Honey Balls

These Honey Balls are based off the Italian Traditional recipe with a fun twist. They are little fried balls of dough, crisp around the edges and soft in the center. Then coated in an orange honey and cinnamon syrup. This syrup is packed with stick sweet flavor. Then they are topped with some dried cranberries, pistachios and sprinkles!

So in my Italian household Honey Balls was a staple around the holidays. In fact it was a sin to have a Christmas without them. It's such a simple recipe and yet is SO good. I am re inventing my grandma's old school recipe with a little twist. The base of her dough stays the same because it was as she put it "simple, no fuss, and easy to remember". Now traditionally your toss these balls in just some straight honey and tope with nonpareil sprinkles.... and that is amazing as well. but i wanted something a little different this year. I infused my honey with orange and cinnamon and then i topped mine with pistachios and cranberries! If you are looking for more Italian Christmas desserts try these out:

Italian Sprinkle Cookies

Gingerbread biscotti

If you are looking for other desserts to bring to your christmas party try these:

Cookie Butter Cheesecake

Chocolate Pumpkin Pie

Apple Cider Bundt Cake

HONEY BALLS STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

HONEY BALLS

• In the bowl of a stand mixer beat your shortening and sugar together. Then add your eggs and beat until combined. Add your flour and baking powder and beat until combined and soft.
• Let dough rest covered in the fridge for 1 hour
• Roll out your balls: start by rolling your dough into multiple logs. Then cut your logs into pieces. roll each piece in the palms of your hand until round. These balls should be about the size of a hazelnut. set balls aside.
• in a large pot heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil on medium high heat. Wait until your oil is hot enough. To test this i like to place a wooden spoon in my oil. if bubbles form around the spoon then its ready. Using a slotted spoon transfer your balls to the hot oil (a few spoonfuls at a time). Leave balls in there until they float to the top and start to look golden in color. This is about 20 seconds per batch. Transfer balls onto a plate lined with paper towels. Repeat until all balls are fried.
• Let balls cool

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HONEY ORANGE SYRUP

• NOTE: when peeling your orange use a potato peeler and press down very lightly, only catching the orange of the peel and minimal to whites. If you have too much whites your syrup will end up tasting bitter.
• In a medium pot add your water, sugar, honey, orange peel, clove and cinnamon stick. Bring your mixture to a boil. Once boiling reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 25 minutes. stir throughout.
• remove your orange peels and cinnamon stick and add your orange juice. Simmer for another 5 minutes. Then remove from heat and let rest for at least 30 minutes or until mixture cools down enough that your syrup thickens slightly.

ASSEMBLE

• Add your honey balls to a large bowl. Pour honey mixture over balls and toss to coat. Transfer balls to a serving plate In the shape of a wreath (for presentation).
• Sprinkle on top crushed pistachios, cranberries, and or sprinkles for decoration
• serve and enjoy

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HONEY BALLS KEY INGREDIENTS AND SUBSTITUTIONS

SHORTENING. The vegetable shortening makes the dough crisp and soft. If you do not have this you can replace it with butter.

BAKING POWDER. This is what makes the balls puff up like popcorn while frying

HONEY. A KEY ingredient. I use high quality honey since it is what gives these balls all their flavor.

ORANGE PEEL be careful to use a peeler to peel your orange. DO NOT peel with your hands and through the whole peel in. You want to ONLY get the orange off the peel and NOT the whites. If you get too much whites your syrup will taste bitter.

ORANGE JUICE. This adds just that much more yummy orange taste

CINNAMON STICK. This simmer gives the hint of cinnamon. If you do not have this you can add about ⅛ - ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon. not too much you just want a hint.

CLOVE. i only add a tinny pinch of clove. ⅛ teaspoon is even too much so just a pinch! You can leave this out if you do not have it.

TOPPINGS. So traditionally. honey balls are always topped with nonpareil sprinkles. So you can add those or just add cranberries and pistachios like i did. but get creative.

BAKING TIPS

1. beat your dough on high until it comes together and is soft to the touch.
2. Let your dough rest. This helps the texture of your balls.
3. when rolling out each ball try to make sure each ball is about the size of a hazelnut.
4. When fring, you do not want to burn your oil, In between each batch i remove the oil from the burner to avoil uncessary heat to the oil. And work fast so your oil does not burn. I also keep my heat on a medium high heat NOT high.
5. To check to see if your oil is hot, place a wooden spoon in the oil. if bubbles form around it then your oil is ready.
6. When shaping your honey balls into the shape of a wreath. I like to place a drinking glass in the center of my serving place and place the honey balls around it. Then I remove the glass and you have the perfect wreath shape.

FAQ

1. Do I have to roll out each ball? So it is tradition to do this and it looks nice, but it doesnt effect the taste. you can also roll out your dough into logs and just cut your "balls" and fry from there, leaving your "balls" as a more pillow shape.
2. Do I have to make the honey orange Syrup? If you want to keep to tradition then NO. You can simple take 1 cup of honey, place it in a small pot and simmer for a few minutes. The directly pour that over your balls. Toss to coat.

STORING AND FREEZING

So Unfortunately Honey Balls do not store well. I always try to make the dough and form the balls ahead of time, as well as make the syrup ahead of time. Then I fry them no earlier than the morning of when I will serve them. After they cool, I place the dry balls in a container. They I toss them with honey RIGHT before I am about to serve them. They only stay crisp for a few hours after that. So eat them up!

Lastly, if you try out this recipe, be sure to leave a comment/rating on how it turned out. I love hearing from you guys and will try my best to reply to every comment! And don’t forget to tag me on Instagram!