Caragnoli -an authentic Italian food originating from the beautiful Molise area of Italy. This honey drenched Italian Christmas cookie, in the shape of a rose or intricate pattern has a crispy texture and is simply delicious!
In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk the eggs for a few minutes until light and frothy looking.
Add the sugar and whisk for a few minutes.
Add the oil and continue to whisk for a few minutes.
Switch to the dough hook and begin to incorporate the flour and baking powder.
Knead the dough for about 5 minutes; the resultant dough should pull away from the sides of the bowl. If necessary, add more flour, a tablespoon at a time, until this is achieved.
Form the dough in a ball and cover with plastic film. Allow the dough to rest for at least 30 minutes.
Divide the dough in quarters. Make sure to properly wrap the dough that is not being used as it dries out very quickly.
Roll out the dough in a long elongated shape, about ⅛ inch thick.
Take a strip of dough (about 7-8 inches long) and form into a rose shape or the classic elongated shape (details on how to achieve this shape are in the video).
Once all the shapes are formed, heat the oil (corn, canola, or peanut) and fry the caragnoli a few at a time, 30 seconds per side until golden colored. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a tray which has been lined with paper towels.
Heat the honey (in the microwave or on the stove-top) until warm to coat the caragnoli.
Can be served immediately or within 24 hours.
Video
Notes
There is an ideal time of 30 minutes when making this recipe.
Heat the oil to the proper temperature to avoid getting greasy Caragnoli.
When frying, do not over crowd the pot -only 2-3 Caragnoli at a time, depending on the size of the pot.
Coat the Caragnoli with honey once they have cooled off.
How long do Caragnoli last? Without the honey, these fritters can last up to 3 days at room temperature; once honey coated they are best eaten within 24 hours.What do Caragnoli taste like? Caragnoli are simple fritters that are crispy and sweet.Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used.