Greek Honey Walnut Balls Recipes

LOUKOUMADES - TRADITIONAL GREEK HONEY PUFFS RECIPE & HISTORY

Steps:

• The liquid part of the Loukoumades mixture can be composed of a half cup of milk and a half cup of water or by just 1 cup of water. To obtain a perfect result, you want the liquid lukewarm.
• First of all, pour 1 cup of liquid in a bowl, then add the yeast along with 1 tbsp of sugar, and melt stirring with your hands.
• Now, sift the flour and pour it a little at a time, stirring and adding 1 tsp of salt on the halfway. Finally, wrap the bowl and store into the oven at room temperature until the mass doubles its size.
• When the Loukoumades mixture is well raised and ready to be fried, prepare the honey syrup.
• Combine a half cup of honey and a half cup of water in a small pot, then stir over medium heat until melted, then turn off the flame and cover with a lid.
• Now, pour the oil into a deep pot a bring to 350° F (177° C). To cook the honey puffs to perfection, it is critical maintain the oil temperature between 340 and 350° F (170 to 177° C).
• At this point, wet a teaspoon and model a ball of the mixture, then drop the ball into the oil (please be careful of oils slashings!).
• Fry the ball a little at a time, until nicely golden outside and well cooked inside.
• Finally, dry the Loukoumades over paper towels then soak them a couple of minutes into the honey syrup, still hot.
• Place the honey puffs on a plate, then garnish with the rest of the honey, a sprinkle of cinnamon powder.
• Depending on the preferences, complete with sesame seeds and/or chopped walnuts. Serve immediately.

LOUKOUMADES - GREEK HONEY BALLS (EASY HOMEMADE DONUTS)

Steps:

• In a large bowl combine all ingredients for the dough.
• Preheat oven to 45°C / 113 °F.
• Cover the bowl with a dampened tea towel and add in the oven.
• Turn off the heat and let the dough rise for about 30-45 minutes. Or leave it until the dough has tripled in size.
• Add plenty of frying oil in a pan and heat over high heat. Fill a glass with cold water and keep aside (use this water to dip your teaspoon in, after each time you're about to take a spoonful of the dough, see next step).
• Grab a handful of the dough, and squeeze it in order for it to get out at the top of your fist. With a teaspoon, scrape the excess dough (about a spoonful of a teaspoon) from the top of your fist and add it to the hot oil. Repeat this process to create as many donuts as you like.
• Cook for a minute or two on each side until they get a deep golden color. Use two forks in order to flip them. NOTE: Make sure they're not overcrowded in the pan.
• Using a skimmer transfer the donuts on paper towels to drain excess oil.
• Sprinkle with lots of honey, icing sugar, cinnamon, walnuts, or any other topping of your liking.
• Don't forget to eat them while they're warm otherwise they get spongy when they're cold.

GREEK DOUGHNUTS WITH WALNUT HONEY

Steps:

• For the doughnuts: In a mixing bowl, add the yeast to 1 cup warm water, mix with a fork and let sit for 5 minutes. Add the flour, milk, sugar, olive oil, zest and salt. Mix thoroughly until the batter is smooth, 2 minutes. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and rest the dough in a warm place for 1 hour.
• Preheat the deep fryer to 375 degrees F.
• Dip a tablespoon measure in water, and then scoop out 1 tablespoon of dough. Wet your hands and roll the dough into balls, about 16 total. Place the doughnuts, a few at a time, in the fryer and cook until golden, 2 to 3 minutes.
• For the honey: Place the honey, walnuts and 1/4 cup water in a pot set over medium heat for 3 minutes.
• Coat the doughnuts with the walnut honey to serve.

GREEK HONEY WALNUT BALLS

Steps:

• Combine honey, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup orange juice, cinnamon stick and whole cloves in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and boil gently for 5 minutes, uncovered. Strain syrup, discarding spices. Remove 1/4 cup syrup. Set aside remaining syrup.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Combine ground walnuts and orange peel in a medium bowl. Stir in 1/4 cup syrup; set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat butter for 30 seconds or until softened. Add half the flour. Add remaining 1/2 cup sugar, remaining 1/4 cup orange juice, brandy, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground cloves and ground nutmeg. Beat until well blended. Beat or stir in remaining flour.
• Form dough into 1-1/4" balls. Using finger, press hole in center of ball of dough. Place about 1/2 teaspoon ground nut filling in hole. Bring dough up around filling, enclosing completely. Place seam side down on greased baking sheet. With knife, crisscross top, forming an "x," scoring surface only. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
• Bake at 350 F for 18 to 20 minutes, or until set.
• Remove from oven and let stand on baking sheet 1 minute.
• Rewarm reserved syrup gently over low heat. Brush tops of hot cookies with warm syrup, or dip tops into syrup. Sprinkle with finely chopped walnuts. Place on wire rack to cool completely.