I have tried quite a few rusk recipes in my life, and this is currently my favourite. Not too hard when it is dried, keeps its shape when dunked and chews just right. 😊

These rusks are also known as moss rusks (if they have aniseed in them) or feather rusks. Just like moss balls, they are a great treat fresh from the oven, spread with butter.

Ingredients:
1 x 397 g can condensed milk
250 ml boiling water
125 g butter or margarine, cut into cubes
180 ml sugar
2 eggs
250 ml cold water
2 packets of instant yeast
1.25 kg cake flour
10 ml salt
15 ml aniseed (optional)

Method:
Mix the condensed milk, boiling water, butter/margarine and sugar together until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved.

Beat the eggs separately and mix it with the cold water. ]

Add this beaten eggs to the condensed milk mixture.

Sprinkle the yeast over the mixture and stir to mix in the yeast.

Sprinkle over 250 g of the flour and mix thoroughly.

Cover the bowl loosely and leave in a warm place for about an hour until the mixture is bubbly on top.

Add the rest of the flour, salt and aniseed (if using) and work it into a dough. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic and no longer sticks to your hands.

Place the ball of dough in an oiled mixing bowl, cover loosely and leave to rise in a warm place until it has doubled in volume. In the meantime, preheat the oven to 180 °C and grease three to four medium loaf pans with butter or oil.

Knead the dough a final time.

Pinch off golf ball sized balls of dough (roughly 40 g each) and pack them tightly together in the pans.

Cover the pans loosely and let the dough rise for about 15-20 minutes.

Place in the oven, immediately turn down the temperature to 160 °C and bake the rusks until golden brown and cooked through.

Turn out, let it cool slightly and then break into pieces.

Arrange on baking sheets and dry out at 70 °C to 100 °C or in the low oven.

Leave to come to room temperature and store in airtight containers.

Makes about 3 dozen average size rusk.

#condensed_milk #kondensmelk #rusks #beskuit