching for the origin of the recipe to be recorded here. However, I realized that the origin and the derivation of the name are unknown, but the recipe has appeared in many editions of the influential New Zealand Edmonds Cookery Book.
There are lots of theories as to how these biscuits got their name, though none seem to relate directly to Afghanistan. Regardless, these chocolate and cornflake cookies topped with walnuts are a true New Zealand classic.
This yields about 20 medium size biscuits and stays good for a couple of days.
Step by Step Pictures for baking Afgan Biscuits
Afghan Biscuit from New Zealand
For the Biscuits
Preheat oven to 185°C. In a bowl, take the butter, using an electric mixer, beat well. Then add sugar and a pinch of salt. Beat until pale and fluffy.
Add flour, cocoa powder, and cornflakes, and stir to combine.
Roll tablespoonfuls of mixture into balls, flatten slightly, and place on greased and lined baking trays, 2 cm apart. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until just firm.
Set aside to cool.
For the Icing
To make the icing, whisk the icing sugar and cocoa powder together with 2 tbsp water until combined to a thick paste consistency. Add more water, 1 tsp at a time, if necessary.
Immediately spread over cooled biscuits and top each with a little of the chopped walnuts, to decorate.
Recipe
Afghan Biscuit from New Zealand
Ingredients
For the Cookies
- 1/2 cup Butter unsalted
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 1 cup All Purpose Flour
- 1/4 cup Cocoa Powder
- 1.5 cups Cornflakes
- Walnuts to decorate
Chocolate icing
- 1 cup Icing Sugar
- 2 tbsp Cocoa Powder
Instructions
For the Biscuits
- Preheat oven to 185°C. In a bowl, take the butter, using an electric mixer, beat well. Then add sugar and a pinch of salt. Beat until pale and fluffy.
- Add flour, cocoa powder and cornflakes, and stir to combine.
- Roll tablespoonfuls of mixture into balls, flatten slightly and place on greased and lined baking trays, 2 cm apart. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until just firm.
- Set aside to cool.
For the Icing
- To make the icing, whisk icing sugar and cocoa powder together with 2 tbsp water until combined to a thick paste consistency.
- Add more water, 1 tsp at a time, if necessary.
- Immediately spread over cooled biscuits and top each with a little of the chopped walnuts, to decorate.
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Harini-Jaya R says
Great beginning and smart of you to choose chocolate based one and I am sure the kids are going to love your chocolate bakes 🙂
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
I am so glad that you started off the marathon with a chocolate recipe. How funny that I had initially planned on making An Pan as well from Japan, but have made something else (a cookie too). The recipe looks great and I can't wait to see what else you have in this series!
Priya Suresh says
Fantastic biscuits from New zealand, am sure am gonna bookmark so many bakes definitely during this Mega marathon. Lovely start Valli. Keep rocking.
Pavani says
Same pinch Valli -- I had Anpan too on my list. I even made the sweet red bean paste, but somehow ended up making something else.
I made these Afghan biscuits few months ago and loved how crunchy they turned out. You are tempting me to try them again (I'll probably make them them after the mega marathon). Looking forward to your other creations this month.
PJ says
I saw this when I was making the list but since A was finalized I just bookmarked it. Going by your description, I need make them as soon as we finish BM.And,even I wondered why they are called so!
Sharmila - The Happie Friends Potpourri Corner says
Happy start to the Mega Bm Valli,looking forward for more fun.. and coming to the afgan biscuits ,like cornflakes being added in the biscuits .totally loved this idea.. I am a biscuits freak so i am gonna definitely try this cookies in the future!!
Veena Krishnakumar says
I am sure my bookmark will run into pages after this bm. These biscuits look very nice and I expected some chocolate recipe and there it is. Waiting to see all other bakes
Vaishali Sabnani says
Oh wow..now these Afghani biscuits are not from Afghanistan!..interesting..and a lovely recipe, but what would be any recipe made by you if there is no chocolate!..right?
Sowmya:) says
Such a coincidence that so many of us (me included) had Anpan on our list but dropped it. These cookies look awesome...adding cornflakes is a lovely idea.
I propose we change tour name from Srivalli to ChocoValli ????
pumpkinfarmfood says
Afghan cookies title made me expect the karachi kind of biscuits which i had seen in some tele show earlier, but when i saw the picture with chocolate, i thought you probably twisted it with chocolate knowing your love for chocolate. But this is like complete googly....the biscuits look so delicious and rich - infact i think the recipe is also pretty simple and easy...lovely way to kickstart BM
Namratha says
I'm eyeing the chocolate and drooling! These look good Valli, soft & chewy is a very tempting description.
Ritu Tangri says
Umm....great chocolate flavored biscuits...kids are going to love these:)
Sapana says
Perfect start for the mega marathon and no wonder you started with a chocolate one as it's your favourite. The name made me think of something that belongs to Afghan cuisine. It looks really amazing and must have tasted yummy.
ruchi indu says
True to your spirits Valli - starting the marathon with a chocolate recipe, completely your way. Well I succeeded in posting - Aghi Gesgoudz.
Srividhya Gopalakrishnan says
My list was also changing on a daily basis.. I think that's how the mega BM goes. 🙂 Love this first recipe of yours with chocolate. Looking forward to other new recipes.