Afrikaans Koeksisters
A classic South African dessert of deep-fried syrupy goodness. This authentic recipe is simple to make and guaranteed to impress.
Ingrédients
Syrup
- 3 cups light brown sugar
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp vanilla essence
- 10 grams sliced fresh ginger
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
Dough
- 2 cups cake flour
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 50 grams chilled unsalted butter
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup milk
- vegetable oil
Instructions
For the syrup
- Bring water to a boil, then add the syrup ingredients, stirring until the sugar is fully dissolved.
- Remove syrup from heat and refrigerate for several hours, or until chilled.
For the dough
- In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients.
- Rub the butter into the flour mixture until a crumbly mixture forms.
- In a separate bowl, combine the milk and egg, then add to the flour mixture and combine.
- Knead the dough on a flat surface for 10 minutes.
- Cover in cling wrap and refrigerate for several hours, or overnight.
Shape the dough
- Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface and cut into 20 even rectangles.
- Slice each triangle vertically to form three strips, connected on one end.
- Plait the strips, then pinch each end of the koeksister to secure the shape.
Fry the koeksisters
- Heat a large pot of vegetable oil to around 180°C.
- Carefully deep fry the koeksisters until crispy and golden brown.
- Drain quickly and submerge in syrup for several minutes.
- Remove the koeksisters from the syrup and place them on a rack to cool before serving.
Notes
💡 Tips & Tricks
- Always keep the syrup very cold; return it to the fridge between batches.
- Fry in small batches to keep the oil temperature steady.
- Koeksisters taste best fresh, but they can be stored in the fridge for up to a week.
- For extra crunch, enjoy them chilled straight from the fridge.
