Koeksisters Recipe

I have just found this recipe on the internet and can't wait to try making it as a surprise for my hubby!

It's a traditional South African sweet & I'm sure my hubby will appreciate a taste of home!

I tried this on my first visit to S.A and I must say I got hooked on them! The only thing is you can't eat too many otherwise you wont fit in your jeans!!!

Koeksisters - Very sticky & very sweet South African cake

Approximately 30 mins preparation & 5 mins cooking time

Ingredients

For the syrup:
1kg sugar
500ml (2 cups) water
2 pieces fresh green ginger (each 5cm), peeled and crushed
2ml (½ teaspoon) cream of tartar
Pinch of salt
Grated rind and juice of ½ lemonFor best results, prepare the syrup the day before and chill over-night

For the dough:
500g flour
2ml (½ teaspoon) salt
30ml (2 tablespoons) baking powder
55g butter, cut up
1 beaten egg
250-375ml (1-1½ cups) milk or water

Instructions

Syrup:

1. Add all syrup ingredients into a saucepan and heat until all the sugar has dissolved (stirring continuously).

2. Cover and boil for 1 minute.

3. Uncover the syrup and boil for a further 5 minutes (do not stir).

4. Allow the syrup to cool for a minimum of 2 hours in the fridge (best results chill over night).

Dough:

1. Sieve the flour, salt and baking power.2. Rub in the butter with your fingertips.3. In a separate bowl mix the beaten egg and 250ml (1 cup) of the milk or water.4. Add the dry ingredients to the egg/milk mixture and mix lightly.5. Add more milk/water if the dough is too stiff.6. Knead well until small bubbles form under the surface of the dough.7. Cover with a damp cloth and allow to stand for 30 minutes –1 hour.

Final steps:

1. Roll out the dough to a thickness of 1 cm.

2. Cut strips, 1cm wide

3. Plait either 2 or 3 strips together and cut them at a length of 8cm

4. Pinch the ends together.
5. Heat 7-8cm deep oil to 180-190°C and fry the koeksisters for 1-2 minutes (until golden-brown) on each side.

6. Remove them from the heat and drain on some paper town.

7. Soak them in the chilled syrup for 1-2 minutes.

8. Remove the koeksisters from the syrup and drain on a wire rack.

Hint: To keep the syrup cold, stand it in a bowl of ice whilst soaking the hot koeksisters in it.

Tell me if you try making it yourself! They are yummylicious!

Monica x

Recipe courtesy of www.Zauk.co.uk

Pic courtesy of www.clubexplorer.net