Best Hanukkah Honey Puffs Recipes

LOUKOUMATHES: HONEY PUFFS

Steps:

• Sift the flour with the baking powder into a bowl.
• Add sugar, oil (or butter or margarine), milk, and the egg, and mix with a wooden spoon until smooth.
• Heat 1-2 inches of oil in a saucepan or deep frying pan to just below the smoke point (medium to medium-high on most stoves).
• When the oil is hot, drop the batter by the small teaspoonful into the oil and fry until golden on all sides.
• Drain on paper toweling.
• Get enough dough on your spoon to equal the size of a unshelled almond.
• Keep a small bowl of cold water next to the workspace and dip finger before pushing batter into the oil (to keep batter from sticking).
• Place on serving platter and drizzle with honey.
• Dust with walnuts and cinnamon, and serve.

HONEY PUFF

Steps:

• Combine cream cheese, flour, milk, eggs, honey, vanilla, salt, and baking powder in a blender and process on high for 3-4 minutes or until well blended.
• Heat the butter in a 10-inch baking pan at 375 degrees until melted. Swirl to coat pan.
• Pour the cream cheese mixture into the prepared pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. (the puff will rise and fall like a souffle).
• Sprinkle baked puff with powdered sugar.

LOUKOUMADES

Steps:

• Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water in a small bowl. The water should be no more than 100 degrees F (40 degrees C). Let stand for 5 minutes until the yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam. In a large bowl, mix the warm milk, sugar, and salt, and mix to dissolve. Pour the yeast mixture into the milk mixture, and stir to combine.
• Beat in the butter, eggs, and flour until the mixture forms a smooth, soft dough. Cover the bowl, and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 30 minutes. Stir the dough well, cover, and let rise 30 more minutes.
• Mix honey and 1/2 cup of water in a saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Turn off the heat and let the honey syrup cool.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Oil should be about 2 inches deep.
• Place a large table or soup spoon in a glass of water near the batter. Scoop up about 2 tablespoons of dough per puff with the wet spoon, drop it into the wet palm of your hand, and roll it back into the spoon to create a round shape. Do not overhandle the puffy, soft dough. Drop the dough balls into the hot oil in batches, wetting the spoon each time you make a dough ball. Fry in the hot oil until golden brown on the bottom, and roll them over to cook the other side, 2 to 3 minutes per batch. Gently set the loukoumades aside to drain on paper towels.
• Place the loukoumades on a baking sheet, drizzle them with honey syrup, and sprinkle with cinnamon. Serve warm.

LOUKOUMADES (HONEY PUFFS)

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl combine milk, flour and brandy.
• Beat until batter is thick and bubbly.
• Fill a large heavy pan with oil to a depth of at least 2". If possible it is better to use an electric deep fryer or electric fry pan because of the constant controlled temperature.
• Heat the oil to 375-400*. Work in a well ventilated room.
• Drop batter from teaspoon or tablespoon into hot oil.
• Dip spoon in cup of cold water each time before dipping in batter so batter will not stick to spoon.
• Fry 4-5 loukoumades at a time turning often until puffed and golden on all sides. The frying process usually takes 2-4 minutes.
• Remove from oil and drain in colander or in bowl lined with paper towels.
• Heat honey and 2 Tblsp. of water in a saucepan.
• To serve, arrange hot Loukoumades on a platter and pour hot honey over each one. Sprinkle with cinnamon. If desired, sprinkle with chopped walnuts.Serve hot and immediately.
• Left over cooked dry Loukoumades may be wrapped in plastic or aluminum foil and frozen. When ready to use, defrost completely, place uncovered on ungreased baking sheet and heat through in preheated moderate oven. Serve with honey, cinnamon and finely chopped walnuts as above.

HANUKKAH HONEY COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease cookie sheet. In large bowl, mix 1/3 cup powdered sugar, the butter, honey, 1 teaspoon almond extract and egg. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt until well blended.
• On lightly floured, cloth-covered surface, roll dough 1/8 inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters. Place about 1 inch apart on cookie sheet.
• Bake 7 to 8 minutes or until light brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.
• For almond glaze, in medium bowl, mix 2 cups powdered sugar, 1/4 teaspoon almond extract and 2 tablespoons water until smooth. Stir in remaining 1 tablespoon water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until spreadable.
• For blue frosting, in another medium bowl, mix 1 cup powdered sugar and enough water to make frosting that can be easily drizzled or used in a decorating bag yet hold its shape. Stir in 3 or 4 drops food color.
• Spread almond glaze over cookies. Decorate with blue frosting.