
A historical bread from The White House cook book; a comprehensive cyclopedia of information for the home .. (1913). Rub damp sugar and cinnamon over the top before baking.
Preserved exactly as written in the original source
Set to rise
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When light mold into high biscuit and let rise again
Rub damp sugar and cinnamon over the top and place in the oven
Bake about twenty minutes
Modern guidance to help you succeed with this vintage recipe
Starting with raised (yeasted) dough provides established gluten structure and active yeast, reducing fermentation time. The high ratio of sugar and butter enriches the dough, creating a tender crumb by inhibiting gluten development and coating flour proteins with fat. The double rise allows yeast to produce CO2 for a light texture while developing flavor compounds. The damp sugar-cinnamon topping caramelizes during baking, forming a sweet crust.
The dough can be shaped into biscuits and refrigerated overnight after the first rise. Allow them to come to room temperature and complete the second rise (about 1-2 hours) before topping and baking. Unbaked, shaped rusks can also be frozen for up to 1 month; thaw in refrigerator overnight and let rise at room temperature before baking.
Store completely cooled rusks in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. To refresh, warm in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes. Traditionally, rusks can be sliced and re-baked at low temperature (250°F for 30-40 minutes) to create a twice-baked, crispy texture similar to biscotti.
AI-generated tips from Chef Cecil's culinary database
The dough can be shaped into biscuits and refrigerated overnight after the first rise. Allow them to come to room temperature and complete the second rise (about 1-2 hours) before topping and baking. Unbaked, shaped rusks can also be frozen for up to 1 month; thaw in refrigerator overnight and let rise at room temperature before baking.
Store completely cooled rusks in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. To refresh, warm in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes. Traditionally, rusks can be sliced and re-baked at low temperature (250°F for 30-40 minutes) to create a twice-baked, crispy texture similar to biscotti.