Struffoli (Honey Balls)

Ever since I was a little girl I loved eating these tasty honey balls, also known as struffoli, at Christmas. The dough isn't super sweet but the honey it's soaked in sure is, & there really isn't anything better except for the special sprinkles that I hoard specifically for decorating these every Christmas.

It's become tradition that I now make honey balls with my Great Grandma Borgia's recipe for Christmas Eve at my grandparent's house (for the 7 fishes!). Like the food we eat at Christmas I feel it all tastes better when it is shared, so I'm sharing this family recipe with you!

Merry Christmas!

Click through for our family recipe.



Ingredients:

• 3 eggs
• ⅓ cup sugar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon (warm) water
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons soft butter
• Oil for frying
• 2-3 cups honey
• Sprinkles

Make it!

1. Beat the first  5 ingredients together.
2. Sift flour & baking powder together.
3. Make the sifted mixture into a well.
4. Pour in the beaten mixture into the center.
5. Mix well. Add in butter, until dough-like.
6. Turn dough onto floured board.
7. Knead until smooth (add flour if needed).
8. Cover & let rest for 1 hour.
9. Divide the dough in ½. take pieces & roll out into long thick strips (thickness of a pencil).
10. Heat a couple inches of vegetable oil in a deep pot (I feel it cuts down on the splattering if the pot is deeper).
11. Cut dough up into little pieces, about the width of your pinkie finger.
12. Deep fry pieces until golden brown. Let pieces cool on paper towels or a brown bag laid out flat to absorb extra oil.
13. In a small sauce pot heat honey, add orange zest &/or a teaspoon of vanilla extract for a little something extra.
14. Pour honey over the dough balls. 
15. Top with sprinkles.
16. Store in a sealed container so honey & sprinkles don't end up everywhere ;)