
A historical bread from The White House cook book; a comprehensive cyclopedia of information for the home .. (1913). Break off pieces about as large as an egg, roll them under the hands into round balls, rub the tops with sugar and water mixed, and then sprinkle dry sugar over them.
Preserved exactly as written in the original source
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Sift together salt, flour, sugar and baking powder
Rub in the butter cold
Add the milk, beaten eggs and spices
Mix into a soft dough
Break off pieces about as large as an egg
Roll them under the hands into round balls
Rub the tops with sugar and water mixed, and then sprinkle dry sugar over them
Bake immediately
Modern guidance to help you succeed with this vintage recipe
Rubbing cold butter into flour creates a biscuit-like structure where fat coats flour particles, limiting gluten development for a tender crumb. The baking powder provides immediate leavening without fermentation, creating a quick bread with a cake-like texture. The sugar-water wash gelatinizes on the surface during baking, creating a glossy finish, while the dry sugar on top caramelizes to form a sweet, crispy crust.
The dry ingredients can be sifted and mixed together up to 1 day ahead and stored in an airtight container. The butter can be cut into the flour mixture up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerated. However, once the wet ingredients are added, the dough must be shaped and baked immediately to preserve the leavening action.
Store cooled rusks in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. They will become drier and more biscuit-like over time, which is traditional for rusks. For a crisper texture, refresh in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes. These can also be frozen for up to 2 months; thaw at room temperature before serving.
AI-generated tips from Chef Cecil's culinary database
The dry ingredients can be sifted and mixed together up to 1 day ahead and stored in an airtight container. The butter can be cut into the flour mixture up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerated. However, once the wet ingredients are added, the dough must be shaped and baked immediately to preserve the leavening action.
Store cooled rusks in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. They will become drier and more biscuit-like over time, which is traditional for rusks. For a crisper texture, refresh in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes. These can also be frozen for up to 2 months; thaw at room temperature before serving.