Description
Struffoli Honey Balls are a delightful Italian dessert made with bite-sized fried dough balls coated in a sticky honey glaze enhanced by a natural gelling agent for a chewy texture. This easy-to-make treat uses simple pantry ingredients and offers a perfect balance of sweet, chewy, and crispy textures. Ideal for sharing at parties, gifting, or enjoying as a comforting snack, these Struffoli are customizable with spices, nuts, or drizzles to suit your taste.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend)
- ½ cup plant-based milk
- 1 tsp lemon zest (natural flavoring)
- 1 tsp vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
For Frying
- Oil for frying (e.g., vegetable or canola oil)
For the Honey Glaze
- 1 cup sweet honey
- 1 tsp natural gelling agent (e.g., agar or carrageenan)
Optional Garnishes
- Chopped smoked turkey slices
- Toasted plant-based nuts such as pistachios or almonds
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: Begin by mixing the flour, plant-based milk, lemon zest, and vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural) to form a soft but not sticky dough. Knead gently on a floured surface until smooth and elastic, about five to seven minutes.
- Roll and Cut the Dough: Divide the dough into smaller portions. Roll each portion into thin ropes approximately ½ cm thick. Using a sharp knife, slice the ropes into tiny bite-sized pieces resembling small pearls.
- Fry the Dough Balls: Heat oil in a deep pan to medium heat. Carefully drop the small dough pieces into the hot oil, frying in batches. Fry until golden brown on all sides, about 2-3 minutes per batch. Drain the fried balls on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Prepare the Honey Mixture: Warm the sweet honey gently in a saucepan with the natural gelling agent until smooth and slightly thickened. This mixture will act as a sticky glaze to bind the honey balls.
- Coat and Assemble: Combine the fried dough balls with the warm honey glaze, tossing gently to coat every piece evenly. Transfer the sticky cluster to a serving dish, shaping it into a festive mound or ring.
Notes
- Avoid over-kneading the dough to prevent tough texture.
- Maintain medium heat when frying to ensure golden crispiness without burning.
- Use fresh honey for better flavor and glaze consistency.
- Coat the fried balls promptly as the honey mixture thickens quickly, preventing clumping.
- Keep frying oil clean and refresh it if it darkens or smokes for optimal results.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 100g
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Struffoli, Honey Balls, Italian dessert, plant-based, sweet treat, bite-sized dessert
