Easy Struffoli Recipe (Italian Honey Balls) (2024)

Published: Dec 14, 2022 · Modified: Apr 14, 2023 by Amanda · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads

This easy struffoli recipe, also known as honey balls, are a simple Italian dessert. Balls of sweet dough are fried until crispy and tossed in a honey sauce and decorated with sprinkles.

Italian honey balls or struffoli are a festive Neapolitan dessert that are most often made during Christmas. This traditional dessert is also known by other names around other different regions in Italy, such as pignolata, cicerchiata or turdilli.

The sweet dough is rolled into marble sized pieces and fried. Then the crispy fried balls are tossed in a sweet honey sauce and decorated for the holiday season.

My recipe for Italian honey balls is adapted from the struffoli recipe from Giada De Laurentiis and one that is now a tradition that is always on our holiday table.

This easy struffoli recipe would be great on Christmas eve served with tortellini with pesto, Italian seafood salad and mini tiramisu cups!

🍯 Ingredient notes

• Sweet Dough - The dough for the honey balls are formed with basic ingredients that makes a sticky dough that is flavored with orange zest and a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg. Lemon zest or anise can also be added for additional flavor.
• Honey Sauce - After frying, the crispy balls are tossed with a sweet sauce made from honey, orange juice and sugar. As the honey sauce dries, it sets around the balls to make a sweet coating.

📋 Substitutions and variations

• Wine - A bit of white wine is added to the dough to activate the baking powder and add flavor. Any dry white wine or cooking wine may be used. If you prefer to not cook with wine or don't have any, a bit of orange juice or lemon juice may be added instead.
• Toppings - These struffoli are simply topped with rainbow colored nonpareil sprinkles. Red and green colored sprinkles, candied fruit, maraschino cherries or nuts would also be great toppings.
• Occasion - While struffoli is typically a dessert served around the Christmas holiday, you can certainly serve them during other holidays and special occasions decorated for the occasion.
• Serving - The struffoli can be shaped around a glass to form a wreath as pictured. They can also be formed into a cone shape like a Christmas tree or placed in cupcake liners for individual servings.

🥣 Step by step instructions

First, pulse the all purpose flour, orange zest, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in a food processor. Add the butter, one tablespoon at a time, while pulsing, until a crumbly mixture forms.

Add the eggs and wine and mix the ingredients together until a sticky dough is formed. Scrape the dough out of the food processor and onto a piece of plastic. Wrap up tightly and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

After chilling, turn the soft dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Cut it into 8 equal pieces and roll each piece out into a long strip. Then, cut the strip into small pieces that are one half to one inch in length.

Roll each of these pieces into small balls the size of marbles and toss lightly with flour to prevent sticking. Fry the balls, working in batches, in hot vegetable oil until golden brown. Then, remove them with a slotted spoon and let the balls drain on paper towels.

Once all of the balls are fried, melt the honey, orange juice and sugar in a pot over medium low heat. Pour the honey sauce over the fried dough balls in a large mixing bowl and toss to coat.

Spray a cake stand or serving plate with baking spray as well as a glass. Place the glass in the middle of the stand and pour the honey coated balls onto the stand around the glass.

Sprinkle the balls with the rainbow sprinkles and then let them cool completely and dry for 2 hours before removing the glass.

⭐ Expert tips

• The dough will be sticky after mixing it together but will come together after chilling. A bit of flour can be added when you are rolling the dough so you can cut and shape the balls without it sticking to your hands.
• Roll and cut the dough into similar sized strips and pieces. You want the balls to be the size of marbles. Shaping and cutting the dough into similar sized pieces will also make sure they fry evenly.
• Use an infrared thermometer to easily check the oil temperature to make sure it doesn't get too hot or too cool.
• Gently roll the balls around in the hot oil, using a spoon, as they are frying to make sure they brown evenly on all sides.
• Let the sugar dissolve completely in the honey, but don't let it boil or the mixture will become too hard to toss with the balls.
• After warming the honey mixture, use it immediately to toss with the balls or it will start to dry and become too sticky.
• Make sure to let the struffoli completely set so it stays in the wreath shape after removing the glass.

⏲️ Make ahead instructions

This easy struffoli recipe is great to make ahead. The struffoli dough can be made and chilled in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. The struffoli dough balls can be fried up to 3 days ahead of time. Let them cool completely before storing them at room temperature in an airtight container.

When you are ready to serve them, make the honey sauce and then toss it with the balls and shape onto your desired serving platter.

🥡 Storage suggestions

Leftover struffoli will keep for about 3-4 days and should be stored covered or wrapped in plastic wrap at room temperature.

🍰 More Italian dessert recipes

If you loved this easy struffoli recipe, check out these other Italian desserts that I know you will love too!

• Lemon Ricotta Cake
• Italian Blueberry Crostata
• Italian Lemon Olive Oil Cake
• Rich Nutella Cheesecake

📖 Recipe