Kitchen Recipe Collection
Italian Struffoli
A festive Neapolitan Christmas dessert consisting of hundreds of tiny, deep-fried dough balls, drenched in warm honey, piled into a wreath shape, and covered in colorful sprinkles.
- Prep
- 45 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total
- 75 min
- Servings
- 12
- Difficulty
- medium
- Cuisine
- italian
Ingredients
Scaled for 12 servings
- all-purpose flour
- eggs
- butter
- sugar
- lemon and orange zest
- anise liqueur (or rum)
- oil (for frying)
- honey
- colorful nonpareil sprinkles (diavulilli)
- candied fruit (optional)
Equipment
- Deep fryer or heavy pot
- Large mixing bowl
- Serving platter
Instructions
- 1
Make Dough
Mix flour, eggs, softened butter, sugar, zest, and a splash of anise liqueur into a firm, smooth dough. Rest for 30 minutes.
- 2
Roll Ropes
Cut off small pieces of dough and roll them into long, thin ropes (about the thickness of a pencil).
- 3
Cut Balls
Cut the ropes into tiny, uniform pieces, smaller than a marble. Toss them lightly in flour to prevent sticking.
- 4
Sift
Crucial step: sift the dough balls in a strainer to remove ALL excess flour before frying, or the oil will burn and foam over.
- 5
Fry
Heat oil to 350°F (175°C). Fry the dough balls in batches for 2-3 minutes until golden and puffed. Drain on paper towels.
- 6
Heat Honey
In a very large, wide pot, gently heat the honey until it becomes liquid and slightly bubbly.
- 7
Coat in Honey
Remove the honey from the heat. Dump all the fried dough balls into the warm honey and stir vigorously until every single ball is thoroughly coated.
- 8
Add Sprinkles
Stir in half of the colorful sprinkles and chopped candied fruit.
- 9
Shape
Pour the sticky mass onto a serving platter. Wet your hands slightly with cold water and shape the pile into a wreath or a pyramid.
- 10
Decorate
Shower the outside with the remaining sprinkles. Let it cool and set before serving (guests just pull pieces off the mound).
Cooking Tips
- The dough balls must be cut very small, as they puff up significantly in the fryer. Large balls will be doughy inside.
- Always remove the honey from the direct heat before adding the dough, otherwise you will accidentally make hard caramel.
Variations
- Cicerchiata: A very similar dish from Central Italy, often shaped into a ring.
Chef's Notes & Storage
- A sticky, joyful centerpiece for any Southern Italian holiday table.
Nutrition Estimate
280 calories · 4g protein · 45g carbs · 10g fat · 1g fiber per serving
