Struffoli/pignolata (aka Honey Balls)

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 6 eggs (regular size)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons canola oil
• 2 1/2-3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated lemon, rind of (optional)
• 1 quart canola oil (for fryng)
• 1 (1 lb) jar honey (clover or orange blossom)
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated orange rind (optional)
• flour, for dusting
• tiny round colored sprinkles (for decorating)

Recipe

• 1 in a large bowl beat eggs, sugar, grated lemon peel (if desired), and 1 1/2 teaspoons oil until foamy.
• 2 gradually add flour and baking powder.
• 3 *using your hands, mix and knead the mixture well, forming a dough.
• 4 knead the dough until smooth.
• 5 (*a kitchen aid mixer with a dough hook may be used for mixing/kneading the dough).
• 6 form dough into a ball.
• 7 place dough on a lightly floured surface, and divide dough into 8 to 10 smaller balls.
• 8 on a lightly floured surface, roll each ball into a"rope" about a 1/2 inch wide, and 10 inches long.
• 9 using a sharp knife, cut each rope into 1/3 inch pieces.
• 10 (optional, pieces may be rolled into balls about the size of marbles).
• 11 dust cut pieces with a bit of flour.
• 12 heat oil in a frying pan or deep fat fryer to a temperature of 375°f.
• 13 shake off excess flour, and fry the bits of dough (in small batches) until puffy and golden brown.
• 14 do not crowd the frying pan or fryer.
• 15 remove each batch of balls with a slotted spoon and place on heavy brown paper (or paper towels) to drain.
• 16 continue frying until all the balls have been fried.
• 17 place drained, fried balls into a large mixing bowl (or disposable roasting pan).
• 18 pour the honey into a large frying pan, and heat until bubbly, remove from heat.
• 19 (honey may be thinned with 2 to 3 tablespoons of water to make a less sticky/sweet coating).
• 20 stir in grated orange peel (if desired) and pour honey mixture over the fried dough balls.
• 21 with a wooden spoon, gently stir and toss the balls until all are evenly coated with honey.
• 22 using hands (or a spoon), place honey coated balls on to a large plate (or pie tin), mounding them into a cone/pyramid shape.
• 23 sprinkle with colored sprinkles.
• 24 note: if struffoli are too sticky to handle while shaping, slightly wet hands with cold water to help keep them from sticking to your hands while shaping.