Pignolatas - Honey Clusters

Visiting Nonna at Christmas time meant pignolatas (pin-u-la-tas).  I loved seeing the honey "tree" with the sprinkled candies on the top.  These holiday treats are easy to make.

Here are the ingredients:

2 cups flour
3 eggs
1 cup honey
1/2 cup sugar
Candy sprinkles
Oil for frying

Measure your flour in a bowl and make a depression in the middle.  Crack your eggs in a separate bowl and whisk until blended.  Pour the eggs into the depression in the flour.

Gently incorporate the flour into the eggs until a dough ball forms.  Take the dough ball and break apart into smaller sections, rolling each section out, like a snake.

In the meantime, heat the honey and sugar.

Cut the dough into 1/2 inch pieces and fry until golden brown.

When the balls are golden brown, remove from the oil and place in a bowl.  Gently toss the honey mixture with the fried balls.

When they are cool enough to handle, stack them on a plate and sprinkle with the candy.

This is an Italian classic.  It is easy to make and super cheap as well!  Just like Nonna used to make!

Mangia!