Kuih Cincin (Bruneian Palm Sugar Rings)
In short: Ring-shaped fried sweets of rice flour and caramel-like palm sugar, crisp outside and slightly chewy inside. A festive snack served with tea. It takes about 1 h 5 min in total and makes 10 servings.
- Prep
- 40 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 15 min
- Total
- 1 h 5 min
- Servings
- 10
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 210 kcal
Kuih cincin means ring cookie, and in Brunei they are one of the sweets that appear at weddings and Hari Raya. The dough is simple: rice flour kneaded with melted palm sugar, shaped into rings and fried until deep brown. They crisp as they cool and have a toffee-like flavor with a slightly chewy center. Dark palm sugar gives the best color and taste.
Instructions
- Heat the palm sugar, brown sugar and water in a small pot over low heat, stirring until dissolved. Cool until just warm.
- Put the rice flour and salt in a bowl. Pour in the syrup gradually, mixing until you have a soft dough that holds together without sticking. Rest for 15 minutes.
- Take a piece of dough about the size of a walnut and roll it into a ball. Flatten it slightly, poke a hole through the middle and enlarge it to make a ring about 5 cm (2 in) wide. Dust with rice flour. Repeat with the rest.
- Heat the oil to 160°C (320°F) in a wide, deep pot. The oil should be only moderately hot so the rings cook through before browning.
- Fry 4 to 5 rings at a time for 3 to 4 minutes, turning, until deep brown and crisp at the edges.
- Drain on a rack and cool completely. They firm up as they cool.
Tips
- If the dough cracks as you shape it, knead in a teaspoon of water. If it is sticky, add a tablespoon of rice flour.
- Dark palm sugar, sold as gula melaka or gula apong, gives the best flavor. Dark brown sugar with a teaspoon of molasses is a backup.
Questions and answers
How long do kuih cincin keep?
They stay crisp for about a week in an airtight tin. If they soften, re-crisp in a 150°C (300°F) oven for 5 minutes.
Why do my rings fall apart in the oil?
The dough is too dry or the oil is too hot. Knead in a little water, and keep the oil at 160°C (320°F).
Can I bake kuih cincin?
Not well. The rings need frying to develop their texture, and baked ones turn hard and dry.
How long does it take to make Kuih Cincin (Bruneian Palm Sugar Rings)?
About 1 h 5 min in total: 40 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Kuih Cincin (Bruneian Palm Sugar Rings)?
About 210 kcal per serving, with 2 g of protein, 40 g of carbohydrates and 5 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 210 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 40 g |
| Fat | 5 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 14 g |
| Sodium | 60 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
