This month, we’re celebrating National Pastry Day, which was on December 9. While this day has already passed, we think it’s never too late to celebrate delicious pastries! And what better way to celebrate this national holiday other than sharing an authentic Italian dessert to enjoy during the holiday season? Leave it to one of your favorite Amherst restaurants, Pastamore, to give you a recipe everyone will love at your next gathering!
Struffoli
This authentic Italian dessert is made with honey and is a popular dessert for many around the holiday season. It’s typically shaped as a wreath or into a mound and then topped with sprinkles for a festive look!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups of honey
- ¼ cup of vegetable oil
- Four large eggs
- One teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt
- One tablespoon of orange zest
- Rainbow nonpareil sprinkles
- 5 additional cups of vegetable oil to use for frying
Instructions
- You’ll need a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Whisk four eggs in the bowl on medium-high speed. This should take around 2 minutes.
- Add two cups of flour, ¼ cup of vegetable oil, orange zest, vanilla extract, and salt and mix on medium speed.
- Mix until everything is combined, and remove the dough once it’s sticky. Knead the dough with your hands for up to 2 minutes until the dough isn’t sticky. Add extra flour if needed.
- Grab a clean cheesecloth or towel and put it over the dough for 30 minutes.
- Use flour to dust a large baking sheet to place the dough balls on. Take a small section of the dough and morph it into a rope. Cut about one-centimeter pieces off from the rope using a knife. Roll into a ball.
- Continue this process with the rest of the dough and place them on the dusted baking sheet.
- Grab another large baking sheet and cover with paper towels to put the fried dough balls on.
- Put the 5 cups of vegetable oil in a deep pot over medium heat. You’ll want to wait until the temperature gets to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the dough balls into the oil (about 20 at a time) and cook until golden brown. This should take around three minutes. Once they’re done, place them on the baking sheet lined with paper towels.
- Heat the honey in the microwave until it’s a slightly thin consistency. Take the paper towels off of the baking sheet and pour the honey on the dough balls. Use a large spoon or spatula to mix around to ensure they’re fully coated.
- Arrange the dough balls into a wreath on a large plate and top them with sprinkles and extra honey if preferred.
- Serve and enjoy!
Visit One of Your Favorite Amherst Restaurants, Pastamore!
At Pastamore, we pride ourselves in serving our customers authentic Italian cuisine. If you’re looking to dine with us, we’re open Monday through Saturday from 11 am to 10 pm, and Sunday from 12 pm to 9 pm. Until then, we look forward to seeing you!
