Name: Koeksisters (Fried Braided Pastry in Syrup)
Yield: 36 servings
Cuisine: South African
Ingredients: 1 kg white granulated sugar; 500 ml (2 cups) water; 3 cm piece fresh ginger (peeled and bruised); 2–3 sticks (optional) cinnamon sticks; 1 ml (pinch) cream of tartar; 1 pinch salt (syrup); 2 ½ tsp lemon juice; 240 g all-purpose flour; 4 tsp (20 ml) baking powder; 1 pinch salt (dough); 2 tbsp (30 ml) butter; 125 ml (½ cup) buttermilk (or soured milk or water mixed with lemon juice); as needed (for deep frying) oil; as needed (optional) dessicated coconut

Dessert

36 servings

169 cal/serving

Instructions

Step 1

Combine sugar, water, ginger or cinnamon, cream of tartar, salt and lemon juice in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves.

White granulated sugarWaterFresh ginger (peeled and bruised)Cinnamon sticksCream of tartarSalt (syrup)Lemon juice

Step 2

Turn the heat down and simmer the syrup for 5–8 minutes.

White granulated sugarWaterFresh ginger (peeled and bruised)Cinnamon sticksCream of tartarSalt (syrup)Lemon juice

Step 3

Cool the syrup to room temperature.

White granulated sugarWaterFresh ginger (peeled and bruised)Cinnamon sticksCream of tartarSalt (syrup)Lemon juice

Step 4

Divide the syrup into two containers and refrigerate to chill overnight.

White granulated sugarWaterFresh ginger (peeled and bruised)Cinnamon sticksCream of tartarSalt (syrup)Lemon juice

Step 5

Sift together the flour, baking powder and dough salt.

All-purpose flourBaking powderSalt (dough)

Step 6

Rub the butter into the sifted dry ingredients.

Butter

Step 7

Add buttermilk (or alternative), mix into a soft dough and knead thoroughly, oiling hands lightly if desired.

Buttermilk (or soured milk or water mixed with lemon juice)Oil

Step 8

Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let it rest for 15 minutes.

Step 9

Roll the dough to 5 mm thickness, cut into 5 x 70 mm strips, join ends and twist or plait to form koeksisters.

Step 10

Deep-fry the braided dough pieces in hot oil until golden brown on both sides.

Oil

Step 11

Remove the fried pieces with a slotted spoon and dip them immediately into the ice-cold syrup.

White granulated sugarWaterFresh ginger (peeled and bruised)Cinnamon sticksCream of tartarSalt (syrup)Lemon juiceAll-purpose flourBaking powderSalt (dough)ButterButtermilk (or soured milk or water mixed with lemon juice)

Step 12

Place the koeksisters on a wire rack to drain excess syrup.

Step 13

Store the koeksisters in a sealed container in the refrigerator or freeze for longer storage.

This recipe is adapted from Wikibooks. It is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International.