Koeksister

This article is about Afrikaner version of the dish. For the version associated with Cape Malays, see koe'sister.

Koeksister
TypePastry
CourseDessert
Place of originSouth Africa
Region or stateSouth Africa
Main ingredientsDough, sugar syrup

A koeksister (/ˈkʊksɪstər/; Afrikaans: [ˈkukˌsəs.tər] ⓘ)[1] is a traditional Afrikaner confectionery made of fried dough infused in syrup or honey. There is also a Cape Malay version of the dish,[2] which is a fried ball of dough that is rolled in desiccated coconut called a koesister.[3] The name derives from the Dutch word "koek", which generally means a wheat flour confectionery.

Koeksisters are prepared by frying plaited dough strips in oil, then submersing the hot fried dough into ice cold sugar syrup. Koeksisters have a golden crunchy crust and liquid syrup centre, are very sticky and sweet, and taste like honey.[4]

A monument of a koeksister in the Afrikaner community of Orania alludes to the Afrikaner tradition of baking them to raise funds for the building of churches and schools.[5]

  • A shop specialising in the production and sale of koeksisters in Cape Town.
    A shop specialising in the production and sale of koeksisters in Cape Town.
  • Koeksister Monument in Orania
    Koeksister Monument in Orania
  1. ^ Sunset. Passenger Department, Southern Pacific Company. 1963.
  2. ^ "Koeksisters the traditional Afrikaner Recipe - South African Magazine - SA PROMO". 28 January 2015.
  3. ^ Sunset. Passenger Department, Southern Pacific Company. 1963.
  4. ^ Laurens van der Post (1970) African Cooking, Time-Life Books, New York
  5. ^ Wybenga, Wim (1 May 2008). "Koeksister het sy eie monument op Orania". Volksblad. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2012.