Loukoumades (Cypriot Honey Dough Puffs)
Local name: Λουκουμάδες
In short: Light yeast dough puffs deep-fried until golden and crisp, then soaked in warm honey syrup with cinnamon and chopped walnuts. It takes about 40 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Resting
- 1 h
- Total
- 40 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 510 kcal
Loukoumades are small, airy dough balls fried until crisp and then soaked in honey syrup. In Cyprus they are a favorite at village festivals and church fairs, served hot and dripping. The batter is wetter than bread dough, so it puffs into round, hollow balls with a thin crackling shell. Serve them right away, because the crisp shell softens as the syrup soaks in.
Instructions
- Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add the water and whisk for 3 minutes into a smooth, thick batter that drips slowly off a spoon. Cover and let it rise for 1 hour, until bubbly and doubled.
- Simmer the honey, sugar and water for 5 minutes, stir in the lemon juice and keep the syrup warm.
- Heat the oil in a deep, heavy pot to 175°C (350°F). Keep a lid nearby and never leave hot oil unattended.
- Dip a spoon in water and scoop up a heaped teaspoon of batter, or squeeze it out through your fist, and drop it into the oil. Fry 6 to 8 puffs at a time, turning them, for 3 to 4 minutes until deep golden.
- Drain the puffs on paper towels for 30 seconds, then toss them in the warm syrup and lift them out.
- Pile the loukoumades on a plate, sprinkle with the cinnamon and walnuts and serve at once.
Tips
- Wet the spoon between scoops so the sticky batter slides off cleanly.
- Keep the oil steady at 175°C. If it is too cool the puffs soak up oil, and if it is too hot the outside browns before the inside cooks.
Questions and answers
Can I make the loukoumades batter ahead of time?
Yes. After the first rise, cover and refrigerate the batter overnight. Let it come to room temperature for 30 minutes and stir before frying.
Can I bake loukoumades instead of frying them?
Not successfully. The batter needs hot oil to puff into hollow balls with a crisp shell. Baked versions come out dense, like small muffins.
What can I use instead of honey?
A lemon-flavored sugar syrup works, as do grape molasses and carob syrup. Use the same amount.
How long does it take to make Loukoumades (Cypriot Honey Dough Puffs)?
About 40 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Loukoumades (Cypriot Honey Dough Puffs)?
About 510 kcal per serving, with 7 g of protein, 77 g of carbohydrates and 19 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 510 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 7 g |
| Carbohydrates | 77 g |
| Fat | 19 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 50 g |
| Sodium | 190 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
