Giada De Laurentiis Struffoli

Giada De Laurentiis

This delightful Giada’s Struffoli is prepared using all-purpose flour, honey, hazelnuts, eggs, and unsalted butter. This sweet and crispy dessert takes about one hour and twenty-five minutes to prepare and can serve up to eight people.

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Giada Struffoli

Giada De Laurentiis Struffoli Ingredients

Dough

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting and dredging
  • 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
  • 2 teaspoons grated orange zest
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • ยฝ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ยผ teaspoon baking powder
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into ยฝ-inch pieces, at room temperature
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon white wine
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • Canola oil, for frying

Assembly

  • 1 cup honey
  • ยฝ cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
  • 1ยฝ cups skinned hazelnuts, toasted
  • Vegetable oil cooking spray
  • Sugar sprinkles, candied almonds, or dragรฉes, for decoration
  • Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting (optional)

How To Make Giada De Laurentiis Struffoli

For the Dough

  1. Prepare Dough: In a food processor, pulse the flour, lemon zest, orange zest, sugar, salt, and baking powder until combined.
  2. Add Butter: Add the butter pieces to the mixture and pulse until the texture becomes like coarse meal.
  3. Add Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs, wine, and vanilla extract, then pulse until the mixture forms a soft dough ball.
  4. Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow it to rest.
  5. Shape the Dough: Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces, then roll each piece on a lightly floured surface until it is ยผ inch thick.
  6. Form Dough Balls: Cut each piece of dough into ยฝ-inch-wide strips, then cut each strip into ยฝ-inch pieces. Roll each piece into a small ball about the size of a hazelnut.
  7. Lightly Coat Balls: Lightly dredge the dough balls in flour, shaking off any excess.

For Frying

  1. Heat Oil: In a large heavy saucepan, pour enough oil to fill about one-third of the pan. Heat over medium until the temperature reaches 375ยฐF (use a thermometer or a cube of bread to test).
  2. Fry Dough Balls: Fry the dough balls in batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Fry until they turn lightly golden, about 2 to 3 minutes per batch.
  3. Drain Excess Oil: Transfer the fried dough balls to a paper towelโ€“lined plate to drain off any excess oil.

For the Assembly

  1. Prepare Honey Mixture: In a large saucepan, combine the honey, sugar, and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture begins to boil, about 3 minutes.
  2. Coat Dough Balls: Remove the honey mixture from the heat. Add the fried dough balls and toasted hazelnuts, then stir well until they are all evenly coated.
  3. Cool Slightly: Allow the mixture to cool in the saucepan for 2 minutes before proceeding.
  4. Shape Struffoli: Spray the outside of a small, straight-sided water glass with vegetable oil spray and place it in the center of a round serving platter.
  5. Form Wreath: Using a large spoon or damp hands, arrange the struffoli and hazelnuts around the glass, shaping them into a wreath or pyramid.
  6. Set the Wreath: Drizzle any remaining honey mixture over the struffoli, then let it set at room temperature for 2 hours.
  7. Decorate and Serve: Once set, decorate with sugar sprinkles, candied almonds, or dragรฉes. Dust lightly with confectioners’ sugar if desired. Remove the glass from the center of the wreath before serving.

Recipe Tips

  • Adjust Sweetness with Honey or Sugar: If you prefer a less sweet dessert, reduce the honey slightly, but avoid cutting it by more than a quarter to keep the struffoli cohesive and flavorful.
  • Make-Ahead Option for Easier Hosting: You can fry the dough balls a day ahead and store them in an airtight container. Just assemble with the honey mixture a few hours before serving.
  • Try a Nut-Free Version: If you have a nut allergy, skip the hazelnuts entirely or swap them with toasted seeds like sunflower or pumpkin seeds for a crunchy twist.
  • Experiment with Citrus Zest: For a more pronounced citrus flavor, consider doubling the amount of lemon and orange zest, or try adding a touch of lime zest to brighten the flavor.

Recipe FAQs and Variations

Can I Use Other Types of Nuts?

Yes, you can substitute the hazelnuts with toasted almonds, walnuts, or even pistachios to add a unique flavor and crunch.

What if I Donโ€™t Have White Wine?

If white wine isnโ€™t available, you can substitute it with an equal amount of milk or even orange juice for a slightly different but delicious taste.

How Long Does Struffoli Stay Fresh?

Struffoli stays fresh for up to 3 days if stored at room temperature in an airtight container. The honey coating helps preserve the texture.

Can I Bake the Dough Balls Instead of Frying Them?

Although frying is traditional and gives the best texture, you can bake the dough balls at 350ยฐF for around 15 minutes until golden, but they will be less crisp.

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Giada De Laurentiis Struffoli

Recipe by Giada De LaurentiisCourse: DessertCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Medium
Servings

8

servings
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

25

minutes
Calories

460

kcal

This delightful Giada’s Struffoli is prepared using all-purpose flour, honey, hazelnuts, eggs, and unsalted butter. This sweet and crispy dessert takes about one hour and twenty-five minutes to prepare and can serve up to eight people.

Ingredients

  • Dough
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting and dredging

  • 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest

  • 2 teaspoons grated orange zest

  • 3 tablespoons sugar

  • ยฝ teaspoon fine sea salt

  • ยผ teaspoon baking powder

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into ยฝ-inch pieces, at room temperature

  • 3 large eggs

  • 1 tablespoon white wine

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • Canola oil, for frying

  • Assembly
  • 1 cup honey

  • ยฝ cup sugar

  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)

  • 1ยฝ cups skinned hazelnuts, toasted

  • Vegetable oil cooking spray

  • Sugar sprinkles, candied almonds, or dragรฉes, for decoration

  • Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting (optional)

Directions

  • For the Dough
  • Prepare Dough: In a food processor, pulse the flour, lemon zest, orange zest, sugar, salt, and baking powder until combined.
  • Add Butter: Add the butter pieces to the mixture and pulse until the texture becomes like coarse meal.
  • Add Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs, wine, and vanilla extract, then pulse until the mixture forms a soft dough ball.
  • Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow it to rest.
  • Shape the Dough: Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces, then roll each piece on a lightly floured surface until it is ยผ inch thick.
  • Form Dough Balls: Cut each piece of dough into ยฝ-inch-wide strips, then cut each strip into ยฝ-inch pieces. Roll each piece into a small ball about the size of a hazelnut.
  • Lightly Coat Balls: Lightly dredge the dough balls in flour, shaking off any excess.
  • For Frying
  • Heat Oil: In a large heavy saucepan, pour enough oil to fill about one-third of the pan. Heat over medium until the temperature reaches 375ยฐF (use a thermometer or a cube of bread to test).
  • Fry Dough Balls: Fry the dough balls in batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Fry until they turn lightly golden, about 2 to 3 minutes per batch.
  • Drain Excess Oil: Transfer the fried dough balls to a paper towelโ€“lined plate to drain off any excess oil.
  • For the Assembly
  • Prepare Honey Mixture: In a large saucepan, combine the honey, sugar, and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture begins to boil, about 3 minutes.
  • Coat Dough Balls: Remove the honey mixture from the heat. Add the fried dough balls and toasted hazelnuts, then stir well until they are all evenly coated.
  • Cool Slightly: Allow the mixture to cool in the saucepan for 2 minutes before proceeding.
  • Shape Struffoli: Spray the outside of a small, straight-sided water glass with vegetable oil spray and place it in the center of a round serving platter.
  • Form Wreath: Using a large spoon or damp hands, arrange the struffoli and hazelnuts around the glass, shaping them into a wreath or pyramid.
  • Set the Wreath: Drizzle any remaining honey mixture over the struffoli, then let it set at room temperature for 2 hours.
  • Decorate and Serve: Once set, decorate with sugar sprinkles, candied almonds, or dragรฉes. Dust lightly with confectioners’ sugar if desired. Remove the glass from the center of the wreath before serving.

Nutrition Facts

8 servings per container


  • Amount Per ServingCalories460
  • % Daily Value *
  • Total Fat 21g 33%
    • Saturated Fat 7g 35%
  • Cholesterol 105mg 35%
  • Sodium 120mg 5%
  • Total Carbohydrate 61g 21%
    • Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
    • Sugars 36g
  • Protein 6g 12%

    * The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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