Cookies or biscuits? Biscuits or cookies? Bickies or biscuits? Let’s call the whole thing off.
WATCH: Fast Ed makes gluten free Anzac biscuits
We all love a sweet treat in the afternoon to go with a freshly-brewed cuppa to keep us going til dinner, but when you’re in Australia, what is it exactly we’re meant to ask for?
Some say ‘biscuits’, others say the term our American buddies prefer, which is ‘cookies’. Turns out, there’s actually a reason for the two names, which do in fact accurately describe two different kinds of baked goods! Here’s how it goes…
What are biscuits in Australia?
Australia as we know it is a country descendant from UK from 1788, so there’s no surprise that a lot of what we know and how we speak is a spin-off of the way they do things over there.
According to the Macquarie Dictionary, the term ‘biscuit’ comes from and refers to any packaged or freshly baked item that is made from a stiff, sweet mixture of flour, liquid, shortening and other ingredients that are then shaped into small pieces before baking or sliced after baking.
They’re typically a bit more petite in size to fit into the mouth of a regular tea cup to allow the best dunk. Melting moments, anyone?
What are biscuits in the USA?
If you’re in the USA, however, a ‘biscuit’ is what Australians and the English may refer to as a scone.
American biscuits are usually enjoyed as part of a savoury meal, served with meat and gravy.
Do Australians use the word cookie?
While the word ‘cookie’ is being used more and more in Australia, there are some exceptions. Iconic recipes like Anzac biscuits, for example, should never be called cookies.
The word cookie is usually reserved for describing a biscuit-like snack that is larger and softer than a traditional biscuit.
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