Roosterkoek is a traditional South African bread roll cooked over coals, often enjoyed with sweet or savoury toppings.

Is roosterkoek a dessert or a side?

It can be both. While traditionally served with savoury fillings, it’s commonly used as a sweet camping dessert with butter, jam, syrup or even cheese.

How do you cook roosterkoek while camping?

The dough is shaped into portions and grilled over moderate coals until cooked through, typically taking 10–20 minutes.

Can you make roosterkoek without a grill?

Yes. You can wrap the dough around sticks or skewers and cook it over the fire, making it ideal for minimal camping setups.

What toppings go well with roosterkoek?

Popular toppings include butter, apricot jam, syrup, cheese, or even spreads like Vegemite for a savoury twist.

Is roosterkoek easy to make while camping?

Yes. It uses simple ingredients like flour, sugar, butter and water, making it a practical and low-fuss option for camp cooking.

Roosterkoek - A Perfect Camping ‘Dessert’

Roosterkoek - A Perfect Camping ‘Dessert’

This week's recipe is from one of the team members at Club 4X4 Insurance - "Madz" - who was excited to share this tasty camping dessert from her hometown in South Africa

— Club 4X4 Insurance

I was convinced after7 years in Australia that I’ve experience all the Aussie food quirks. I was, however, proven wrong during a recent Fraser Island Clean Up camping trip with the Club 4X4 Insurance squad... Pasta for dinner they said!

All this SAFFA (a.k.a South African Foreign Friend Abroad) could say was – shame, where is the braai (BBQ) and roosterkoek?!.

So if you're like me and yearn for something ‘sweet’ after a meaty dinner, try this roosterkoek (grill cakes) recipe.

Ingredients:

2 cups of self-raising flour
½ teaspoon of salt
2 tablespoons of sugar
2 tablespoons of butter (slightly melted)
200mL lukewarm water
extra flour

Method:

Sift all the dry ingredients together in a big mixing bowl
Rub in butter with fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs
Add the lukewarm water to the flour mixture and mix well until a dough is formed
Knead the dough for around 5 minutes
Sprinkle some flour on a clean worksurface and flatten the dough slightly
Divide the dough in 8 pieces and shape the dough in squares
Sprinkle the dough pieces with flour and grill over moderate coals until cooked through (10 – 20 minutes).
Alternatively: Divide dough into 8 long strips and twist around skewers or sticks.

Roosterkoek is best enjoyed straight off the grill, smeared with butter, apricot jam or syrup, and grated cheddar cheese. Or for my Aussie mates, spread some vegemite on it.

Enjoy!