Italian Honey Balls Pignolata Or Struffoli Recipes

Steps:

• Mix flour, eggs, butter, sugar, egg yolk, lemon zest, rum extract, and salt together in a large bowl to create a soft dough. Cover with plastic wrap; let stand for 30 minutes.
• Roll dough into a thin log the width of your pinky finger, about 1/4 inch. Cut log into small pieces; roll into balls. Dust with flour to prevent from sticking.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan. Place a few balls of dough in a sieve to shake off excess flour. Cook in the hot oil until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate using a slotted spoon. Repeat with remaining balls of dough.
• Pour honey into a saucepan over low heat. Cook until a small amount of honey dropped into cold water forms a soft ball. Add fried balls of dough to the hot honey; stir gently with a wooden spoon until coated.
• Rinse a serving plate and shake off the water. Pile dough balls onto the serving plate in the shape of a dome or ring using damp hands or a damp wooden spoon. Garnish with sugar sprinkles. Let cool completely.

Steps:

• In a large bowl beat eggs, sugar, grated lemon peel (if desired), and 1 1/2 teaspoons oil until foamy.
• Gradually add flour and baking powder.
• *Using your hands, mix and knead the mixture well, forming a dough.
• Knead the dough until smooth.
• (*A Kitchen Aid mixer with a dough hook may be used for mixing/kneading the dough).
• Form dough into a ball.
• Place dough on a lightly floured surface, and divide dough into 8 to 10 smaller balls.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll each ball into a"rope" about a 1/2 inch wide, and 10 inches long.
• Using a sharp knife, cut each rope into 1/3 inch pieces.
• (Optional, pieces may be rolled into balls about the size of marbles).
• Dust cut pieces with a bit of flour.
• Heat oil in a frying pan or deep fat fryer to a temperature of 375°F.
• Shake off excess flour, and fry the bits of dough (in small batches) until puffy and golden brown.
• DO NOT crowd the frying pan or fryer.
• Remove each batch of balls with a slotted spoon and place on heavy brown paper (or paper towels) to drain.
• Continue frying until all the balls have been fried.
• Place drained, fried balls into a large mixing bowl (or disposable roasting pan).
• Pour the honey into a large frying pan, and heat until bubbly, remove from heat.
• (Honey may be thinned with 2 to 3 Tablespoons of water to make a less sticky/sweet coating).
• Stir in grated orange peel (if desired) and pour honey mixture over the fried dough balls.
• With a wooden spoon, gently stir and toss the balls until all are evenly coated with honey.
• Using hands (or a spoon), place honey coated balls on to a large plate (or pie tin), mounding them into a cone/pyramid shape.
• Sprinkle with colored sprinkles.
• NOTE: If struffoli are too sticky to handle while shaping, slightly wet hands with cold water to help keep them from sticking to your hands while shaping.