Fried dough, dipped in a sweet syrup, sprinkled with coconut and best enjoyed along with a warm beverage… The koesister is an authentic delicacy that is a staple in many South African homes on Sunday’s, after church, at tea time and on special occasions.
Back home, this was one of the treats I looked forward to the most, especially as a kid and one my family often enjoys.
Now, since moving to Seattle, I regularly make our favorite South African foods and the koesister is high on that list.
I’m so excited to share with you the recipe. Hope you enjoy this South Africa treat, oh wait! don’t forget to have it with a warm beverage.
Fun fact: This treat is celebrated in South Africa on World Koesister Day, the first Sunday in September.
Ingredients
For the dough
5 cups all purpose flour / cake flour
1 pkt yeast
2 tbsp sugar
Pinch salt
2 tbsp aniseed
1 litre milk
¼ stick butter
For the syrup
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
Method
Sieve flour in a large bowl then mix in the sugar, yeast, salt and aniseed.
Add warm milk and butter together then mix with dry ingredients.
When combined, cover with saran / cling wrap then a cloth and allow the dough to rise until it has doubled in size.
Flour the surface you will be working on.
Once the dough has risen, take some dough and spread it out with your hands and with a knife cut it up in desired sizes.
Drop it in the oil and fry it until golden brown.
After frying the dough it’s time to drop the koeksisters in the syrup.
Place about 3-4 koesister in the saucepan consisting of the syrup and saturate them for about 1 minute on each side.
Sprinkle with the desiccated coconut.
How to make the syrup
In a saucepan mix the sugar, water and stick cinnamon together. Let it boil until it becomes sticky to the touch.
Place a spoon in the syrup and check if the syrup at the back of the spoon is sticky. That’s how you will know if the syrup is ready.
Place a few cooled down koesisters in the syrup and move them around in the syrup for about a minute. Take it out and roll in coconut. Repeat this method until you have the desired amount of koe’sisters.
Finally
These koesisters were truly a childhood favorite and still is today. I really hope you guys try this recipe as I’m sure you are going to love it. Leave me a comment and let me know if you have tried it.
