Struffoli is an Italian dessert comprised of sweet fired dough and covered with honey and a dash of sprinkles.
My grandmother and her sisters would make this every year during the holidays and while I was young, I was not overly interested in this dessert but as I have gotten older, these are the desserts that hold tradition and I can still see the paper plate, soaked through with sweet honey and my Grandma, Aunt Charlotte, Aunt Dee and my Poppy sitting around the kitchen table.
Bring a little Italian tradition into your home this holiday season with Struffoli.
Italian Struffoli | Honey Balls Recipe
Ingredients for Struffoli
- eggs
- sugar
- lemon zest
- vanilla extract
- salt
- flour
- oil (canola)
- honey
- sprinkles
NOTES – You can fry the struffoli dough ahead of time, letting them cool completely before storing in an airtight container PRIOR to adding honey and sprinkles. When you are ready to serve simply add the honey and sprinkles.
The kids love to pitch and help roll the dough, so you can make this a family affair and trust me they will be eating this sweet bakery confection too!
How to make struffoli
- Beat eggs with sugar, lemon zest, vanilla, salt and 2 cups of flour and mix until combined.
- Flour a work surface and turn out dough , knead in the remaining 1/2 cup flour until the dough forms a ball.
- Pinch off small pieces of the dough and roll into balls, these should be small as they will plump a bit when frying.
- Add the small balls to a bowl with a little flour to prevent the balls from sticking to each other.
- Place oil in a large saucepan. Heat the oil until 375 degrees and add small batches of the dough. {Do not fry all at once.} Once the dough turns golden remove to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb the oil. Continue frying the dough in small batches.
- Add the fried dough to a bowl with the honey to coat evenly. Arrange the struffoli on a plate in a large mound and add the sprinkles over the top.
If you liked these Italian Cookies, have a look at these other recipes!
Italian Bakery Style Cookies
Italian Ricotta Cake
Italian Soft Biscotti
Italian Cheesecake
Italian Struffoli | Honey Balls Recipe
A traditional Italian recipe for struffoli, fried sweet dough topped with honey and sprinkles.
Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- 1 TBSP sugar
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2-1/2 cups flour
- 2-3 cups canola pil
- 1-1/2 cups honey
- Sprinkles (nonpareils)
Instructions
- Beat eggs with sugar, lemon zest, vanilla, salt and 2 cups of flour and mix until combined.
- Flour a work surface and turn out dough , knead in the remaining 1/2 cup flour until the dough forms a ball.
- Pinch off small pieces of the dough and roll into balls, these should be small as they will plump a bit when frying.
- Add the small balls to a bowl with a little flour to prevent the balls from sticking to each other.
- Place oil in a large saucepan. Heat the oil until 375 degrees and add small batches of the dough. {Do not fry all at once.} Once the dough turns golden remove to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb the oil. Continue frying the dough in small batches.
- Add the fried dough to a bowl with the honey to coat evenly. Arrange the struffoli on a plate in a large mound and add the sprinkles over the top.
