Strufoli - Italian Honey Balls

By ldijoe

Struffoli is an Italian dish made of deep fried balls of dough about the size of marbles. Crunchy on the outside and light inside, this is a great party dessert.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cup flour
• 4 eggs
• 1 egg yolk
• 1/4 cup shortening melted
• 1/2 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• dash salt
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 2 cups oil for frying
• 1 1/2 cups honey
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• colored non-pareils

Details

Servings 12
Preparation time 10mins
Cooking time 30mins

Preparation

Step 1

Place flour on board, making a well in the center. Place eggs, egg yolk, shortening, sugar, salt and lemon peel into the well.

Mix well, working the dough with your hands. Shape into very small balls, the size of marbles.

Let dough balls rest about 20 minutes, covered with clean towel.

Heat oil in deep pot. Oil should be at a temperature of 350°F. Drop the balls, a few at a time into the hot oil. They'll float, just turn them around a bit for even browning.

Melt honey in a saucepan and add orange zest.

As soon as the balls are fried, take them from the oil directly to the honey pot. Let the float around in there for about 30 seconds.

Take them out of the honey with a slotted spoon, placing them on a platter, piling hem into a conical shape.

Sprinkle with non-pareils while the honey is still warm.