Grandma's Afghan Biscuits (2024)

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A classic delicious Chocolate version of Grandma’s Afghan Biscuits recipe. Definitely one to save!

Published September 22, 2014, Updated April 4, 2024

I was blessed to know my wonderful Grandma into my early 20′s until she passed from Cancer. She was a Wife to a Sheep Farmer, a Mother to seven, a Grandma to 21 and by now would be a Great Grandma to lots & lots of Great Grandchildren!

She was very special to me and some of the fondest memories I have of her are baking and preparing meals for her family & grandchildren and I am delighted to have many of her recipes, passed on by my Mum who was her eldest daughter.

It is not until you go to write up a recipe that you think about the name of the thing you are needing to write about – Afghans. Hmmmm interesting name for a biscuit! There is little to no helpful information online about where it got its name but in the USA they call their blankets or throws Afghans. I digress……

There are several theories – some that it looks like the mountainous regions of Afghanistan, others that it was created duringa time ofan Afghan war – but one thing is for sure – this is a well loved and much made biscuit in New Zealand which has been around fornearly 80 years!

Unlike traditional cookies it contains very little sugar compared to the butter content, but this is made up for with the sweet icing and the addition of a walnut half on top – such a traditional cookie prepared in a very traditional way.

There are few variations around – some with no vanilla, some with coconut etc but I like to keep to this recipe from my Grandma – it is lovely, not too crumbly and delicious!

Pin It – Grandma’s Afghan Biscuits

If you would prefer to make an even easier version then don’t roll the dough into balls! Make it into a slice instead, check out my version of that here – Recipe for Afghan Biscuit Slice

Onto the recipe for Grandma’s Afghan Biscuits!

Grandma's Afghan Biscuits (6)

Yield: 18

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 32 minutes

Classic Afghan Biscuit recipe, with chocolate icing and a walnut on top

Ingredients

  • 200 grams Butter - softened or melted
  • 1/2 Cup White Sugar, 105 grams
  • 1 1/4 Cups Plain White Flour, 185 grams
  • 1/4 Cup Cocoa, 22 grams
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla, 5 mls
  • 2 Cups Cornflakes - 80g
  • IICING
  • 1 1/2 Cups Icing Sugar, 210 grams
  • 1 heaped Tablespoon Cocoa, 6 grams
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla, 5mls
  • 1 teaspoon melted butter, 5mls
  • 1-2 Tablespoons Water 15-30 mls
  • 18 Walnut Halves

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 180C (350F) Bake
  2. Prepare an oven tray by greasing - or as I do lightly spraying with cooking spray and covering in baking paper
  3. In a food mixer or with electric beaters whip the butter & sugar for 4-5 minutes until creamy
  4. Add flour, cocoa & vanilla and mix well
  5. Add cornflakes and lightly combine.
  6. Take tablespoon sized amounts and roll into balls spread evenly on the tray
  7. Lightly flatten with your fingers.
  8. Bake for 12 minutes - they will be soft when they come out of the oven
  9. Allow to stand for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely
  10. To prepare your icing - in a medium bowl combine icing sugar, cocoa, vanilla & melted butter and mix
  11. Slowly add the water a little at a time until the desired consistency is reached. If you accidentally add too much water just add a little icing sugar.
  12. Ice the biscuits and finish with a walnut half.
  13. Store in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
  14. Enjoy
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 18Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 224Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 106mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 1gSugar: 18gProtein: 2g

JustAMumNZ.com, occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although justamumnz.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

Did you make this recipe?

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This is such a New Zealand favourite – I would love to hear of my overseas friends trying it out on their friends and family. Be sure to let me know in the comments below if you make it.

Thank you so much for stopping by to check out my latest recipes on my blog. If you are not already be sure to follow me onFacebookorInstagramfor more deliciousness, and you can register your email in the subscription box below to receive all my recipes as I publish them.

Happy Baking

Anna

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Grandma's Afghan Biscuits (8)

Grandma's Afghan Biscuits (2024)

FAQs

What do we call Afghan biscuits now? ›

The biscuit was eventually renamed "Milk Chocolate Roughs" by Griffin's, which advertised the renaming with a new slogan: "Same bikkie. New name." However, the name "Afghan" is still the one used by other companies.

Who invented Afghan biscuits? ›

They represent a significant part of their cuisine and culture altogether. It could be said that New Zealanders really know how to enjoy sweet things, as they invented Afghans; perfect types of biscuits for both adults and children who have a sweet tooth.

How to know when Afghans are ready? ›

Press down lightly with a fork. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until biscuits are just firm to the touch. Leave on trays for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

What is a cowboy biscuit called? ›

Hardtack: Not quite bread, note quite a biscuit

Having been around since the Crusades, the version of hardtack most commonly found on the American frontier was created in 1801 by Josiah Bent.

What are the 4 types of biscuits? ›

Types of Biscuits
  • Rolled Biscuits. Rolled biscuits are one of the most popular baking-powder leavened quick breads. ...
  • Drop Biscuits. Drop biscuits have more milk or other liquid added to the dough than rolled biscuits. ...
  • Scones. ...
  • Shortcakes.

What is the signature Afghan food? ›

The national dish of Afghanistan is Kabuli palaw, a rice dish cooked with raisins, carrots, nuts, and lamb or beef.

What is considered rude in Afghan culture? ›

The thumbs-up gesture is considered rude and has the same connotation as raising one's middle finger for traditional Afghans. The “o*k” sign with the hand can symbolize the evil eye or something more lewd. Stroking one's beard or pounding a fist into one's hand may signify revenge.

Why is an Afghan called an Afghan? ›

Etymology. The word afghan refers to the people of Afghanistan. The use of afghan in the English language for a textile object goes back to at least 1831, when Thomas Carlyle mentioned "Afghan shawls" in his Sartor Resartus.

How do you say hello to an Afghan? ›

Arabic greetings and phrases are widespread in Afghanistan as it is the language of Islam, the official religion in the country. The shortest common verbal greeting is Salaam or Salaam Alaikum, meaning "Peace be upon you" in Arabic - it is used amongst Muslims across the world.

What do Brits call American biscuits? ›

In the US, what us Brits call a biscuit, Americans would call a cookie - whilst an American biscuit is something resembling a British scone… making a name like Biscuiteers seem rather confusing!

What did pirates call biscuits? ›

Pirate snacks were called hardtack!

During the Age of Exploration, sailors, like pirates and explorers, would sometimes not see a dock for months. Without a refrigerator, they needed something to eat that would last for longer periods of time, so they made hard tack or ship's biscuits.

What are mourning biscuits? ›

The writer described them as "a kind of sugared biscuit, which are wrapped up, generally two of them together, in a sheet of wax paper, sealed with black wax." The biscuits were given to each person attending the funeral, and were a custom of the funerals of "lower and the middling class of people." In Lincolnshire, ...

What are empire biscuits called now? ›

Although Empire Biscuit remains the most common name in Scotland, it still has a few other names. You'll occasionally hear the simple 'Double Biscuit' used, while the term 'German Biscuit' still remains popular in Northern Ireland.

What is Afghan bread called? ›

Afghan Flat Bread is the everyday bread of Afghanistan. It is also called Noni Afghani, Nan-i-Afghan, Afghani Nan or Nan-e Barbari in Persian. Afghan flatbread is baked in a variety of sizes and shapes. Afghan flatbreads are usually made with either all whole wheat or all white flour.

What are biscuits called in North America? ›

In most of North America, nearly all hard sweet biscuits are called "cookies" and savoury biscuits are called "crackers", while the term "biscuit" is used for a soft, leavened quick bread similar to a savoury version of a scone.

What is the name of the Arabic biscuit? ›

One of the most popular Arabic biscuits is Kahk, which originated in Egypt and is traditionally eaten across the Arab world to celebrate Eid al-Fitr. Kahk is a small circular biscuit, covered with powdered sugar, and sometimes stuffed with a mixture called ʿa*gameyya.

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