Best Struffoli Recipes

STRUFFOLI

Steps:

• For the dough: In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together 2 cups of flour, lemon zest, orange zest, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Add the eggs, wine, and vanilla. Pulse until the mixture forms into a ball. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Cut the dough into 4 equal-sized pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each piece of dough until 1/4-inch thick. Cut each piece of dough into 1/2-inch wide strips. Cut each strip of pastry into 1/2-inch pieces. Roll each piece of dough into a small ball about the size of a hazelnut. Lightly dredge the dough balls in flour, shaking off any excess. In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour enough oil to fill the pan about a third of the way. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 375 degrees F. (If you don't have a thermometer a cube of bread will brown in about 3 minutes.). In batches, fry the dough until lightly golden, about 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. (The rested and quartered dough can also be rolled on a floured work surface into 1/2-inch thick logs and cut into equal-sized 1/2-inch pieces. The dough pieces can then be rolled into small balls and fried as above).
• In a large saucepan, combine the honey, sugar, and lemon juice over medium heat. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the fried dough and hazelnuts and stir until coated in the honey mixture. Allow the mixture to cool in the pan for 2 minutes.
• Spray the outside of a small, straight-sided water glass with vegetable oil cooking spray and place in the center of a round platter. Using a large spoon or damp hands, arrange the struffoli and hazelnuts around the glass to form a wreath shape. Drizzle any remaining honey mixture over the struffoli. Allow to set for 2 hours (can be made 1 day in advance). Decorate with sprinkles and dust with powdered sugar, if using. Remove the glass from the center of the platter and serve.

STRUFFOLI O CICERCHIATA (ITALIAN HONEY DOUGH BALLS)

Steps:

• Mix flour, eggs, butter, sugar, egg yolk, lemon zest, rum extract, and salt together in a large bowl to create a soft dough. Cover with plastic wrap; let stand for 30 minutes.
• Roll dough into a thin log the width of your pinky finger, about 1/4 inch. Cut log into small pieces; roll into balls. Dust with flour to prevent from sticking.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan. Place a few balls of dough in a sieve to shake off excess flour. Cook in the hot oil until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate using a slotted spoon. Repeat with remaining balls of dough.
• Pour honey into a saucepan over low heat. Cook until a small amount of honey dropped into cold water forms a soft ball. Add fried balls of dough to the hot honey; stir gently with a wooden spoon until coated.
• Rinse a serving plate and shake off the water. Pile dough balls onto the serving plate in the shape of a dome or ring using damp hands or a damp wooden spoon. Garnish with sugar sprinkles. Let cool completely.

STRUFFOLI

Steps:

• Beat eggs, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, and vanilla extract together in a bowl; stir in baking powder. Slowly stir flour, about 1 tablespoon at a time, into egg mixture until a soft dough forms. Roll dough into small balls.
• Heat 2 cups vegetable oil in a large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) or until you see little waves on the bottom of the saucepan.
• Working in small batches, fry dough balls in the hot oil until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes per batch. Transfer struffoli to a paper towel-lined plate using a slotted spoon.
• Heat honey in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Slowly mix 1/2 cup sugar, a few tablespoons at a time, into honey until sugar is melted and glaze is smooth, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer struffoli to a large bowl and pour glaze over the top; toss quickly to evenly coat before glaze hardens.
• Form struffoli into a tower-shape or Christmas tree-shape on a serving plate. Sprinkle nonpareils sprinkles over the struffoli.

ITALIAN HONEY BALLS (PIGNOLATA OR STRUFFOLI)

Steps:

• Mix dough ingredients well. Knead on floured board. Let dough rest for a while.
• Roll dough into 1/4 inch thick pieces.
• Cut dough into 1/4 strips and roll thin (thinner than a pencil).
• Cut off pieces of rolls making tiny pieces (smaller than peas).
• Deep fry in oil. Drain well on paper towels.
• Meanwhile heat honey and sugar. Boil for 15 minutes.
• Stir hot syrup into dough pieces. Stir in almonds.
• Using finger tips dipped in ice water carefully pour mixture onto board. Make into individual size cirles (golf ball size).
• Warning this is very hot so use cooled fingers and spatula to shape but you must work quickly as it hardens quickly.
• Some put sprinkles on top but that is optional.

NEAPOLITAN STRUFFOLI

Steps:

• Combine flour, lemon zest, orange zest, baking powder, and salt together in a food processor; pulse to combine. Mix eggs and sugar together in a separate bowl; add 1/3 cup olive oil and vanilla extract and beat again. Mix together with flour mixture using hands to knead.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Heat frying oil in a deep saucepan over medium heat until the temperature reaches 375 degrees F (190 degrees C), about 5 minutes.
• Transfer dough to a floured work surface; continue to knead sticky dough with floured hands. Flatten dough into a thin loaf about 10 inches long. Cut long ropes from the loaf, then slice ropes into 1/2-inch pieces and transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
• Fry dough pieces in batches in the hot oil until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels.
• Heat honey in a saucepan until warm and fluid, about 1 minute. Pour hot honey over struffoli and toss to coat. Sprinkle with multi-colored sprinkles.

STRUFFOLI

Steps:

• Put the Crisco and sugar in bowl of mixer. Beat till blended and light.
• Add eggs and vanilla extract. Beat till blended.
• Add 2 cups of flour and mix well. Add more flour in half cup measurements till you have a nice rollable dough.
• Divide the dough and with a floured counter top and hands roll into long ropes between 1/4"-1/2" thick and then cut ropes with a bread knife into about 1/4" balls. This may seem like it will take a long time but it goes very quickly as I enlist my whole family to take part.
• Fry the balls in hot oil till they are golden brown. Remove and put the fried balls in a bowl (with paper towel on bottom) large enough to hold all the struffoli. Remove the paper towel once all struffoli are done.
• Heat 1 cup of honey in a small saucepan. No need to make it too hot, just warm. Pour honey over the struffoli balls. Sprinkle with walnuts and in our family's case chocolate sprinkles.
• The struffoli can then be put into whatever serving dish you like. I use one with a lid as they should be covered when stored. In my house that is on the kitchen island for easy munching.
• After they have sat over night they will need a good stir as the honey sets to the bottom. They may need more honey as well as they absorb it as they sit.

STRUFFOLI

Steps:

• Get out a large, rimmed baking sheet and shake the semolina over the base. And get out another tray (it doesn't have to be a baking sheet) and line it with a double layer of paper towels. Set both aside while you get on with the dough.
• Beat the eggs, sugar, finely grated lemon zest, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil until frothy. Gradually add about 2 2/3 cups of the flour and the baking powder, and mix to a dough. If it is too sticky, then add more flour and keep kneading, using either your hands or a freestanding mixer fitted with a dough hook, until you have a smooth, pliable dough. This doesn't take very long: probably around 3 minutes or 5 by hand.
• Flour your work surface and turn out your dough. Then divide the dough into 10 roughly equal pieces, each about the size of a golf ball. Take 1 ball and roll it into a rope approx. 1/2 inch thick, then with floury hands divide this into about 20 small pieces, and roll each piece between your hands (flouring them again if this helps) to make marble-sized balls.
• Place the formed balls of dough on the semolina-sprinkled baking sheet, as you shape them. Repeat the process with the remaining golf-ball-sized portions of dough: you should make a staggering 200 of the tiny balls!
• Heat the vegetable oil in a wide, heavy pan-about 11 inches diameter and at least 6 inches deep-and then when the oil is at 375°F but no higher (you can leave a preserving or candy thermometer in, if you want), or a piece of bread sizzles and browns immediately when dropped in the pan, you can begin to cook the dough balls. Regulate the temperature and keep a careful eye on the pan and the oil all the time.
• Gently lower, using a mesh scoop or perforated spoon, about 15 little dough balls at a time. At first they will sink and then, as they cook, they'll float to the surface and begin to turn golden brown. This will take up to about 1 minute depending on how many you have in at a time, but be ready to fish them out with your mesh scoop or perforated spoon onto the paper towel-lined tray as soon as they become the right golden color. And keep watching your pan.
• Continue to cook them in batches-making sure the oil returns to the correct temperature but doesn't get too hot or bubble too vigorously-until they are all fried; you can pile them up on the tray without harm. Now turn off the heat under the oil pan, and move on to the adhesive and assembly stage.
• Pour the honey into a roasting pan that can go on the stove, and heat very gently until it becomes runny-a matter of moments, so do not leave the pan-then take it off the heat.
• Tip all of the fried dough balls into the warmed honey and, using a soft spatula, turn them gently to coat them. Get out a large plate or cake stand with a slight lip or rim and, with wet hands, check the balls are not too hot then pick up the sticky balls and arrange them around the outer edge of the plate in the shape of a bobbly wreath, leaving just a small empty circle in the middle. Do not worry about symmetry or perfection or counting dough balls here, please.
• Wash the honey from your hands and shake your chosen sprinkles over the sticky wreath, then stand back and admire, before placing your creation where others can do likewise. These struffoli are best, to my mind, eaten on the day they're made. Use a scoop or spoon and fork to serve. It will be a sticky affair, but that's part of their charm.

STRUFFOLI (FRIED DOUGH WITH HONEY AND ALMONDS)

Steps:

• Combine flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl. Mix together butter, orange-blossom water, vanilla and anise extracts, and egg in another bowl. Pour into flour mixture. Mix well, adding ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until dough is stiff but not crumbly.
• Roll out dough to 3/8-inch thickness on a lightly floured cutting board. Cut dough into 3/8-inch-wide strips, then cut crosswise into 3/8-inch squares. Roll each piece into a ball, transferring to a lightly floured surface as you work.
• Heat 2 inches oil in a medium heavy saucepan until a deep-fry thermometer registers 375 degrees. Working in batches, fry dough, stirring, until golden. Remove fried dough from oil using a wire-mesh skimmer, and transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Heat honey, remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, and 3 tablespoons water in a small saucepan until sugar dissolves. Working in batches, dip struffoli in honey sauce until well coated, and transfer to a sieve set over a bowl to drain; reserve honey sauce. Mound struffoli on a platter, pour remaining and reserved honey sauce over top, and sprinkle with almonds and nonpareils.

WANDI'S, NEAPOLITIN BALLS OR STRUFFOLI

Steps:

• 1. Blend the flour, sugar and baking powder in a large bowl. Mix in the butter with a pastry blender or fork. Blend in the vanilla and eggs 2 at a time. The batter should be like very thick cookie dough.
• 2. Knead the dough for 5 minutes until very smooth. Flour your hands when the dough gets sticky. Place the dough on a floured board and form into a large ball, dust lightly with flour and cover with a clean cloth and let sit for 30 minutes.
• 3. STRUFFOLI/WANDI'S: Roll the dough into a rectangle about 1/4" thick and cut into strips about 1 1/2" wide and 10" to 12" long. Shape into bows or roll into semi loose coils. Fry in hot oil and dust with powdered sugar while still warm.
• 4. NEAPOLITAN BALLS: Divide dough into 4 parts. Roll each part into a long rope about 1/2" thick and cut into 1/2" pieces. Fry pieces in hot oil until golden brown and crispy, drizzle with warm honey. Can add a pinch of orange or lemon peel to the honey for extra flavor. Decorate with colored sprinkles after drizzling with honey or omit the honey and dust with powdered sugar.

STRUFFOLI (HONEY BALLS)

Steps:

• Beat together eggs, sugar, and oil until foamy. Add flour and baking soda slowly while kneading. Knead the dough until it forms a smooth ball.
• Divide into 8 smaller balls. Roll each ball into a rope 1/2 inch across, and cut into pieces 1/3-1/2 inch long. Flour each piece lightly to prevent them from sticking together. Fry dough in oil at 375 until golden brown and puffy. Drain well. Arrange fried dough in a tray or mixing bowl.
• Prepare Honey Glaze, and pour over fried dough turn dough until evenly coated with Honey Glaze.
• Honey Glaze directions:.
• Boil liquid ingredients until thick remove from heat, and pour over cake.
• Arrange in a pyramid on a serving plate, and cover with candy sprinkles or slivered almonds.
• Cool before serving.

STRUFFOLI- HONEY BALLS ALA LIDIA RECIPE - (5/5)

Steps:

• 1. Pulse together flour, 1 tbsp sugar, lemon zest, orange zest, cinnamon, and salt in food processor. In separate bowl whisk together eggs and vanilla. Add egg mixture to food processor- drop in butter pieces- process until smooth- place dough in plastic wrap- let sit for 1 hour at room tempreature. Make the syrup- place honey, remaining 1/2 cup sugar and 1/3 cup water into skillet and on medium heat bring to boil- 6-7 minutes. In another side skillet- heat the vegetable oil, 365 degrees. Cut the dough into piece and roll into 1/2 inch thick length- cut with pasta knife into hazelnut pieces- take each piece and roll dough in hands and make round. Place in frying oil- cook until golden broan. remove from skillet and place on paper towels. Place the stuffoli balls into the honey syrup, and toss around until fully coated. Place on plate in layers and form cone/Christmas tree form. PLace sprinkles on top and pieces of diced marichino cherries.

STRUFFOLI (ITALIAN HONEY BALLS)

Steps:

• 1. Beat eggs with vanilla and salt. Stir in enough flour to make a soft managable dough. Mix well.
• 2. Toss onto floured board or countertop and knead 5 minutes til smooth. Cut in half and wrap in parchment paper ( flour the balls so you can get them off the paper!).
• 3. Set aside and place in a cool place for 30 minutes to rest.
• 4. Take pieces of dough and on floured countertop, roll into rope like shapes. Cut each into very tiny pieces.( 1/4" pieces). Spread on lightly floured surface and let them rest again for another 30 minutes.
• 5. Heat oil in heavy medium size saucepan and place balls into pan in batches, keeping an eye on them as they brown very quickly. Drain each batch on paper towels.
• 6. Pour sugar, honey and zest into medium pan and heat to dissolve sugar. Place all the balls into the pan and stir to coat all.
• 7. Pile them onto a pretty plate into a cone shape. Sprinkle with colored sprinkles.

GRANDMA HELEN'S STRUFFOLI

Steps:

• Mix all dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
• Add all liquid ingredients (Except honey) to dry to form a dough.
• Knead dough well to incorporate all ingredients.
• For balls roll dough out in 1/4 inch round strips like pencils.
• Cut the pieces at small intervals with an angle cut.
• How far apart you make the cut is your judgment call, as the smaller the spacing the smaller the balls and vice versa.
• Mom likes the look leaving them as is with the angle cut giving a unique shape to the balls as they fry.
• If you prefer perfectly rounded balls, you can roll the pieces in the palms of your hands like miniature meatballs before frying.
• For ribbons cut some of the dough in flat strips about 1/2 inch wide preferably using a crimped edge cutting wheel as it gives a fancy serrated edge to them.
• Form loops or bow shapes with the ribbons and deep fry balls and ribbons separately until golden brown (ribbons as they are flat will cook quicker than the balls).
• Drain on absorbent paper.
• Heat honey in a deep pot until it starts to thin out and become pourable.
• Remove from heat.
• Dip bows and ribbons in warm honey and set aside.
• Add balls to the honey and toss to coat.
• Transfer balls to holiday platter and top with the ribbons and bows.
• Or you can mound the balls to look like a Christmas tree and decorate with bows on the sides.
• Sprinkle with multi colored sprinkles.

STRUFFOLI/PIGNOLATA (AKA HONEY BALLS)

Steps:

• In a large bowl beat eggs, sugar, grated lemon peel (if desired), and 1 1/2 teaspoons oil until foamy.
• Gradually add flour and baking powder.
• *Using your hands, mix and knead the mixture well, forming a dough.
• Knead the dough until smooth.
• (*A Kitchen Aid mixer with a dough hook may be used for mixing/kneading the dough).
• Form dough into a ball.
• Place dough on a lightly floured surface, and divide dough into 8 to 10 smaller balls.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll each ball into a"rope" about a 1/2 inch wide, and 10 inches long.
• Using a sharp knife, cut each rope into 1/3 inch pieces.
• (Optional, pieces may be rolled into balls about the size of marbles).
• Dust cut pieces with a bit of flour.
• Heat oil in a frying pan or deep fat fryer to a temperature of 375°F.
• Shake off excess flour, and fry the bits of dough (in small batches) until puffy and golden brown.
• DO NOT crowd the frying pan or fryer.
• Remove each batch of balls with a slotted spoon and place on heavy brown paper (or paper towels) to drain.
• Continue frying until all the balls have been fried.
• Place drained, fried balls into a large mixing bowl (or disposable roasting pan).
• Pour the honey into a large frying pan, and heat until bubbly, remove from heat.
• (Honey may be thinned with 2 to 3 Tablespoons of water to make a less sticky/sweet coating).
• Stir in grated orange peel (if desired) and pour honey mixture over the fried dough balls.
• With a wooden spoon, gently stir and toss the balls until all are evenly coated with honey.
• Using hands (or a spoon), place honey coated balls on to a large plate (or pie tin), mounding them into a cone/pyramid shape.
• Sprinkle with colored sprinkles.
• NOTE: If struffoli are too sticky to handle while shaping, slightly wet hands with cold water to help keep them from sticking to your hands while shaping.

STRUFFOLI RECIPE AND HISTORY - TRADITIONAL ITALIAN HONEY BALLS

Steps:

• Let the butter soften 30 minutes into the oven turned off with the light on, then cut it into pieces and stir with a fork until smooth and inflated.
• After that, grate the lemon and orange to obtain zests.
• Now, crack the eggs and pour them into a bowl along with the sugar, the softened butter, the lemon and orange zests, 2 drops of Rum or Brandy, 1 drop of Anise flavor, and 1 pinch of salt.
• Finally, whisk until consistent.
• Add the flour, a little at a time into the butter and eggs mixture.
• Pouring the flour, pinch the dough with your fingers until the liquid will be absorbed by the flour, creating a sort of pastry crumbs.
• Now, compact and stretch out the crumbs until obtaining a consistent dough.
• Eventually, wrap the dough ant store into the lower part of the fridge at least 2 hours.
• Take a fistful of dough and roll it into a log 1/2 inch thick.
• Now, reduce the log into pieces 1/2 inch long. After that, pour the sesame oil into a pot and place over medium heat until reach 356° F (180° C).
• Eventually, fry the Struffoli a little at a time until golden, then place on paper towels to dry the oil in excess.
• Pour the honey into a nonstick pan, big enough to contain Struffoli.
• Place the pan over low heat and stir until fluid.
• Finally, place the pan far from the heat and add Struffoli and sweet decorations.
• It is possible to serve Struffoli just prepared, but the following days they will be even more delicious!

STRUFFOLI

Steps:

• Break the eggs and whisk. Put eggs through a strainer to make sure they are mixed properly. Add sugar to eggs and mix immediately to prevent sugar from burning eggs. Bring butter to room temperature. Flake butter into the flour.
• Split vanilla beans and scrape out the seeds and add them to the sugar/egg mixture. Put mixture into a mixer and mix (using dough hook) and slowly add the flour. Let dough rest in a cool dry place.
• Roll out the dough into small quantities. Cut dough into 1/2-inch strips and cut 1/2-inch pieces from the strips. Place the 1/2-inch squares onto a baking pan.
• Put vegetable oil into a large pot and bring to 350 degrees. Fry small quantities of the dough squares in the oil and when golden brown, place onto a baking pan lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil. When all dough is fried, let cool to room temperature.
• In a saucepan, heat the honey (not to a boil) and add small quantities of the fried dough to the pan. Stir lightly with a large slotted spoon. Remove from saucepan and place onto a serving plate and sprinkle with candy sprinkles.

STRUFFOLI

Steps:

• Heat at least 2" of cooking oil in a pan until its very hot. Place flour and salt into a large bowl. Make a well (indentation) in the center of flour and add the eggs one at a time, mixing slightly after each addition. Add the vanilla extract and mix well to make a soft dough. Turn dough on to a lightly floured surface and knead until soft and elastic.
• Divide dough into halves and lightly roll each half 1/4 inch thick to form a rectangle. Cut dough with a pastry cutter into strips 1/4" wide. Use the palm of your hand to roll strips to pencil thickness. Cut into pieces about 1/4" to 1/2" long.
• Fry only as many pieces of dough as will float one layer deep for 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly browned, turning occasionally. Drain before removing, and then place on several paper towels to absorb the excess oil.
• In a different pan heat the honey until it is hot. Add in the drained fried dough pieces. Stir constantly until all pieces are coated. Remove, place in a glass bowl and keep it in the refrigerator to cool slightly. Remove and sprinkle with the sprinkles!

STRUFFOLI-HONEY BALLS

Steps:

• 1. Mix all dry ingredients and then add wet ingredients and work it together until you have a smooth dough
• 2. Make a ball of the dough Refrig dough ½ hour. Will need extra flour for working dough Make a ball and cut into four pieces. Roll into ropes, cut and roll into small balls.
• 3. Drop into hot oil temperature 350 degrees, I use thermometer. Cook until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. I use Canola Oil, but can use peanut or vegetable oil
• 4. Melt honey and sugar until it is thin. Be careful not to over cook. Just melt enough so that it is blended. Place drained struffoli in big bowl, pour honey mixture and toss to cover struffoli. Add topping and enjoy. Must warn they are very addictive. Enjoy

STRUFFOLI - - NEAPOLITAN CHRISTMAS TREATS

Steps:

• Combine the ingredients for the dough to make a workable dough, knead it well, and let it sit for at least an hour, covered. Pluck off piece and roll them out under your fingers to form snakes about as thin as your pinkie, and cut them into quarter-inch long pieces. Fry the pieces a few at a time in hot oil until brown, and drain them on absorbent paper. Should the oil start to froth after a bit, and the froth overflow the pot, change the oil. Take a second, preferably round-bottomed pot and put the honey, sugar and water in it. Boil the mixture until the foam dies down and it begins to turn yellow. At this point reduce the heat as much as possible and add the struffoli and the diced candied fruit. Stir to distribute everything evenly through the honey and turn the mixture out onto a plate. Shape the mixture into a wreath with a hole in the middle, dipping your hands frequently into cold water lest you burn yourself. Sprinkle the candied fruit strips and the diavolilli over the ring and arrange the cherry halves evenly. Struffoli will keep a week or more if covered, and improves with age.

CHRISTMAS HONEY FRITTERS (STRUFFOLI)

Steps:

• 1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, eggs, yolk, half the lemon zest, the orange zest, salt, and limoncello. Stir with a wooden spoon to mix well, then knead into a firm dough, 8 to 10 minutes. Cover and allow to rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• 2. Cut the dough into golf ball-sized pieces. One at a time, roll each one into a 1/2-inch-thick rope, and cut into 1/2-inch-long pieces, and roll each piece into a ball. Place in a floured tray.
• 3. In a large deep pot, heat the oil to 375°F. Working in batches to avoid crowding the pan, fry the balls until dark golden brown, using a slotted spoon to turn them often; they will puff up while cooking. As they finish, transfer them to a tray lined with paper towels, to drain.
• 4. When all of the struffoli are cooked, combine the honey, lemon juice, and the remaining lemon zest in a wide 6-to 8-quart pot until quite warm (about 150°F) and substantially thinner. Add the struffoli and stir carefully until well coated. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes in the pot, stirring frequently.
• 5. Pour out the stroffoli onto a large serving tray in the form of a pyramid or a ring. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and serve.