Skuinskoek is a traditional confectionary that originated in the Namaqualand region in South Africa. It is a deep-fried sweet doughnut-like confectionary flavoured with aniseed. Its name is derived from the angular, diamond-like shape of the doughnut.

It is likely that the first skuinskoek was made from left-over mosbolletjie dough. Mosbolletjies or mosbeskuit as it is also known when it is dried out to make rusks is typically flavoured with ‘warming’ spices such as aniseed, nutmeg and cinnamon. The latter two are less common, especially in more modern recipes.

Skuinskoek is best eaten shortly after it comes from the deep-frier. But it keeps and freezes well and when it begins to dry out, it is eaten like a rusk dipped in coffee or tea.

Skuinskoek

Recipe by christiekeulderCourse: RecipesCuisine: South African, NamibianDifficulty: Easy

Servings

50-60

servings

Prep time

1

hour 

Cooking time

20

minutes

Skuiskoek is a traditional confectionary from the Namaqualand region of South Africa. It is made by deep-frying, diamond-shaped strips of sweet dough flavoured with aniseed.

Ingredients

• 1 kilogram cake flour

• 250 grams sugar

• 110 grams butter

• 10 grams yeast

• 10 grams salt

• 10 grams aniseed

• 550 milliliters water or milk

• Vegetable oil, enough to deep-fry

Directions

• Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl and add water or milk (whichever) you prefer. Bring it all together to make a dough. Knead for a few minutes and cover with a damp kitchen towel. Set aside and let it proof to double in size.
• Punch down and roll out to about 1 cm thick. Cut the dough into diamond shapes. Place on a baking tray and cover once more with a damp cloth. Let it proof for another 15 or so minutes.
• Heat the oil in a heavy bottom pot. Test the heat by dropping a little bit of dough into the oil. It should sizzle.
• Deep-fry the cakes a few at a time. They should expand some more. Fry till golden brown all over.