Struffoli

Giada De Laurentiis

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Show: Giada at HomeEpisode: Giada's Family Christmas

Picture of Struffoli Recipe 1 Video | Photo: Struffoli Recipe
Rated 5 stars out of 5
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Total Time:
4 hr 12 min
Prep
1 hr 30 min
Inactive
2 hr 30 min
Cook
12 min
Yield:
8 to 10 servings
Level:
Intermediate
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Ingredients

Dough:

  • 2 cups flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 1 large lemon, zested (about 2 teaspoons)
  • 1/2 large orange, zested (about 2 teaspoons)
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 stick (2 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces, at room temperature
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon white wine, such as pinot grigio
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • Canola oil, for frying
  • 1 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 cups hazelnuts, toasted (see Cook's Note)
  • Vegetable oil cooking spray
  • Sugar sprinkles, for decoration
  • Powdered sugar, for dusting, optional

Directions

For the dough: In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together 2 cups of flour, lemon zest, orange zest, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Add the eggs, wine, and vanilla. Pulse until the mixture forms into a ball. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Cut the dough into 4 equal-sized pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each piece of dough until 1/4-inch thick. Cut each piece of dough into 1/2-inch wide strips. Cut each strip of pastry into 1/2-inch pieces. Roll each piece of dough into a small ball about the size of a hazelnut. Lightly dredge the dough balls in flour, shaking off any excess. In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour enough oil to fill the pan about a third of the way. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 375 degrees F. (If you don't have a thermometer a cube of bread will brown in about 3 minutes.). In batches, fry the dough until lightly golden, about 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. (The rested and quartered dough can also be rolled on a floured work surface into 1/2-inch thick logs and cut into equal-sized 1/2-inch pieces. The dough pieces can then be rolled into small balls and fried as above).

In a large saucepan, combine the honey, sugar, and lemon juice over medium heat. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the fried dough and hazelnuts and stir until coated in the honey mixture. Allow the mixture to cool in the pan for 2 minutes.

Spray the outside of a small, straight-sided water glass with vegetable oil cooking spray and place in the center of a round platter. Using a large spoon or damp hands, arrange the struffoli and hazelnuts around the glass to form a wreath shape. Drizzle any remaining honey mixture over the struffoli. Allow to set for 2 hours (can be made 1 day in advance). Decorate with sprinkles and dust with powdered sugar, if using. Remove the glass from the center of the platter and serve.

Cook's Note: To toast the hazelnuts, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven until lightly toasted, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool completely before using.

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Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 34 reviews

  • on January 01, 2012

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    Excellent! I omitted the hazelnuts and used Limoncello instead of white wine.

    people found this review Helpful.
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  • on January 01, 2012

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    My friend's 94 yr old mother talked about making struffoli before xmas, so when my friend saw your xmas show, taped it and off we went 4 days before xmas to his mamma's to make. She had her recipe, we had yours and he had shown her yours and it was the old italian, we didn't do it that way. We tweeked hers with the zest and both batch came out great. My friend's wife never liked struffoli and when she tasted yours with the orange and lemon, she loved it and they made another batch the next night. I took what I had away with me to my friends for xmas, who is Italian and wanted to know where the rest of the batch was... I am with Raffy on the ball rolling, as I was the ball roller... I love Raffy... You and Raffy should do a show together.. The old vs new.. But it would be a delight to all watching. My friend made your stracotta today for dinner, it was also wonderful.

    people found this review Helpful.
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  • on December 31, 2011

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    I made this recipe for the first time for an Italian friend of mine for their 40th Wedding Anniversary! I think it turned out great, thanks to Giada's video that helped me greatly! It was time consuming but well worth it. I put my finished "Struffoli" on one of my Antique Platters and delivered it. Hope my friends are enjoying it!

    people found this review Helpful.
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