Struffoli are little sweet fried dough balls covered in honey and sprinkles, and sometimes with candied fruit. They are usually served during the holidays, especially during the Christmas season and Easter. It has a long history, originally created by the nuns of Naples to give as a thank-you gift to the aristocracy for their charitable donations to the poor.
About 15 servings
Ingredients
6 eggs
1 c granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 lb (2 sticks) butter, softened to room temperature
4 1/2 c all-purpose flour
2 T baking powder
vegetable oil for frying
1 small jar of honey (or to your liking)
1 tsp lemon juice (can leave out)
candy sprinkles
- in a large bowl, whisk the eggs until completely mixed.
- add the sugar and vanilla and mix.
- in a separate bowl, sift the flour and baking powder together.
- cut pieces of butter and add to the flour and mix with your hands.
- slowly add the flour mixture to the egg mixture. Use either a spoon or your hands to mix the dough. You can knead the dough on a cutting board if you feel it helps but make sure to sprinkle some flour first onto the board. Let dough rest in a cool, dry place for a little while.
- roll out dough onto a floured surface into long, thin rolls.
- cut the dough into 1/2 inch chunks and roll them into little balls.
- drop them into a large frying pan filled with hot oil in batches and fry until they are golden brown, then remove each batch using a slotted spoon.
- in a saucepan, heat the honey (with the lemon juice, if desired) and drop the fried dough balls in a little bit at a time. Stir until they are all coated with honey.
- remove the struffoli from the saucepan and arrange them onto a plate and sprinkle with candy sprinkles.
