How to koeksusters

KOEKSUSTERS It's a sweet pastry known as a “koeksuster” (literally translated as “cake sister” and pronounced “cook-sister”).

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Ingredients: 9 oz of brown sugar, 1/4 pint water, cinamon, 1 oz butter, 1 egg, 6 oz self raising flour, oil for frying.

1. 250 ml (1 cup) cake flour
   250 ml (1 cup) self raising flour
   5 ml ( 1 tsp) salt
   60g (1/4 cup) butter
   5 ml (1tsp) ground ginger
   5 ml (1 tsp) ground cinnamon
   5 ml (1 tsp) ground mixed spice
   2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) ground cardamom
   10 ml (2 tsp) soft brown sugar
   10 ml (2 tsp) white sugar
   7.5 ml (1 1/2 tsp) instant dry yeast
   375 ml (1 1/2 cups) warm water
   Syrup
   250ml (1 cup) water
   125ml (1/2 cup) sugar
   15ml (1 tbsp) dessicated coconut
   1 piece of naartjie peel
2. Directions
   In a mixing bowl combine the flours with salt. Add butter and rub in lightly till it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add remaining ingredients, using the warm water to form a dough. Do not knead. Cover with plastic and leave in a warm place fo0r about 1/1/2 to 2 hours or until doubled in size then turn out on a lightly floured surface. Dip fingers and knife into flour and use your hands to stretch the dough. Cut into 4cm X8cm strips and deep fry over medium heat in a deep saucepan. Insert fork to check if done, and remove quickly one by one and drain in colander or on kitchen paper.
3. To make the syrup bring, water, sugar, coconut and naartjie peel to a slow boil in a large saucepan until syrup starts to bubble. Prick each koeksister, then lower into syrup . Add as many koeksisters as the pan will hold. Turn and cook for 5 minutes each side or till browned. Remove with slotted spoon place on platter with some extra coconut. Sprinkle coconut over them and serve while hot

Tips & Warnings

• Koeksisters are easier on the mind and hands than fetkoeks. Fetkoeks are deep fried bread dough then filled with meat or fruit. Very filling and like all breads takes time to nurture the rising process. Koek sister are similar but more like a cake.
• Dissolve the sugar in the water. Add sprinkle of cinamon with a piece of lemon. bring to the boil then allow to cool, discarding the lemon. Add the butter, beat in the egg and get it creamy. Sift the flour and mix with the butter/sugar mix untill smooth. Roll into a 9' square and cut into 18 pieces ( 3'x11/2'). Cut two slits in each piece but leave them joined at the top, so it looks like a thing with three legs. Plait the legs and pinch at the ends to seal. Heat oil to 350 F anf fry for 4-5 minutes, dip in syrup and serve hot.