Struffoli (Neapolitan honey dough balls)
Tiny crisp fried dough balls tossed in warm orange scented honey and piled into a wreath. The sweet centrepiece of Christmas in Naples.
- Time1 hr 45
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £0.45 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
Put the flour, eggs, 2 tbsp sugar, dairy free spread, orange zest, rum and salt in a bowl. Mix and knead for 5 minutes into a smooth, firm dough. Cover and rest for 30 minutes.
30 min - 2
Cut the dough into 6 pieces. Roll each into a rope about 1 cm thick, then cut into pea sized pieces. Toss them in a little flour.
- 3
Heat the oil in a deep, heavy pan to 170C, or until a piece of dough sizzles and turns golden in about 30 seconds. Never leave hot oil unattended.
- 4
Fry the dough balls in small batches for 2 to 3 minutes, turning, until puffed and golden. Lift out with a slotted spoon onto kitchen paper.
3 min - 5
In a large wide pan, gently heat the honey with 50 g sugar for 3 minutes, until the sugar dissolves and it bubbles softly.
3 min - 6
Tip the fried balls into the honey and stir gently for 1 minute until all are glossy and coated.
- 7
Pile onto a plate or shape into a ring around a glass. Scatter over the sprinkles and cool for 20 minutes, until sticky and set. Break off pieces to eat with your fingers.
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.
