Italian Holiday Cookies

Name: Italian Holiday Cookies
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: about 15 dozen
Cuisine: Europe, Italian
Ingredients: Oil for deep-fat frying; 1 tablespoon sugar; 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 4 large eggs, room temperature; 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 cup honey; Candy sprinkles

Total Time Prep: 20 min. Cook: 5 min./batch + cooling

Yield about 15 dozen

Test Kitchen Approved

Many of our holiday traditions center around the foods my mother made while I was growing up. These cookies, which we called "Strufoli", bring back wonderful memories. —Sue Seymour, Valatie, New York

Ingredients

Oil for deep-fat frying
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs, room temperature
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup honey
Candy sprinkles

Directions

In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 350°. In a bowl, combine sugar, lemon zest, vanilla and salt. Add eggs and 2 cups flour; mix well. Turn onto a floured surface and knead in remaining flour (dough will be soft).
With a floured knife or scissors, cut into 20 pieces. With hands, roll each piece into pencil shapes. Cut "pencils" into 1/2-in. pieces. Fry pieces, a few at a time, until golden brown, 2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels. Place in a large bowl. Heat honey to boiling; pour over cookies and mix well. With a slotted spoon, remove to a serving platter and slowly mound into a tree shape if desired. Decorate with candy sprinkles. Cool completely.

Nutrition Facts

1 cookie: 18 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 4mg cholesterol, 8mg sodium, 3g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.

Many of our holiday traditions center around the foods my mother made while I was growing up. These cookies, which we called "strufoli," bring back wonderful memories. —Sue Seymour, Valatie, New York

Recipe Creator