Description
Sweet Italian honey balls called struffoli bring festive magic to holiday tables across Naples, delighting guests with crispy golden dough fried to perfection and drizzled with fragrant honey. Crunchy, golden spheres nestled together create an irresistible dessert you’ll want to share with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
- 1/4 cup salted butter, melted
- 5–6 cups vegetable oil
Sweeteners and Flavorings:
- 1 cup honey
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
Additional Ingredients:
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- Rainbow nonpareils (for decoration)
Instructions
- Blend eggs in a food processor until frothy, incorporating orange zest, vanilla extract, sugar, and melted butter until the mixture becomes smooth and aerated.
- Gently fold in flour and baking powder, mixing just until a cohesive yet tacky dough forms.
- Encase the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and texture to firm up.
- After chilling, segment the dough into four equal portions, rolling each into elongated ropes resembling finger-width thickness.
- Slice the ropes into small segments, then shape each piece into perfectly round marble-sized spheres, lightly dusting with flour to prevent adhesion.
- Heat vegetable oil in a robust pot to 350°F, creating a precise deep-frying environment for achieving golden perfection.
- Carefully immerse dough balls in hot oil, rotating periodically to ensure uniform caramelization and crisp exterior.
- Extract fried orbs using a perforated spoon, allowing excess oil to drain on absorbent paper towels.
- Construct a luxurious glaze by simmering honey, orange juice, and sugar, stirring consistently until sugar completely dissolves and mixture becomes glossy.
- Enrobe the crisp dough balls in the fragrant honey mixture, ensuring comprehensive and even coating.
- Artfully arrange the glazed spheres in a circular wreath formation around a central drinking glass, creating an elegant presentation.
- Embellish with vibrant rainbow nonpareils, allowing the dessert to set and solidify for 2-3 hours.
- Prior to serving, delicately remove the central glass, revealing a stunning, honey-kissed Struffoli masterpiece ready to delight guests.
Notes
- Ensure dough consistency by not overmixing, which can make the struffoli tough and dense.
- Control oil temperature carefully when frying to prevent burning or undercooking the delicate dough balls.
- Use a candy thermometer for precise oil temperature monitoring to achieve golden, crispy exterior.
- Store struffoli at room temperature for maximum freshness, avoiding refrigeration which can soften the delightful crunch.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 325
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg