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🇿🇦 South Africa dessert

Cape Koeksisters

Braided fried pastries plunged into icy cinnamon-lemon syrup.

Prep & cook1 hr 30DifficultyMediumServes6
Cape Koeksisters

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Ingredient scale
6
  • 400g plain flour
  • 10g baking powder
  • 50g butter
  • 180ml milk

Make it step by step

Method

  1. 1

    Simmer sugar, water, cinnamon and lemon peel for 8 minutes, then chill the syrup completely.

  2. 2

    Rub butter into flour and baking powder; add milk to make a soft dough.

  3. 3

    Rest 20 minutes, roll, cut strips and braid each strip.

  4. 4

    Fry at 170°C for 4–5 minutes until golden.

  5. 5

    Move each hot braid straight into the ice-cold syrup, soak briefly and drain.

Chef’s tip

The contrast between hot pastry and cold syrup creates the glossy, crisp finish.