Struffoli

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup Crisco
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2-3 1/2 cups flour
• canola oil (for deep frying)
• honey
• 3/4 cup medium chopped walnuts
• 1/3 cup chocolate sprinkles (optional)

Directions

1. 1

   Put the Crisco and sugar in bowl of mixer. Beat till blended and light.

2. 2

   Add eggs and vanilla extract. Beat till blended.

3. 3

   Add 2 cups of flour and mix well. Add more flour in half cup measurements till you have a nice rollable dough.

4. 4

   Divide the dough and with a floured counter top and hands roll into long ropes between 1/4"-1/2" thick and then cut ropes with a bread knife into about 1/4" balls. This may seem like it will take a long time but it goes very quickly as I enlist my whole family to take part.

5. 5

   Fry the balls in hot oil till they are golden brown. Remove and put the fried balls in a bowl (with paper towel on bottom) large enough to hold all the struffoli. Remove the paper towel once all struffoli are done.

6. 6

   Heat 1 cup of honey in a small saucepan. No need to make it too hot, just warm. Pour honey over the struffoli balls. Sprinkle with walnuts and in our family's case chocolate sprinkles.

7. 7

   The struffoli can then be put into whatever serving dish you like. I use one with a lid as they should be covered when stored. In my house that is on the kitchen island for easy munching.

8. 8

   After they have sat over night they will need a good stir as the honey sets to the bottom. They may need more honey as well as they absorb it as they sit.