The original Edmond's cookbook classic New Zealand Afghan cookie recipe. A simple biscuit made with chocolate & cornflakes.
My Kiwi friend once sent me a recipe that she said I had to try – Afghans, a biscuit that the Kiwis (New Zealanders) claim as one of their national foods, or so I’ve heard.
What are Afghan biscuits
Afghan biscuits (or Afghan cookies if you're in the USA) are chocolate cookies made with crunchy cornflakes and topped with a basic chocolate icing and a walnut or pecan.
They're traditional cookies in New Zealand and the original recipe (as far as I can glean) comes from the Edmonds Cookbook.
Why are they called Afghans
According to a bit of Googling, the name has nothing to do with Afghanistan but it more related to the dark colour of the biscuits.
Apparently no one actually knows for sure the true origin of the name.
Whatever the origin, they're a Kiwi favourite and I can see why.
Why make this recipe?
- It's delicious!
- They look really fancy but are actually really easy to make.
- They're made with simple, inexpensive ingredients you've probably already got in your kitchen.
This Afghan biscuits recipe comes from New Zealand’s most popular and one of its oldest, recipe books – Edmond’s Cookery book. These Sante biscuits are another favourite from that book.
The book was so popular that for a few years after its release, engaged couples were sent a copy of the book for free because no wife should be without one.
I wish that was still the go.
I am one quarter Kiwi so I think that would have entitled me to one back in the day.
I had to adapt the recipe just slightly but the end result was fantastic.
I think they’re even pretty enough to serve to guests.
I'd call these delicious....Need i say more? These are awesome!
- myfudo
Ingredients
To make this Afghan biscuit recipe you will need:
BISCUITS
- Butter - chopped and softened to room temperature
- Caster sugar - also called superfine sugar
- Plain flour - also called all purpose flour or wheat flour (we've also made these with spelt flour)
- Cocoa
- Milk - preferably full fat
- Cornflakes - crunchy cornflakes are one of the essential ingredients so don't be tempted to substitute
ICING
- Chocolate
- Butter - here's how to make your own butter
- Cream
- Whole walnuts or pecans - or your other choice of topping
Instructions
This Afghans recipe is incredibly easy to whip up. You can make it with a bowl and spoon if you don't have an electric mixer.
Step 1
Yep you guessed it – cream butter and sugar together until they’re nice and smooth.
Step 2
Step 3 Take the bowl off the stand and sift in the dry ingredients (minus the cornflakes) into the butter mixture then stir them through.
Step 3
Mix in the cornflakes. This is where I improvised a little.
The dough seemed way too dry to be able to have cornflakes mixed into it so I also added two tablespoons of milk.
Different flours will be drier so if yours seems too stiff to mix the cornflakes into, you can do the same.
Step 4
Using a heaped teaspoon of dough, roll it into balls and place them on a parchment paper lined oven trays (you'll need two).
Squish them down until they’re all about 2cm thick.
Bake the biscuits at 180C fan-forced for 15-20 minutes or until they are set.
Step 5
While the biscuits are baking, make the icing by melting the ingredients together.
You can throw it all together in the microwave but it’s far less risky to melt the chocolate first (15 seconds at a time) and then add the butter and cream.
Step 6
Stir it all together and set it aside.
Step 7
When the biscuits are cooked, leave them on the tray to set for five minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Once cool, spoon a blob of chocolate icing on top of each biscuit.
Step 8
Add the finishing touch – a pecan to the top of each one.
You can also use a half walnut.
Variations
I haven't made them any other way but a reader made them gluten free for her granddaughter. I'll let her tell you how:
Made gluten free ones for my granddaughter just replaced it with gf cornflakes & flour, found I had to add ½ cup extra flour they turned out yummy. - Andrea
FAQs
When they're cooked they'll be slightly firm to touch and the cornflakes will have turned ever more golden.
Potentially this recipe would probably work with something like Special K or another flaked cereal, but cornflakes give the most authentic Afghan chocolate biscuits.
Look I'm not sure you can still call them Afghan cookies but you can really top them with whatever you like.
For an authentic swap you can use a half walnut on each cookie instead of pecans.
Alternatively you could use:
- Marshmallows
- White chocolate buttons
Serving
Serve them up with a cup of tea or keep them in an airtight container.
The first time I made them the last of them were still good a week later.
Happy Baking!
What about you?
Do you have any strange names for things?
Can you remember where the name came from?
Recipe
Afghans - New Zealand's famous biscuits
Ingredients
Biscuit
- 200 g 7oz butter, chopped and softened
- ½ cup caster superfine sugar
- 1 ¼ cups plain AP flour
- ¼ cup cocoa
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 2 cups cornflakes
Icing
- 200 g 7oz chocolate
- 25 g 2tbsp butter
- ½ cup cream
- whole walnuts or pecans to top the biscuits
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 180C(356F) fan-forced and line two baking trays with baking paper.
- Beat the butter and sugar together in the bowl of an electric mixer.
- Take the bowl off the stand and sift in the flour and cocoa. Add the milk and stir it all together.
- Tip in the corn flakes and fold them through.
- Using a heaped teaspoon of dough at a time, roll it into balls and place on the lined trays and press them down until they are 2cm thick.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until they are set.
- Meanwhile make the icing by melting the chocolate in the microwave. Add the butter and cream and stir them all together until the mixture is smooth.
- Leave the baked biscuits on the tray to set for 5 minutes and then transfer them to a wire rack to cool.
- Once cool, place a blob of icing on top of each one and top them with a walnut or pecan.
- I'm not sure how long they keep but mine were still perfect a week later (kept in an air-tight container).
Claire says
A hit in our house. Great baking for bake sales too because they keep well.
Jill says
Lovely conversations ladies. Im a Kiwi and have lived in Australia since I was 34. I'm now 61!!
I have the most lovely memories of my darling mum who was a great baker. Thursday's was her baking day. After dinner and when the table was cleared, she would commence baking.
I always marvelled how she planed each weeks baking, as she made up to 8 different items in a space of 4 hours in a coal range. when I was 11 Dad bought her an electric Shacklock double oven. My mum would have said OMG for that!!! She baked Everthing from kiwi biscuits, Lamingtons, Tan Square, Belgium Slice, Ginger Crunch, Fruit Slice, Coconut drops that I still crave for and still don't have the recipe!! And yes, the most beloved and ever popular Afghan. Always with a walnut on the top! Every week she baked something different apart from a couple of old time favourites. I can still see her in the kitchen with all the baking staked in tins on the Formica table. Guess what! I have just made some Afghans for my 2 year old Granddaughter. Who said sweets are bad!!! I have all her recipe books, and her mothers, my Nana's. I hope they will be passed on and treasured as I treasure them. Happy baking journeys!
Cheers - Jill xx
Claire says
Oh Jill that's such a wonderful memory to have. Thank you for sharing x
Paula Morris says
Hi,
I came across your site whilst searching for Afghan biscuits thinking it was a silly UK made up biscuit! Imagine my surprise? I first made these at school in the UK about 30 years ago and have been making them ever since. My recipe is hand written in my book from way back. I never knew it was a NZ delicacy! So interesting today to read about this. How strange that my old school teacher chose this as a biscuit for us to make. Delicious.
Claire says
Oh what a wonderful story Paula. I guess you wouldn't think that Afghans were from New Zealand would you?!
Andrea says
Made gluten free ones for my granddaughter just replaced it with gf cornflakes & flour, found I had to add 1/2 cup extra flour they turned out yummy
Claire says
What a great idea Andrea!
Jacqui says
Hi Claire,
I'm a Kiwi and here in NZ afghan buscuits are such a favourite as they are so easy & quick to make. They are so easy that even husbands I know make them. Most people I know who make them don't roll them into small dainty balls but spoon large blobs onto the tray to make them more rustic and a lot less shiny. As for togs, yes all us kiwis call them togs.
Claire says
I think the blobs would be much easier Jacqui! Love the sound of husbands making biscuits!
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes says
Such a fun, original cookie idea. I'm sure I'd love the extra crunch from the cereal.
Claire says
They're so good Barbara! I was impressed with how crunchy the cornflakes stayed. I guess there's not really much liquid in there so they stay nice an dry.
Elna ( South Africa) says
Yesterday a friend had these delicious biscuits for tea at your Cake decorating guild meeting. Wow they were amazing. We ask for the recipe but she said that it is a secret because her son in Australia has a coffee shop were he sells these traditional biscuits. Lucky for me, she mentioned the name. I surfed the web and used your recipe. My family has a knew favourite biscuit!!
Claire says
I'm so glad you found my recipe too Elna. They're great aren't they?
myfudo says
I'd call these delicious....Need i say more? These are awesome!
Claire says
Nope, you need not say more!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
I love chocolate and pecans, so I know I'd love these biscuits!
Claire says
You definitely love all the essential elements. You'll just have to make them now Laura!
amy@currylime says
These look silly delicious! Can't wait to try them.
Claire says
Thanks Amy!
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says
Hi Claire! So glad to have found your beautiful blog here. These little New Zealand cookies look fantastic and totally mouthwatering. Even though I've never heard of them til now, I'm glad I know about them! Definitely would love to try these for myself! Thanks for sharing.
Claire says
Thanks for visiting Georgia! They are so good. I can't believe I'd never heard of them before.
The Café Sucré Farine says
Beautiful Claire! Love everything about these and your photos are wonderful ~ Chris
Claire says
Thanks Chris! I'm getting better on the photos I must say. It's a work in progress.
Hotly Spiced says
Well, as a Kiwi from way-back, I do know these Afghan cookies and I absolutely love them. They have such a dark, chocolatey flavour. And your cookies look amazing - absolutely perfect! And, in NZ we all our swimmers 'togs' too! xx
Claire says
I can't believe I'd never heard of them before. I didn't know NZ called them togs too. Maybe it's not a Queensland thing, maybe dad got it from my Kiwi grandma? Thanks for the compliment Charlie!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
These are one of my favourite cookies and I use the one from Ladies, A Plate which is so good! I love how crunchy they are with the cornflakes :)
Claire says
Aren't they fantastic? I love how easy they are. I bought a super size packet of cornflakes (cause it was the cheapest) so I'm pretty sure I'll be making these again soon.
Suzie Power says
Hi Claire
Writing to you from shaky Christchurch we have just had a 4.6 earthquake at 12MD today. Getting on a big jet and flying across to Brisbane is something I'm so looking forward too!
Afghans are my favourite biscuits and I've loved them since a child. My darling mother makes superb ones. The Edmonds Cooking Book is a bastion here in New Zealand.
Loved your BLOG and would you like me to pick up a copy of the Cooking Book hand delivered by me!
I'm arriving a little earlier now and Molly is meeting me on the 21 April and Lee & A arriving from Spain that same morning.
You must be sooooo excited and I can't wait to see you you Darling Girl! Suzie XXxx
Claire says
Oh my goodness Suzie good thing you're coming over to solid ground soon. We're looking forward to seeing you! I would love love love a copy if it's not too much trouble!? Thank you!!! See you very soon. xx
Jessica says
I love desserts with cereal in them! These need a bit of love in the U.S. - I've never heard of them, but now I don't know how I've gone so long without them!
Claire says
I'd never heard of them either until Amy sent me the recipe. They really are delicious!