One of my earliest childhood Christmas memories is of those small round dough balls piled high, covered with honey and then sprinkled with colorful confetti. Struffoli ~ my Grandmother Clara made it every Christmas and it was a treat I looked forward to. I know, some will say "I'm crazy for frying ", but these light-weight and well-drained dough balls are a delight not to be missed. I am thankful I obtained this recipe before Grandma passed on. By the way, Grandma Clara liked Patsy's music too!
Grandma Clara's Struffoli
You'll need:
In a large bowl, blend the flour,sugar,and baking powder. Mix butter with a fork, then blend in the vanilla and the eggs, one at a time. The batter should be thick at this point. Knead the mix for about 5 minutes, until smooth, using floured hands when the dough gets sticky. Place the dough on floured surface and
form into large ball. Lightly dust dough with flour, cover with a clean cloth, and let sit for about
1/2 hour. Divide the large ball into 2 smaller balls. Roll each dough ball into 1/2 -inch rolls. Cut each roll into 1/2 -inch round pieces.
In a deep skillet, heat enough oil for frying. Drop the
balls (about 10-12 at a time) into the oil, and fry until light & golden (seconds). Drain thoroughly on paper towels.
While struffoli is still warm, place in large mixing bowl.
Heat honey in a small saucepan and drizzle it over the struffoli
stirring gently. Make sure all the struffoli is lightly coated
with the honey. While still warm, pile struffoli high in a mound on a platter. Sprinkle with confetti.
This recipe is a wonderful and colorful addition to any holiday dessert table. Why not add it to yours. Enjoy!