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Homemade Struffoli Recipe
5 from 21 votes

Homemade Struffoli Recipe

Homemade Struffoli are small fried dough balls flavored with citrus zest and anise liqueur, coated in a honey-sugar syrup and garnished with sprinkles and candied fruit. The dough is kneaded well, rested, divided, and rolled out into thin strips cut into tiny pieces before frying to achieve a crisp exterior and soft interior. After frying, the balls are sticky and sweet, suitable for shaping into rings or mounds as a traditional Italian dessert.

Prep Time
40 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Additional Time
5 mins
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
Servings: 12
Calories: 336 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian, American

Ingredients

For the Struffoli:
  • 3 ½ cups 00 flour
  • orange zest of 1
  • lemon zest of 1
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt sea salt
  • 6 tablespoons lard or unsalted butter
  • 4 egg large
  • 2 tablespoons anise liqueur
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons water cold
  • Sprinkles
  • candied fruit or citron
For the Syrup
  • 1 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 vanilla bean seeds extracted, pod

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. On a clean surface, mix together the flour, sugar, salt, lemon zest, and orange zest until combined.
  2. Next, cut in the fat using a pastry blender or better yet your fingers, like in my S cookies recipe, to make sure it is mixed in with the dry ingredients and no bigger than the size of couscous.
  3. Form a well in the center for the flour.
  4. Add in the eggs and anise liqueur and whisk together using a fork in the well.
  5. Start to bring in the dry ingredients with the fork to combine.
  6. Using a bench knife or your hands, bring the ingredients together.
  7. You may need 1 to 2 tablespoons of water if it’s too dry or 1 to 2 tablespoons of flour if it's too wet.
  8. Knead the dough for at least 5 to 7 minutes, but 10 to 12 minutes is recommended.
  9. When finished, the dough should be smooth and soft. Transfer it to a bowl and cover it in plastic wrap and let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
  10. Transfer the dough to a clean surface and divide the dough into 4 big pieces.
  11. Individually roll them out using your hands into long ropes about ½” thick.
  12. Then simply using a knife or a bench knife (Aff link), cut them into small pieces.
  13. Coat the dough balls in a little flour and mix.
  14. Fry the dough balls in batches in your favorite neutral-flavored oil heated to 350° for only 1 to 2 minutes or until lightly browned while occasionally stirring it to ensure all sides are brown.
  15. Set them to the side on paper towels to drain.
  16. In a large-size pot, over low heat together the honey, sugar, and vanilla beans while constantly stirring with a spoon until the sugar is dissolved.
  17. Add the fried dough balls to the honey and sugar mixture and coat by mixing with a spoon or rubber spatula.
  18. Transfer to a plate and garnish with sprinkles and any citron you may want. Serve.

Notes

  • The dough can be prepared up to one day in advance and kept covered at room temperature or refrigerated for up to three days.
  • The dough requires thorough kneading for at least 5 minutes to develop gluten for elasticity.
  • Allow the dough to rest for 30 minutes before shaping to avoid toughness.
  • Fry the dough pieces in small batches to avoid clumping and ensure even frying.
  • Coating the fried dough while the syrup is still warm helps the struffoli stick together.
  • Shape the struffoli into rings or mounds as desired before the syrup sets.
  • The finished struffoli are best slightly reheated to soften the texture before serving.

Nutrition Information

Calories 336kcal (17%) Carbohydrates 61g (20%) Protein 6g (12%) Fat 8g (12%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g (6%) Monounsaturated Fat 3g (15%) Trans Fat 0.01g (1%) Cholesterol 61mg (20%) Sodium 120mg (5%) Potassium 74mg (2%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 33g (66%) Vitamin A 79IU (2%) Vitamin C 0.1mg (0%) Calcium 16mg (2%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 336

% Daily Value*

Calories 336kcal 17%
Carbohydrates 61g 20%
Protein 6g 12%
Fat 8g 12%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 3g 15%
Trans Fat 0.01g 1%
Cholesterol 61mg 20%
Sodium 120mg 5%
Potassium 74mg 2%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 33g 66%
Vitamin A 79IU 2%
Vitamin C 0.1mg 0%
Calcium 16mg 2%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.