Traditional Afrikaner Koeksisters
Desserts

Traditional Afrikaner Koeksisters

A sweet, golden, braided pastry that is deep-fried and then immediately soaked in ice-cold sugar syrup.

12 hours (includes syrup chilling) Serves 24Shared by gbroekmann

Origin & History

This iconic treat is a staple of Afrikaner heritage and is known for its distinctive crunch and syrup-filled interior.

Adjust servings:
24 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cake flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 4 tbsp cold butter
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • Vegetable oil for frying
  • Syrup: 2 cups sugar, 1 cup water, 1 tsp ground ginger, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 tsp lemon juice

Method

  1. 1

    Prepare syrup by boiling water, sugar, ginger, and cinnamon for 10 minutes, add lemon juice, then chill in the fridge overnight.

  2. 2

    Sift flour, salt, and baking powder together, then rub in butter until crumbly.

  3. 3

    Beat egg and milk, add to flour, and knead into a smooth dough.

  4. 4

    Let dough rest for 2 hours covered with a damp cloth.

  5. 5

    Roll out dough to 5mm thickness, cut into strips, and braid them.

  6. 6

    Deep fry until golden brown, then plunge immediately into the ice-cold syrup.

  7. 7

    Remove and drain on a wire rack.

Top Tips

  • The syrup must be ice-cold while the dough is boiling hot to ensure absorption.|Keep the syrup bowl sitting in a larger bowl of ice while working.|Do not over-knead the dough or it will become too tough to braid.|Use a slotted spoon to ensure maximum syrup drainage.

Serve with

Traditionally paired with other South African classics:

Community Kitchen

Every South African family has their own version of this recipe — small tweaks passed down through generations. Do you make yours differently? Share your family variation with the community.

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