Old-fashioned aniseed rusks Recipe - EatOut (2024)

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Old-fashioned aniseed rusks

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Old-fashioned aniseed rusks Recipe - EatOut (1)

Ingredients

250 g butter

500 ml warm boiled water

500 ml cold water

625 ml white sugar

50 g fresh yeast

625 ml cake flour

2 extra-large whiskedeggs

½ x 385 g can condensed milk

20 ml salt

20 ml aniseed

about 2 kg extra cake flour

45 ml white sugar

125 ml boiling water

Method

1. In an extra-large mixing bowl, melt the butter in the warm boiled water and then stir in the cold water and sugar.
2. Add just enough water to the yeast to dissolve it.
3. Mix the yeast and the 625 ml flour into the butter mixture and leave to stand for 10 minutes.
4. Stir in the eggs, condensed milk, salt and aniseed.
5. Start adding the 2 kg of flour a cup at a time, mixing after every addition, until you have a soft dough. Knead for 15–20 minutes.
6. Cover with cling wrap and place the bowl in a clean plastic bag. Leave in a warm spot for about 4 hours to prove until doubled in size.
7. Spray three 35 x 15 cm loaf tins with non-stick cooking spray.
8. Pinch off golf-ball-sized balls of dough and form them into fingers, 7 cm long.
9. Pack them standing up in rows in the loaf tins. You should get 4 rows of 16 per tin.
10. Cover with cling wrap and leave to prove for about 2 hours until doubled in size. The dough should not rise over the sides of the tins.
11. Preheat the oven to 160 ˚C and bake the rusks for 1 hour.
12. Remove from the oven and turn out the ‘loaves’ onto a wire cooling rack.
13. Make the sugar syrup by dissolving the sugar in the boiling water. Using a pastry brush, paint the tops and sides of the loaves.
14. Eat warm or leave to cool, break into rusks and dry overnight on baking trays in a 50 ˚C oven.
15. Store in airtight containers.

Old-fashioned aniseed rusks Recipe - EatOut (4)The Classic South African Cookbook, by Melinda Roodt, published by Struik Lifestyle, R350.Photography: Christin Boggs-Peyper © Penguin Random House South Africa (Pty) Ltd 2016

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9 Comments

  • Old-fashioned aniseed rusks Recipe - EatOut (8)

    Norma Farmer

    March 20, 2018

    Hi, thank you for this recipe I have a question about the ingredients it says in one place 625 ml cake flour and then later about 3.25 litres cake flour, is one of them supposed to be SR flour? Is it in fact 625 ml cake flour and 3.25 litres cake flour?

    Reply

  1. Eat Out

    April 26, 2018

    Hi Norma 🙂 Both are supposed to be cake flour. It’s split up so that you can mix the first batch (625 ml) in and let it stand, before then later adding the rest of the flour bit by bit. Hope that helps and that your rusks aren’t all eaten straight out of the oven! 🙂

  • Old-fashioned aniseed rusks Recipe - EatOut (9)

    elizabeth

    May 30, 2018

    I fully understand the 625 ml Cake Flour but not the 3,25 ml Flour ???? Would it not be more understandable if the 3,25 ml is giving in grams measurement? In other words would it be right to use 3,25 Kilo Grams of Flour???? According to the fluids and butter it seems as though it could be kg…. 3,25 Kg Cake flour or maybe it is supposed to be 3X 1 Liter measurement…plus extra 25ml Flour???? Very confusing…Thanks E

    Reply

    1. Eat Out

      May 30, 2018

      Hi Elizabeth 🙂 We’ve converted the ml to kg for you and updated the recipe accordingly. 3.25 litres of flour is equal to 2kg, or about 16 cups. That should make it a bit easier 🙂 Let us know how your rusks turn out!

  • Old-fashioned aniseed rusks Recipe - EatOut (10)

    Iris

    September 11, 2018

    What is fresh yeast? Can i use purple packets dry yeast?

    Reply

    1. Eat Out

      September 11, 2018

      Yes, it should be fine. But have a look here for adaptations: http://dish.allrecipes.com/yeast-the-basics/

  • Old-fashioned aniseed rusks Recipe - EatOut (11)

    Penny

    October 10, 2018

    Please can you help? I have been making beskuit for years but wonder if there is something i can add to stop the wastage when cutting before drying in the oven?? Thank you!

    Reply

    1. Eat Out

      October 10, 2018

      Ooh, we’re not sure Penny. Crumbs can always be recycled into bases for tarts, rather than using smashed biscuits? Perhaps our friends at Food24 will be able to help 🙂

    2. Old-fashioned aniseed rusks Recipe - EatOut (12)

      Desiree Muller

      October 19, 2018

      Penny you can cut the raw mixture in the pan with a butter spreaded knife before you put it into the oven. You can also use oil on the knife instead of butter.

    Leave a comment

    Old-fashioned aniseed rusks Recipe - EatOut (2024)

    FAQs

    Why are my rusks so hard? ›

    As always with flour, don't overmix or they'll be tough. Another important thing to note is that rusks are baked twice – baked, and then dried out – so make sure you have time to complete the project. You can dry them overnight, if you prefer.

    How long do rusks take to dry out? ›

    Bake at 180°C for 1 hour. Turn out, and leave to cool. Cut into rusks. Allow to dry overnight in the oven warmer draw or reduce the oven temperature to 100°C and leave for 4–6 hours to dry completely.

    What are the different types of rusks? ›

    The most common types of rusks found on the market are barley rusks, rye rusks, olive oil rusks -which are made from wheat and contain olive oil- and carob rusks. The nutrient found in greater proportion in each type of rusk is the carbohydrate, while their sugar content varies depending on the type of flour used.

    How to cook rusks in a gas oven? ›

    Place these on the rack that fits in your oven pan, allow for a gap in between each rusk. Dry out overnight in a 60C oven or for 3 hours in a 100C oven. Turn them over once if you can. If you cut your rusks thick, they will need a longer second bake/drying time.

    Why is rusk unhealthy? ›

    Rusk contains a significant amount of sugar, which raises blood sugar levels. Serious disorders like diabetes can result from this. Rusk, which contains flour, can be detrimental to your health and can harm your digestive system when consumed regularly.

    How do you make rusks more dense? ›

    Butter can also be replaced with ghee or coconut oil but then the rusks become denser. The sugar quantity can invariably be halved without affecting the crunch.

    Should oven door be open when drying rusks? ›

    For me a modern convection oven with the fan setting at 100 degrees work just fine to dry my rusks. It takes a few hours. Some say on older stoves you need a lower temperature as low as 50 degrees and you need to leave the door slightly ajar but this takes ages so try to avoid that.

    How long should rusks dry out in the oven? ›

    Cut or break into pieces while still warm. Dry out in a cool oven at about 70 °C for 6 - 8 hours, or overnight. Store in an airtight container.

    Why are my rusks crumbly in the oven? ›

    Rusks will be crumbly if the liquid, fat, flour ratio is incorrect or if the mixture is too dry.

    What are rusks called in America? ›

    In the US, commonly available types of rusk include melba toast and croutons, which are sold packaged in grocery stores, and biscotti, which is found both at grocery stores and coffee shops.

    What is an alternative for rusks? ›

    Salt & Vinegar Rice Cakes. Apple and Peanut Butter. Fibre One Chocolate Fudge Brownies. Dried Fruit.

    What are Italian rusks? ›

    To the uninitiated, the humble sourdough friselle (“free-ze-leh”)—a sort of Italian-style rusk—might look like a common bagel, split in half and toasted. But these crunchy rings embody the sentiment of the Mediterranean, a symbol of creativity in utilizing everyday ingredients to create lasting culinary staples.

    Can you dry rusks in microwave? ›

    Microwave for 9-10 minutes on medium or 50 per cent power. Leave for 10 minutes before turning out on a wire rack. Cool completely before cutting into fingers. Dry out in a conventional oven at 100 ºC (200 ºF) till the rusks are completely dry.

    Can you dry rusks in a gas oven? ›

    Traditional South African rusks are twice baked to dry. them out so that they can be dunked in coffee or tea. Gas produces moisture when it burns so the La. Germania oven comes with this nifty drying.

    How do you dry rusks without an oven? ›

    Remove the baked rusks from the tin and return them, whole, upside down to the air fryer basket. Air Fry at 160˚C again for 5 minutes. Break the rusks apart into individuals and place them in the basket. Dehydrate the rusks at 79˚C for 4 hours until hard.

    Why did my biscuits turn out so hard? ›

    Biscuits can become hard and dry if they are overmixed or overbaked. This can happen with both homemade and store-bought mixes.

    What is the best oven setting to dry rusks? ›

    For me a modern convection oven with the fan setting at 100 degrees work just fine to dry my rusks. It takes a few hours. Some say on older stoves you need a lower temperature as low as 50 degrees and you need to leave the door slightly ajar but this takes ages so try to avoid that.

    Are rusks hard? ›

    A rusk is a hard, dry biscuit or a twice-baked bread. It is sometimes used as a teether for babies.

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