Claire K Creations

  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
×
Home » Recipes » Cookies

Sante biscuits - New Zealand's chocolate chip cookie

Modified: Jun 16, 2025 · Published: Feb 6, 2025 by Claire Cameron · This post may contain affiliate links · 21 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Looking for the authentic Edmonds chocolate chip cookies recipe? These Sante biscuits are a beloved Kiwi classic, known for their delightful crunch and rich chocolate flavor.

Originating from the iconic Edmonds Cookery Book, this recipe has been a staple in New Zealand households for generations and once you try it you'll see why.

New Zealand Sante biscuits - chocolate chip cookies on bed of chocolate chips from Edmond's cook book
Santes
Jump to:
  • Why make this recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Variations
  • Storage
  • FAQs
  • More chocolate chip cookie recipes:
  • Recipe

These are possibly the most popular chocolate chip biscuit in New Zealand appearing in the classic Edmond's Cookery book.

I've got some Kiwi blood in me (thanks to my Kiwi Grandmother) but I'm embarassed to say, I'd never heard of Edmonds until my Kiwi friend gifted me a copy years ago.

In the past it was always given to brides-to-be as a bridal shower gift.

New Zealand Sante biscuits - chocolate chip cookies on bed of chocolate chips
Santes

Why make this recipe

  1. They're a New Zealand tradition and famous cookie.
  2. They're delicious.
  3. If you like more of a crunchy cookie rather than chewy then these are for you.
  4. They're not too sweet.
Ingredients laid out ready for making chocolate chip sante biscuits

Ingredients

  • Butter - pure butter, the type you get wrapped in foil. Make sure you let it soften.
  • Sugar - raw sugar or regular white sugar. You could sub in rapadura but we haven't tried it yet.
  • Sweetened condensed milk - this seems to be the secret ingredient for the texture of these.
  • Plain flour - or all-purpose flour.
  • Baking powder - gives them a little bit of rise.
  • Chocolate chips - or of course use chopped chocolate like the Sante namesake.
  • Vanilla - preferably extract rather than essence. Here's how to make your own vanilla extract.

Instructions

Ingredients for Sante biscuits

Step 1

I always like to measure out the ingredients before I start baking. That way I don't leave anything out.

Butter, sugar, condensed milk and vanilla in a bowl for Sante biscuits

Step 2

Place the sugar, condensed milk, butter and vanilla together in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat together until they are light and fluffy.

Combining ingredients for Sante biscuits

Step 3

Add the sifted flour a little at a time and keep mixing until it's all combined.

Adding chocolate chips to Sante biscuit dough

Step 4

With the motor running on slow, add the chocolate chips and keep mixing until they're just distributed.

You don't want any cookies to be chocolate-less though so make sure you give it a reasonable mix.

Rolling dough into balls for making Sante biscuits

Step 5

Use about a tablespoon of dough at a time and roll it into balls then put it on a lined baking tray.

They don't spread too much but I still left about 3cm between mine.

Flattening dough balls to make Sante biscuits

Step 6

The recipe says to press the tops with a floured fork but again, why dirty a fork when you have perfectly good fingers. Press them down gently.

They won't really change shape much after baking so make sure you press them down to the thickness you want the finished biscuits to be.

Sante biscuits fresh out of the oven

Step 7

Bake them at 170C fan-forced for 20 minutes or until they start to turn golden.

Leave the baked cookies on the trays to set for about 10 minutes.

Freshly baked Edmonds chocolate chip cookies on a cooling rack

Step 8

Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

These New Zealand chocolate chip cookies are quite moreish.

They're sweet but not so sweet that after one you feel you've had too much sugar to have another.

This can be a good thing or a bad thing if you're trying to resist a second.

Variations

  • Double Chocolate Sante Biscuits: What's better than chocolate chip? Double chocolate chip! Substitute ¼ cup of the flour with cocoa powder (or raw cacao) to the dough for a richer chocolate flavour.
  • Nutty Sante Biscuits: Add ¼ cup of chopped walnuts or pecans for added crunch.

Storage

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. For longer storage, freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months. We like to use a ziplock bag.

FAQs

Why are they called Santes biscuits?

Before the good old chocolate chip was invented for baking, we used to use chopped up chocolate bars.
Actually, that's what I do most of the time. Sante bars were a particular brand of chocolate bars made in England since the 1860s.
So that's where Santes biscuits got their name from. In New Zealand, they're also called Kiwi Crisps.

Can I use all one chocolate?

You sure can. Dark chocolate would be my pick. The richness will complement the biscuit's sweetness.

Enjoy!

You might also like Afghans - another classic New Zealand biscuit.

More chocolate chip cookie recipes:

  • Healthy banana chocolate chip cookies
  • Chewy chocolate chip cookies
  • Chocolate chip cookies for any diet
New Zealand Sante biscuits - chocolate chip sante cookies on bed of chocolate chips from Edmond's cook book with white chocolate chips

Recipe

Santes - New Zealand's chocolate chip biscuits

Heavenly chocolate chip biscuits - Santes. A must-try treat!A New Zealand favourite chocolate chip cookie that's simple and delicious and quick to make.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
Course: Snack
Cuisine: Dessert
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Servings: 25 cookies
Calories: 61kcal
Author: Claire Cameron

Ingredients

  • ​125g butter softened
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 3 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 ½ cup plain flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ cup chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
  • Few drops of vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Pre-heat the oven to 170C (338F) fan-forced and line two baking trays with baking paper.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter, sugar, vanilla and condensed milk together until they are light and creamy.
  • Add the sifted flour and baking powder and beat until combined.
  • Add chocolate chips and beat until nicely distributed through the dough.
  • Take the bowl of the stand and roll tablespoons full of dough into balls.
  • Place the balls on the trays, leaving 3cm between each one and gently press the tops using a floured fork or your fingers.
  • Bake the biscuits for 20 minutes or until golden.
  • Leave them to rest on the trays for 10 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Nutrition

Calories: 61kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 20mg | Potassium: 27mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 6IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Have you made this recipe? I'd love to hear what you think. Tag me on Instagram @clairekcreations

More Cookies

  • Orange star cookies - a treat for Santa
    Orange star cookies - a treat for Santa
  • The best ever gingerbread cookies
    The best ever gingerbread cookies
  • Mexican chocolate snickerdoodles (hot chocolate cookies)
    Mexican chocolate snickerdoodles (hot chocolate cookies)
  • Edmonds Afghan biscuits (classic New Zealand recipe)
    Edmonds Afghan biscuits (classic New Zealand recipe)

Comments

  1. Claire says

    June 16, 2025 at 7:03 pm

    5 stars
    Super easy and delicious!

    Reply
  2. Hayley says

    August 28, 2013 at 11:57 am

    what is the secret behind these? I have made the recipie over and over again but I cannot figure out what I am doing wrong. when I add the flour etc in the end everything is far too dry and does not bind together. I don’t really get what is suppose to bind this recipe together. the only liquid in these cookies come from the vanilla essences and then the sweetened condensed milk with is more gluggy than anything and once creamed with the butter etc becomes quite solid. I had to add some milk in the end to bind it together otherwise would be just dry dust that doesn’t come together at all. then (maybe because of adding a little bit of milk) these cookies burn (after 17minutes in the oven). I can try less time for next time but is there any thing else I am doing wrong? like instead of softened butter should I melt the butter because then that at least would be some extra liquid?

    Reply
    • Claire says

      August 28, 2013 at 1:44 pm

      Hi Hayley. Oh dear that's no good! The only thing I can think of is that you perhaps need to beat the butter, sugar, vanilla and condensed milk for longer. It shouldn't be solid it should be nice and light and creamy. The butter might be a bit hard? Are you in a high altitude? That's the only other thing I can think of because this changes things although I'm not sure how to adjust for the altitude I'm sorry.

    • Hayley says

      August 28, 2013 at 1:48 pm

      no butter has not been in the fridge and is softened but not so much its melting. I beat everything for a few minutes enough to make it light and fluffy like I make so many thing. It is light and fluffy but has no moisture in it to bind things.

      I live in Auckland nz so no high altitude.

    • Claire says

      August 28, 2013 at 8:26 pm

      I'm totally stumped Hayley! Only suggestion I can make is to try one of my other tasty choc-chip cookie recipes :-)

    • Hayley says

      August 28, 2013 at 1:49 pm

      only difference is I use extract instead of essence?

    • Claire says

      August 28, 2013 at 8:26 pm

      Nope that shouldn't make a difference.

  3. Emma says

    January 06, 2013 at 1:02 pm

    They are called Sante biscuits because traditionally we made them by cutting up Sante bars: Sante bars are dark chocolate, in narrow bars, which were sold individually (no wrappers, just out of a box of bars) in dairies -- when I was little, they were about 5 cents each. My grandparents would buy a box of sante bars when they came to visit us each christmas and it would sit on the counter in the kitchen for us to help ourselves from - it was always an exciting part of their visit. The Sante bar is now made by Whittakers (who also make our famous peanut slabs), they cost a lot more, and they come in a wrapper these days, but they are still much the same:
    http://shop.countdown.co.nz/Shop/ProductDetails?Stockcode=267011&name=whittakers-chocolate-bar-dark-sante-75g

    : )

    Reply
    • Claire says

      January 06, 2013 at 6:35 pm

      What a lovely story Emma thanks for sharing!

  4. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says

    July 01, 2012 at 9:06 pm

    Ooh have you made Afghans? I think I may have seen you make them in April? They're my favourite NZ biscuit-so addictive :) I should give these a go as I can imagine that they're also lovely.

    Reply
    • Claire says

      July 02, 2012 at 8:34 am

      I have! They are so good. So very easy to make too!

  5. The Café Sucré Farine says

    July 01, 2012 at 6:28 am

    So what do you think if I send you a bill for a new computer? After all, you're the one responsible for all this drool on my laptop! Claire, these look melt-in-your mouth delicious! If you don't put that cookbook away, we're all going to be fat as pigs! But what a fun way to go to oinker land .............

    Reply
    • Claire says

      July 01, 2012 at 8:53 am

      Sorry about that Chris! Yes I think I need to move on to some healthier recipes. I've been doing way too much baking lately! It's what I do to keep warm.

  6. Hotly Spiced says

    June 30, 2012 at 4:37 pm

    Hi Claire, no, I can't help. I have no idea why they're called Sante Biscuits. I thought they were called Chocolate Chip Cookies so when I couldn't find that listed anywhere in the index of the Edmonds Cookbook I thought I was going mad. I rang my mother and she said, 'They're called Sante biscuits' but I didn't ask why. Mum used to make them almost weekly and they would be sitting on trays, just out of the oven when we walked in from school. They are delicious aren't they. Hard to stop at one or two or five. Yours look great. Have a lovely time at the beach. I do hope the weather is favorable. I've heard it's been very cold on the Sunshine Coast. Coldest week on record apparently xx

    Reply
    • Claire says

      July 01, 2012 at 8:52 am

      The weather is just beautiful Charlie! I packed all jeans and jumpers and I've been hot. I would have loved to come home to a few batches of these when I was litte! x

  7. Corrie says

    June 30, 2012 at 4:08 pm

    Three kinds of chocolate?! they MUST be good :-)

    Reply
    • Claire says

      July 01, 2012 at 8:51 am

      Yes indeed!

  8. celia says

    June 30, 2012 at 2:07 pm

    Well, I think they look heavenly!

    Great recipe, Claire! I love a cookie that you can eat more than one of without feeling sick.. ;-)

    Reply
    • Claire says

      July 01, 2012 at 8:50 am

      That is the key to a good cookie isn't it?

  9. Jennifer (Delicieux) says

    June 30, 2012 at 10:22 am

    Those biscuits look dangerously addictive Claire! I think I'd find it hard to stop at one.

    Reply
    • Claire says

      July 01, 2012 at 8:49 am

      and you would be right!

5 from 1 vote

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Claire headshot - Claire from Claire K Creations. 38 year old woman with short blonde hair holding a tea cup standing in a kitchen

Hi I'm Claire!

I make cooking & baking for your family simple & delicious.

More about me

Trending recipes...

  • How to make homemade jelly lollies (gummy recipe)
    How to make homemade jelly lollies (gummy recipe)
  • Mulberry jam and butter spread on pancakes with a small jar of jam in the background and tiny knife. All on pale pink plate
    Mulberry jam recipe - simple, quick & delicious recipe
  • Japanese edamame in a white bowl sprinkled with sea salt on a red tablecloth.
    How to make Japanese restaurant edamame (easy recipe)
  • Classic pumpkin scones_ simple CWA recipe (no mixer)
    Classic pumpkin scones: simple CWA recipe (no mixer)
  • Homemade water cracker biscuit topped with white brie cheese in a white hand. In the background is a square white plate with more crackers and rosemary.
    Easy homemade water crackers: 4 ingredients
  • Chocolate fudge icing made with real chocolate
    Best chocolate icing made with real chocolate (simple recipe)

Celebration cakes...

  • Cinnamon roll pound cake with cinnamon frosting
    Cinnamon roll pound cake with cinnamon frosting
  • Sprinkling icing sugar on a flourless chocolate cake
    5 Ingredient flourless chocolate cake
  • Best vanilla almond cake (with honey lemon syrup)
    Best vanilla almond cake (with honey lemon syrup)
  • Best easy carrot cake cupcakes + cream cheese frosting
    Best easy carrot cake cupcakes + cream cheese frosting
  • Red velvet cake with buttercream icing
    Best red velvet cake with buttercream icing (frosting)
  • Best ever chocolate mud cake
    The best ever ultimate mud cake recipe

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • About

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Foodie Pro on the Feast Plugin

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.