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Struffoli

These are a typical southern Italian treat for Christmas and New Years! This is a family traditional dish that we make every year!
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine Italian

Ingredients
  

  • 5 cups unsifted flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons white wine or 3 tablespoons water +1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 6 eggs beaten
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 24 oz jar of honey
  • Colored sprinkles

Instructions
 

  • Place flour into sifter, add baking powder and salt and sift onto pastry board.
  • Make a well in the middle of the sifted ingredients.
  • In a bowl, beat the eggs well.
  • Pour about half of the eggs into the well and start to blend together with the flour.
  • Add the wine, oil and the rest of the egg mixture and knead until a soft dough forms.
  • Cut the dough into 4 equal parts with a knife or pastry cutter, place 1 of the parts to the side and
  • cover the rest of the dough with a cloth.
  • Using a knife, cut the dough into 4-5 equally-sized sections.
  • Roll each section into a long, thin rope about 1/4"-thick.
  • Slice the ropes into approximately 1/4"-wide pieces.
  • Add dough cut balls to a plate, sprinkling them with flour, this is so the dough balls don't stick together.
  • Add oil to a saucepan with tall sides (with about a 3-quart capacity) and place over medium heat.
  • Once oil reaches 375°F, add the dough balls, small batches are best, do not overcrowd the saucepan.
  • Fry them for a few minutes, until they turn golden to lightly golden-brown.
  • Remove the dough balls from the oil and place them on a plate lined with paper towels or onto paper bags, to absorb excess oil.
  • Repeat and continue with the remaining dough and frying in batches.
  • Place a layer or two of paper towels on the plate between batches.
  • Let dough balls cool then place in a bowl.
  • Once you are done frying and everything is cooled down.
  • Heat honey in a small saucepan until it's warmed and has thinned.
  • Pour some of the dough balls into the honey, toss to coat, and remove with a slotted spoon.
  • Place the honey covered dough balls on a serving plate, sprinkle with sprinkles.
  • And repeat until all of the dough balls are covered in honey and plated.
  • You can pour the excess honey over the top of the "struffies"
  • Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Notes

You can also fry in the air fryer at 375F for about 8-12 minutes.