Rolled oats substitute in Europe?

[Pat Churchill]

A friend in Belgium wants to try my Anzac biscuit recipe. What might be a possible substitute for rolled oats in Europe?

[JasonTrue]

I'm not sure I understand... They were reasonably widely available in Germany, and certainly so in the UK... In German they're called Haferflocken. Why would you need to find a substitute?

A friend in Belgium wants to try my Anzac biscuit recipe. What might be a possible substitute for rolled oats in Europe?

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[helenjp]

My sister in the Netherlands says that rolled oats are extremely hard to find, and she buys them in Germany. Wouldn't be surprised if the same were true in Belgium...

[lapin d'or]

Do the health food stores not carry them?

I cannot think of any substitutes that are going to be any easier to find, and most other flaked ceareals are harder than oats - too crunchy.

If I were desperate I would start looking at packets of unsweetened very plain muslei they can have a high proportion of oats.

Jill

[JasonTrue]

"flocon d'avoine" or "flocons d'avoine" seem relatively easy to find online, so perhaps online shopping would work. Rolled oats were, to the best of my knowledge, invented in Europe (perhaps it was somewhere in the UK, but still...), so I can't imagine they'd be hard to find in an E.U. world.

In Germany rolled oats were often incorporated into multi-grain breads, and I could swear I saw some breads in Amsterdam made with some. If they weren't in the baking ingredients section of a typical middlebrow supermarket, I found them among other cereals, muesli, and so on.

In Dutch, havervlokken are also relatively easy to find online, with some Dutch brands and a number of Belgian sites coming up within the first two pages of results.

One online source (published by the Mormon church) indicated that in Belgium that rolled oats would also be found near other cereals.

[helenjp]

My sister updated me to say that she can get oats nowadays, and that Dutch stroop is a good sub for golden syrup, but use less as it is so sticky and sweet.

[MGLloyd]

Would you please be so kind as to post your recipe for the Anzac biscuits? I would love to make a batch!

[helenjp]

Just in case Pat has signed off for the night downunder, here's the link to the recipe on her site:

Pat's Anzac Biscuits

[Pat Churchill]

Here's the recipe I use:

Anzac Biscuits

1 cup flour

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup coconut

3/4 cup sugar

120g butter

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 tablespoons boiling water

1 tablespoon golden syrup

Mix dry ingredients. Pour boiling water over soda and add melted butter and golden syrup. Form into mounds on a soup spoon and place on baking paper on a baking sheet. Cook about 15 minutes at 170C.

Yes, I photographed them quickly before the spouse and sons found them!

[MGLloyd]

I have been Googling the heck out of recipes for ANZAC biscuits, and I like the recipe posted above with the use of coconut. I do have two questions for the experienced bakers of this biscuit: do you usually use white or brown sugar (soft Demerara sugar) and is Lyle's a good choice for the golden syrup?

[Pat Churchill]

I have been Googling the heck out of recipes for ANZAC biscuits, and I like the recipe posted above with the use of coconut.  I do have two questions for the experienced bakers of this biscuit: do you usually use white or brown sugar (soft Demerara sugar) and is Lyle's a good choice for the golden syrup?

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White sugar is my choice. I believe Lyle's golden syrup works fine in this recipe - there's so little golden syrup in there anyway. Combined with the baking soda, it acts as a leavening agent, as well as contributing some flavour.

Brown sugar has more moisture in it and biscuits made from it can soften on standing. Mind you, my resident vultures ensure a batch of biscuits doesn't stand round for long... If you want to use brown sugar, pack it down in the cup when measuring it.

Good luck.

[Shalmanese]

Here's the recipe I use:

Anzac Biscuits

1 cup flour

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup coconut

3/4 cup sugar

120g butter

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 tablespoons boiling water

1 tablespoon golden syrup

Mix dry ingredients. Pour boiling water over soda and add melted butter and golden syrup. Form into mounds on a soup spoon and place on baking paper on a baking sheet. Cook about 15 minutes at 170C.

Yes, I photographed them quickly before the spouse and sons found them! 

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Yum, I love ANZAC biscuits but I've never made them before. I'll have to try them with some maple syrup to americanise them.

[Pat Churchill]

Yum, I love ANZAC biscuits but I've never made them before. I'll have to try them with some maple syrup to americanise them.

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If I were twiddling with the recipe I might just add some ground ginger or maybe even some really finely chopped crystallised ginger. I can see I have to bake another batch before Anzac Day (April 25).

Elder son was watching over my shoulder today as I did a little Photoshop work on a picture of an apple pie. "Is that somewhere in the house?" he asked, optimistically. Had to break the news that I'd made it for his grandmothers back in New Zealand over Easter