How to fill Neapolitan struffoli

Struffoli, small, delicious fried balls decorated with honey, flavorful candied fruit, and colorful sprinkles, are among the most beloved traditional Neapolitan desserts.

Below, we’ll walk you through the ideal step-by-step process for filling struffoli, so you can delight your guests during the holiday season.

These delicious, circular Christmas sweets are usually filled with honey, but if used alone, honey tends to drip too much, so to achieve a thicker filling, dissolve sugar in water and cook until pale yellow. Add slightly warmed honey to this sugar syrup to create a fairly dense, yet not overly runny, paste.

Pour the struffoli into the mixture and cook over very low heat for a few minutes, stirring constantly to ensure they are completely coated in honey.
Once ready, prepare a tray to pour them into the desired shape, usually a donut or a mountain. To achieve the desired shape, it’s a good idea to wet your hands with lemon juice to make the shape easier and to leave a delicate lemon aroma on the struffoli.

Adding small decorative elements is the final step in preparing the struffoli: colorful sprinkles and sprinkles, as well as candied fruit and pine nuts, add that extra touch of color and flavor and make the struffoli truly irresistible!