Doughnut Balls (Italian Struffoli)

This popular Italian dessert has been passed down from generation to generation. Feel free to garnish the dish with small candies for some extra sweet decoration.

Dough:
2 cups all-purpose flour, unbleached
2 tsp. lemon zest from 1 large lemon
2 tsp. orange zest from ½ large orange
3 Tbsp. sugar
½ tsp. fine sea salt
¼ tsp. baking powder
½ stick (2 oz) unsalted butter, cut into ½" pieces, at room temperature
3 large eggs
1 Tbsp. white wine, such as; pinot grigio
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
Canola oil, for frying

To Assemble:
1 cup pure honey
½ cup sugar
1 Tbsp. lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1½ cups hazelnuts, toasted
vegetable oil cooking spray

Decoration:
sugar sprinkles, dragees
confectioners' sugar for dusting

For the Dough:
In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together the flour, lemon zest, orange zest, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Add the eggs, wine, and vanilla. Pulse until the mixture forms into a ball. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Cut the dough into 4 equal-sized pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each piece of dough until ¼" thick. Cut each piece of dough into ½" wide strips. Cut each strip of pastry into ½" pieces. Roll each piece of dough into a small ball about the size of a hazelnut. Lightly dredge the dough balls in flour, shaking off any excess.

In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour enough oil to fill the pan about a third of the way. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 375°F. (If you don't have a thermometer, a cube of bread will brown in about 3 minutes at the desired temperature.). In batches, fry the dough until lightly golden, about 2-3 minutes.

Transfer the dough balls to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. (The rested and quartered dough can also be rolled on a floured work surface into ½" thick logs and cut into equal-sized ½" pieces. The dough pieces can then be rolled into small balls and fried as above.)

To Assemble:
In a large saucepan, combine the honey, sugar, and lemon juice over medium heat. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the fried dough and hazelnuts and stir until coated in the honey mixture. Allow the mixture to cool in the pan for 2 minutes.

Spray the outside of a small, straight-sided water glass with vegetable oil cooking spray and place in the center of a round platter. Using a large spoon or damp hands, arrange the struffoli and hazelnuts around the glass to form a wreath shape. Drizzle any remaining honey mixture over the struffoli. Allow to set for 2 hours (can be made 1 day in advance).

Decorate with sprinkles and dust with powdered sugar, if using. Remove the glass from the center of the platter and serve.

Makes 10 servings.