BUTTERMILK RUSKS, SOUTH AFRICAN

Buttermilk Rusks, South African image

This needs a little explanation. We South Africans are very partial to rusks with that first cup of morning coffee! It's what the US calls "double-baked": the end result with this recipe is a hard, chunky sweetish "rock" which you dunk in your coffee or tea to soften, then bite off. It doubles as a quick breakfast or an afternoon bite with tea and coffee. It's an all-purpose snack and most houses are never without a tin of them. There are all kinds of variations including health and muesli rusks. They date back to the time when people trekked with oxwagons into the interior, when they needed foods that would keep.

Provided by Zurie

Time 1h10m

Yield 40-50 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

Ingredients

4 lbs self-raising flour
1 lb pure butter, firm
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons salt
3 large eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon vanilla
6 cups buttermilk, to mix in (about)

Steps:

Oven: 350 deg F.
Grease 2 flat, large cookie tins.
Use the coarse side of a grater, and in a large bowl grate the butter into the flour.
Then use your hands to rub it in until mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
Add the salt and sugar.
Add the vanilla to the beaten eggs, and stir into the flour mixture (just roughly).
Add enough buttermilk to mix to the consistency of scone dough, i.e. soft and somewhat sticky, but not wet. You should need about 6 cups, but it could be more or less.
Have a bowl of quite warm water ready, and dip your hands into it. Now form large balls of dough, but do so lightly.
The balls should be about 1/3 smaller than tennis balls (sorry, hard if you can't demonstrate!) Pack these, touching one another, on the greased tins. Do not pack close to the edges of the tins, as the dough will rise considerably.
Baking time depends on a few variables such as the size of the balls -- generally about 45 mins - 60 minutes The rusks should be well-risen and golden-brown on top. Do peek, and don't let it burn. Test with a skewer.
Cool in tins, but they don't have to be cold to proceed:.
Use a serrated knife (some people simply break up the soft rusks) and cut into shapes convenient for handling -- about 3 inches in length and 1 1/2 inches in width. But you will never be able to cut these rusks neatly!
They crumble a lot -- don't worry, it can't be helped. Put out the crumbs for the birds.
Using the same tins, stack them very loosely and at an angle, one row supporting the next.
Dry overnight in a cool oven of about 170 deg F, with the oven door wedged open a crack. They must dry out completely.
Next day make sure rusks are dry, cool well, and keep in airtight tins.