Cicerchiata (Struffoli): a Honey Sweetened Italian Christmas Treat (Mini Pastry Balls in Honey)

Cicerchiata or struffoli are honey sweetened, traditional Italian Christmas treats. Little balls of pastry are deep fried and coated in honey; very good!

Originally published December 24, 2013.

You may remember the cioffe I made earlier this year: deep fried bows of lightly sweetened pastry?

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Well, this Christmas treat uses the exact same dough, but instead of rolling out the pastry thinly and shaping into bows, long, thin pieces of dough are rolled out and cut into tiny pieces and deep-fried. Here’s how to make “cicerchiata” (CHEE-cherr-KEY-ahta). This is more of a guide than a recipe as once the dough is made, amounts are not critical.

My nonna called this ‘cicerchiata’, but according to internet research, it seems that ‘struffoli’ is the name used during the Christmas holidays–I tried to get confirmation from my cousin Gianfranco in Italy, but after messaging him my questions, and not getting a clear answer, I told him he was fired! :)

 Cicerchiata or Struffoli

This will make two large open rings.

Ingredients

• 3 large eggs
• 1/4 cup (2 oz) sugar
• 1/4 cup (2 oz) Scotch whisky (or any similar, clear liquor)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 1/4 cups (12 oz) flour (WEIGH on a scale for best results)!
• oil for frying
• warm honey (preferably raw)
• colored sprinkles or dragées

Using a mixer, place eggs, sugar, salt, and whisky in a large bowl and mix for two minutes or so (if making by hand, combine the ingredients, and stir well with a wooden spoon.)

Add one cup (in UK, just use a regular cup-no need to measure) of flour and mix well. Next, add the remaining flour and mix until a slightly sticky dough forms. With hands, shape dough into a ball and refrigerate, covered, for about an hour.

Remove from fridge and cut dough in half. Keep one half covered and from the other half, cut a piece of dough and roll out into a long thin rope (about the thickness of a pencil). It doesn’t matter the size of dough you cut off, only that it’s the right thickness. 

Next, cut them into small pieces as in the photo below.

Deep fry these little guys (in small batches), which will puff up into small balls of pastry which look like ceci, or garbanzo beans.

When they turn a little brown, remove from the hot oil and place on a paper towel-lined plate.

When all of the dough is fried, mix with some warm honey.

and shape into a wreath, or place on a plate in a mound.

Finally, sprinkle with edible Christmas colored decorations, and/or silver dragees.

Allow to cool completely. The cicerchiata ring will become more firm when cool.

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Cicerchiata (Struffoli): a Honey Sweetened Italian Christmas Treat

Yield: 2 large rings

A traditional Italian fried dough treat, coated in honey.

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Ingredients

• 3 large eggs
• 1/4 cup (2 oz) sugar
• 1/4 cup (2 oz) Scotch whisky (or any similar, clear liquor)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 1/4 cups (12 oz) flour (WEIGH on a scale for best results)!
• oil for frying
• warm honey (preferably raw)
• colored sprinkles or dragées

Instructions

1. Using a mixer, place eggs, sugar, salt, and whisky in a large bowl and mix for two minutes or so (if making by hand, combine the ingredients, and stir well with a wooden spoon.)
2. Add one cup (in UK, just use a regular cup-no need to measure) of flour and mix well. Next, add the remaining flour and mix until a slightly sticky dough forms. With hands, shape dough into a ball and refrigerate, covered, for about an hour.
3. Remove from fridge and cut dough in half. Keep one half covered and from the other half, cut a piece of dough and roll out into a long thin rope (about the thickness of a pencil). It doesn’t matter the size of dough you cut off, only that it’s the right thickness. 
4. Next, cut them into small pieces.
5. Deep fry these little guys (in small batches), which will puff up into small balls of pastry which look like ceci, or garbanzo beans.
6. When they turn a little brown, remove from the hot oil and place on a paper towel-lined plate.
7. When all of the dough is fried, mix with some warm honey and shape into a wreath, or place on a plate in a mound. Finally, sprinkle with edible Christmas colored decorations, and/or silver dragées.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 20 Serving Size: 2 Tbsp
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 126Total Fat: 1gCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 2g

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MERRY CHRISTMAS from my cucina to yours!

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