Struffoli (Neapolitan Honey Balls)
Tiny crisp fried dough balls tossed in warm orange honey and piled into a festive wreath.
- Time1 hr 30
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £0.35 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Mix the flour, eggs, 40 g sugar, butter, both zests and the salt into a soft dough. Knead for 5 minutes until smooth. Wrap and rest for 30 minutes.
30 min - 2
Divide the dough into 6. Roll each piece into a rope 1 cm thick and cut into pea-sized pieces, about 1 cm long.
- 3
Heat the oil in a deep pan to a medium heat, about 170 C. A dough scrap should sizzle and turn golden in 30 seconds.
- 4
Fry the pieces in small handfuls for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring, until puffed and golden. Drain on kitchen paper.
2 min 30 s - 5
Gently heat the honey, 50 g sugar and water in a large wide pan for 3 minutes until runny and bubbling lightly.
3 min - 6
Tip in the dough balls and toss gently to coat. Pile onto a plate in a ring, scatter with sprinkles and leave to set for 30 minutes. Break off pieces with a spoon.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
