Italian Struffoli (Honey Balls)

Struffoli cookies are Italian honey balls or Italian honey cookies with struffoli dough and warm honey. These balls of crisp-fried dough are a classic Italian dessert.

Also consider chocolate covered Oreos or chocolate sugar cookies with buttercream dip? And this eggless coquito is so easy to sip!

Why You’ll Love It

Perfect for the holidays: Whether you know them as Christmas honey balls or fried cookies with honey glaze and sprinkles, they’re a wonderful addition to your festive menu.
Really tasty: These classic fried cookies with honey glaze and sprinkles are the perfect Christmas dessert.
Not hard to prepare: Struffoli honey balls aren’t hard to make. In fact, you could even get the kids involved and have fun preparing this one afternoon during the holidays.

Italian Struffoli Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Flour: You’ll need some extra for dusting your hands and work surface.
Sugar: For sweetness.
Salt: Just a pinch to make the sweetness pop!
Baking powder: Use a fresh batch for the best results.
Vanilla extract: Use 100% pure vanilla extract.
Lemon zest and juice: Adds a zesty flavor.
Oil: For frying. I usually use canola oil. You can use another oil if you prefer. Anything with a high smoke point and neutral flavor will work. Safflower, peanut or corn oil would work.
Festive sprinkles: These add plenty of Christmas pizzazz! Rainbow nonpareil sprinkles look good on this traditional struffoli recipe. Green, red and white ones would be perfect for this Italian Christmas dessert. (I love these Christmas sprinkles!)

How to Make Struffoli Honey Balls

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Make the dough: Combine flour with lemon zest, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Then mix in the butter. It’s easiest to do this with a pastry cutter but just use a fork if you don’t have one. Next you can mix in the vanilla and eggs, then knead the resulting dough.
Cut it into strips: Let the dough rest for an hour then you can roll it into strips and cut it into pieces.
Fry the dough: Fry the Christmas struffoli for a couple of minutes until golden brown, then remove with a slotted spoon and drain the excess oil on a paper towel lined plate.
Make the sauce: Boil the honey with lemon juice and sugar then mix the dough balls in this honey mixture.
Assemble the struffoli: Arrange the honey balls in the shape of a Christmas tree, wreath or whatever else you like, on a serving platter. Then just add the sprinkles and divide into individual servings and enjoy this traditional Italian Christmas treat.

Substitutions and Variations

Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, use gluten-free flour.
Salted butter: If you only have unsalted butter, use that and add a tiny pinch of salt too.
Add some orange: I like to add orange zest to mine. You could also swap the lemon for orange in the dough recipe.

Serving Suggestions

Appetizers: Begin your festive meal with brie cranberry bites.
Side dishes: Next up, you can’t go wrong with holiday roasted chicken, roasted acorn squash and fondant potatoes.
Desserts: Finish strong with homemade struffoli (and maybe a hot buttered rum toddy!)

How to Store Italian Honey Balls

Store: These fried dough balls with honey are best served right away when they’re nice and fresh and still warm. But this recipe serves about ten people so you might not eat it all if there aren’t as many of you. The best struffoli recipe will be fine for up to 3 days as long as you keep it covered.
Freeze: Freeze the dough balls before coating in honey. Once fried and completely cooled, place in an airtight freezer safe container and store for up to 2 months.
Thaw: When ready to serve, unthaw the dough balls, warm them to room temperature and add the honey and colored sprinkles. This can make your struffoli recipe quick and easy, as you’ve already prepped the dough balls.