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Home / Types / African / African Breakfast

Traditional Koeksisters

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Author: Imma Published:5/15/2014Updated:5/21/2021
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Traditional Koeksisters – A traditional South African sticky donut treat that’s deliciously sweet, sticky, crunchy and drenched in syrup, laced with cinnamon, lemon and ginger. Absolutely perfect for snack or tea time and even breakfast.

koeksisters

We all a vice right? And fried foods are mine- especially when they are a sweet treat…. Not a weekend  goes by without an occasional indulgent of some sort of fried food. You heard right! However, moderation is the key. Okay, that’s not exactly true. I can barely contain myself. So don’t take my word for it.

koeksisters

First things first: koeksisters are pronounced like, ” cook sister”. Now that you know how to pronounce it, what the heck is it? Allow me. koeksister  is a super popular South African sticky doughnut .It derives it’s name from the Dutch word “koekje”, which can be interpreted as “cookie”. There are two versions of this popular doughnuts: this  is the Afrikaner version –sticky ,braided ,crunchy and crunchy –drenched in syrup, laced with cinnamon, lemon and ginger. The end result… a taste bud explosion.

koeksisters

They are extremely popular in South Africa, sold on major streets and have made their way into super markets. These are a true indulgence, one that is worthy of a birthday celebration, holiday or even creating a special occasion if you do not have one (I do that all the time).

koeksisters

I know these doughnuts take a bit of advance preparation before deep-frying but are a fun to do especially if you have  kids.

Enjoy!

 

Watch How To Make It

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Traditional Koeksisters

Traditional Koeksisters - A traditional South African sticky donut treat that's deliciously sweet, sticky, crunchy and drenched in syrup, laced with cinnamon, lemon and ginger. Absolutely perfect for snack or tea time and even breakfast.
4.67 from 18 votes
Prep: 2 hrs
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 2 hrs 30 mins
African
Servings 13 -14 pieces

Ingredients

Spicy Syrup

  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 tablespoon chopped Fresh ginger
  • Fresh squeeze lemon juice (half lemon)
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 cup water

Dough

  • 1 cup corn flour (100grams)
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 25 grams butter melted
  • oil for deep frying

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan. Add, cream of tartar, salt, sugar, ginger, lemon juice and cinnamon stick. Bring water to a boil and let it simmer for about 10 minutes, Stirring syrup occasionally. Let it cool and refrigerate until ready to use.
  • In a large bowl combine all the dry ingredients- corn meal, flour, sugar, baking powder
  • Then all the wet ingredients milk and egg followed by butter. Knead several times until all the ingredients have been incorporated. Let it rest for about 30 minutes.
  • Place dough on board and roll out into about 1 inch thickness. Using a cookie cutter or knife cut into strips thin strips and then shorter strips.
  • , Divide the dough into three strands and stretch them out carefully until they are of an even thickness all the way down. Pinch the ends together
  • Take the left strand and cross it over the middle strand 
Take the right strand and cross it over the middle strand. Tightly pinch to seal the end.
  • In a large, sauce pan pour vegetable oil into a pot, until it is at least 3 inches Test to make sure the oil is hot enough by putting a ‘drop’ of batter into the oil. If it is not hot enough, the batter will stay at the bottom of the pot rather than rising to the top. If using a deep fryer, fry at 350 degrees
  • Gently place koeksisters in the pan
  • Fry for a few minutes until the bottom side is golden brown.
  • Turn the over and fry for a few more minutes until the other side is golden brown.
  • Use a large spoon or something like that to take it out of the oil and directly place in syrup.
  • Leave to soak in the syrup for a while. Transfer to a cooling rack. Cool completely before eating.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 183kcal (9%)| Carbohydrates: 38g (13%)| Protein: 2g (4%)| Fat: 2g (3%)| Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)| Cholesterol: 17mg (6%)| Sodium: 159mg (7%)| Potassium: 157mg (4%)| Sugar: 17g (19%)| Vitamin A: 80IU (2%)| Calcium: 51mg (5%)| Iron: 0.9mg (5%)
Author: Imma
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: African
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Nutrition Facts
Traditional Koeksisters
Amount Per Serving
Calories 183 Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 17mg6%
Sodium 159mg7%
Potassium 157mg4%
Carbohydrates 38g13%
Sugar 17g19%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 80IU2%
Calcium 51mg5%
Iron 0.9mg5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

Koeksisters

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These South African Doughnuts are gooey, sweet and very sticky - crisp on the outside and tender inside.
These South African Doughnuts are gooey, sweet and very sticky – crisp on the outside and tender inside.

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Comments & Reviews
  1. A J Hunt says

    Posted on 4/24 at 9:47AM

    Not the Koeksister recipe my family has had for years. It came to us from a cousin of my mother’s who spent years in So Africa with her husband as Methodist missionaries. The recipe we have is a yeasted sweet bread with cinnamon in it that takes at least two days to make. An overnight rise of the sponge, more flour and kneading, a second rise, then rolling, cutting, braiding, and frying. The syrup from our recipe is a simple syrup with cinnamon only. Dipped while still hot from the fryer, the braids soak up the syrup and become sticky when cold. It was a family affair at Christmas every year when I was young. Mom would make the dough, roll it out, and Dad would cut it. We kids would braid. Then Mom or Dad would fry it, and the other would dip.

    Reply
    • Immaculate Bites says

      Posted on 4/25 at 9:17PM

      Thank you for your comment and for sharing this, A J!

      Reply
  2. Ruby Fitzgerald says

    Posted on 12/4 at 3:28AM

    5 stars
    Please I live in a small place in Australia. We can’t get corn meal. .what can I use as an alternative. Thanks. is cornflour ok?

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 12/4 at 2:15PM

      Corn flour would work just as well.

      Reply
    • Natalie says

      Posted on 7/11 at 5:24AM

      You can get cornflour at Coles (made in South Africa) and Woolworths

      Reply
  3. Brooke Boner says

    Posted on 10/25 at 10:47AM

    Can you substitute cornmeal for cornflour?

    Reply
  4. Karen Mccaffrey says

    Posted on 6/21 at 10:06AM

    5 stars
    I made these today, I live in Ireland now but grew up in South Africa and I have to say, this is EXACTLY how I remember koeksisters!! Thank you! Recipe was super!! I treated my children to these and I can tell you they will be made again SOON!!

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 6/21 at 10:35PM

      Awesome!!! I am so glad you loved this recipe and that it took you down memory lane :). Thank you for the feedback, Karen.

      Reply
  5. Julia R. says

    Posted on 5/15 at 4:55PM

    Hi, we are making this tomorrow but I am not sure if the butter needs to be softened to room temperature, or does it need to be melted? Thank you.

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 5/16 at 7:22AM

      Hello Julia,
      It’s melted butter. Happy cooking!!!

      Reply
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