Italian Kitchen / Cucina Italiana
                                                Cookies (Biscotti)

Honey Balls, These little, ball shaped cookies are a holiday favorite for many Italian families.

Struffoli  (Serves 8)


1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon grated orange zest

Vegetable oil for frying
1 cup honey
Multicolored candy sprinkles

In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt.
Add the eggs and zest.  Stir until well blended.
Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead for 1-2 minutes.
Add a little more flour if dough seems sticky.
Shape the dough into a ball, cover with an overturned bowl.  
Let rest for 30 minutes.

Roll the dough into 1/2-inch thick ropes then cut into 1/2-inch nuggets.
Heat about 2 inches of oil to 370 degrees F. in a wide saucepan or deep fryer.
Begin adding struffoli in batches into the oil to fit without crowding.
Cook, stirring occasionally with a slotted spoon, until crisp and brown, about 1 minute.
Remove the struffoli with the slotted spoon and transfer to paper towels to drain.
When all the struffoli are fried, gently heat the honey just to a simmer in a wide saucepan.
Remove the honey from the heat, add the struffoli and coat well.
Pile the struffoli into a mound on a large platter.  Dust with the multicolored sprinkles.

Best served the day they are made.