Ingredients:

For syrup 

250ml water (1 cup) 

625 ml white sugar (2 ½ cups)

12 ½  ml lemon juice (2 ½ tsp) 

5 ml vanilla essence (1 tsp) 

Dough 

375 ml cake flour (1 ½ cups) 

22 ml baking powder (4 ½ tsp)

1 ml salt (¼ tsp) 

20 g butter or 20 g margarine 

150 ml milk (⅝ cups) 

Method  

1. Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring to a boil, stir until the sugar has dissolved. Boil for 7 minutes. 

2. Remove the pot from the stove and stir in the lemon juice and vanilla essence. Put the pot into the fridge. 

3. Mix the flour, salt and baking powder thoroughly in a mixing bowl. Break the butter or margarine into small pieces and add to the flour mixture. Add the milk, mix well until a dough is formed. 

4. Roll the dough out to a thickness of 5 mm (+ or - ¼ in) Cut the dough into thin strips. Take 3 strips and join their ends on one side. Braid the strips to desired koeksister length and join other ends. 

5. Heat the oil in a pot until fairly hot. Put about 3 koeksisters at a time in the oil and fry them on both sides until they are golden brown. As you remove the koeksister from the oil, place them directly into the syrup, it is important to keep syrup cool. 

6. Remove the koeksisters from the syrup and allow the excess syrup to drip off. Place them in the refrigerator to cool and then eat. Enjoy.