Greek honey donut balls, or Loukoumades, are a traditional Greek dessert that is crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and drenched in a fragrant honey syrup.
These delightful bite-sized treats are perfect for any occasion and are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Let’s make these delicious Greek treat!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes + rising time
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes + rising time
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cups warm water (110°F/45°C)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 strip of lemon peel
- Ground cinnamon
- Chopped walnuts or pistachios (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the dough (10 minutes + rising time): In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, active dry yeast, granulated sugar, and salt. Add the warm water and olive oil, and mix until you have a smooth batter. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let the dough rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
- Prepare the honey syrup (10 minutes): While the dough is rising, make the honey syrup. In a medium saucepan, combine the honey, water, granulated sugar, cinnamon stick, and lemon peel. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let the syrup cool to room temperature. Discard the cinnamon stick and lemon peel.
- Heat the oil for frying (10 minutes): In a deep saucepan or frying pan, heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry the donut balls (10 minutes): Once the oil is hot, use a teaspoon or small cookie scoop to drop small balls of dough into the hot oil. Fry the dough balls in batches, turning them occasionally, until they are golden brown and crispy on all sides, about 3-4 minutes per batch. Use a slotted spoon to remove the donut balls from the oil and drain them on paper towels.
- Coat with honey syrup (5 minutes): While the donut balls are still warm, dip them into the honey syrup, turning to coat them evenly. Remove them with a slotted spoon and place them on a serving plate.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle the honey-coated donut balls with ground cinnamon and, if desired, chopped walnuts or pistachios. Serve immediately and enjoy these delicious Greek honey donut balls!
Notes
For an extra touch of flavor, you can add a pinch of ground cinnamon to the dough. These Loukoumades are best enjoyed fresh and warm.
If you have leftovers, you can reheat them in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for a few minutes to restore their crispiness.
Enjoy these delightful donut balls as a sweet treat with family and friends!
*Please keep in mind that the following nutritional information is based on estimates and can vary depending on the specific brands and ingredients used.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (based on 6 servings)
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 10g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
