Il Cucinologo
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Struffoli with Milk Cream

17/11/2023

Struffoli are a typical Neapolitan dessert, usually prepared during the Christmas holidays. I will provide you with the recipe for struffoli and suggest a milk cream to accompany this delicious dessert.

Ingredients for the struffoli:

  • 500 g of 00 flour
  • 4 eggs
  • 50 g of granulated sugar
  • 50 g of butter
  • The grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of anise (liqueur)
  • Seed oil for frying
  • Honey for garnish
  • Candied fruit and colored sprinkles for decoration

Preparation

  1. In a large bowl, arrange the flour in a mound and add the eggs, sugar, softened butter, lemon zest, salt, and anise to the center.
  2. Knead all the ingredients until you obtain a homogeneous dough. If necessary, add a little flour, but the dough should remain soft.
  3. Divide the dough into small portions and form thin “ropes,” then cut each rope into small pieces to make the struffoli.
  4. Heat the oil in a deep pan and fry the struffoli in small batches until golden brown.
  5. Drain them with a slotted spoon and place on paper towels to remove excess oil.
  6. In a large saucepan, heat the honey until liquid, then add the fried struffoli and gently stir to coat them well.
  7. Arrange the struffoli on a serving plate, forming a sort of pyramid, and decorate with candied fruit and colored sprinkles.

Ingredients for the milk cream:

  • 500 ml of whole milk
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 100 g of sugar
  • 40 g of 00 flour
  • Lemon peel

Preparation

  1. In a saucepan, heat the milk with the lemon peel without bringing it to a boil.
  2. In a bowl, beat the egg yolks with the sugar until you obtain a frothy mixture.
  3. Add the sifted flour and mix well to avoid lumps.
  4. Remove the lemon peel from the milk and pour the egg yolk, sugar, and flour mixture into the saucepan with the warm milk.
  5. Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously until the cream thickens.
  6. Once ready, let the milk cream cool before serving with the struffoli.

Fun Fact

Struffoli, with their joyful and colorful appearance, symbolize abundance and good fortune. Traditionally, they are prepared in large quantities to be shared with family and friends during the holidays. Pairing them with a cream can be a delicious and refined variation of the classic recipe.