Loukoumades are traditional Greek Honey Balls made with fried dough and sometimes called Greek donuts. Sprinkled with walnuts and cinnamon, and drizzled with honey, these cuties make a perfect bite-size dessert!
Greece is one of my most favorite countries to cook from. There is something special about their food that attracts me and keeps coming back for more. I am pretty sure I am not alone in my love for the cuisine of this beautiful and hypnotizing Mediterranean country. Of all the people I know, nobody refuses to empty a plate of Greek food when I serve it during a party. Nobody! This time it's a dessert. The last Greek dessert I made for the blog (Kataifi) was splendid, so my expectations were really high this time. Meet Loukoumades (such a complicated name!) - Greek Honey Balls (Puffs) sprinkled with cinnamon and walnuts. You can also call them Greek donuts. Quite frankly, it's the best dessert I've had lately.
Loukoumades is a traditional Greek dessert with roots traced to the ancient Greece. Some sources even state that it's the oldest recorded pastry in European literature (wow!). It's amazing, isn't it? So, what Loukoumades are about? It's deep fried dough pastries drizzled with honey and sprinkled with cinnamon and walnuts. Sounds simple, but the end results is magical, believe me!
Similar deep fried dough puffs can be found in Turkish, Palestinian, Lebanese, and other Middle Eastern cuisines. The only thing that differs is the toppings. Talking about them, I love the velvety combination of honey and cinnamon. Divine! Oh and the crunch provided by walnuts is so on point.
If you will ever visit Greece, you'll be able to find Loukoumades everywhere. Every single café, even the smallest one, should have these little cute fluffy puffs on their menu. They are also frequently enjoyed in Greek homes. Not a single festival is complete without them! Greek women are so used to making these donuts, they are able to work the batter (which is really runny and sticky) with their bare hands, while many, who make Loukoumades for the first time, require a help of spoons. I don't mean to brag, but I managed to form the balls without using spoons (with the help of my precious wife).
Just remember that these Greek honey balls are best eaten on the same day they are made. It shouldn't be a problem though, because they are so addictive. You blink and puff, the puffs are gone (sorry for the tautology). Make these and enjoy the hell out of them! 
Loukoumades - Greek Honey and Walnut Balls
Ingredients
- 4 ½ cups + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon instant dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 ¼ cups warm water , divided
- vegetable oil , for frying
- 1-2 cups honey , for drizzling
- ground cinnamon , for sprinkling
- coarsely ground walnuts , for sprinkling
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix 4 ½ cups flour and the salt. Dissolve the yeast in ½ cups warm water, together with 1 tablespoon honey and 1 tablespoon flour.
- Make a well in the center of the flour and pour in the yeast mixture. Add the remaining 1 ¾ cups water. Mix using a spatula, until you get a sticky, loose batter. If the texture of the batter isn't like this, add more water to achieve the right consistency. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let raise for 2 hours, or until doubled in size.
- Fill half of the pot with oil and heat to 375°F (180°C).
- Now you need to shape your Loukoumades. There are two ways to do that.
- The first one. Oil your hands, take a handful of the batter and clench your fist around it. Squeeze out a knob of the batter between your fingers, scoop it up with an oiled tablespoon and drop into the hot oil.
- The second one. Oil two tablespoons. Lift a little bit of the batter on one and push it off into the hot oil using another one.
- The puffs are ready when they rise to the top and are light golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and dry on paper towels.
- Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with cinnamon and walnuts. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Natalie
Wow, these look delicious! Beautiful work and gorgeous photography!
Igor
Thank you so much for the kind words, Natalie. I am glad you loved it!
Jolina - The Unlikely Baker
I love Greek food. They're so flavourful and filling and just comfort food at its best! These donuts are no exception. You can't go wrong with fried bread and honey! Delicious!
Igor
Jolina, I fully agree. Greek cuisine is surely one of the best in the world 🙂
Cynthia
Looks like a fun snack and easy to make! We'll to to give this a try.
Igor
Cynthia, try these cuties, they are worth every single minute spent making them!
Diana
Wow these really do look amazing! There are similar Middle Eastern sweet balls they're called awameh, they're also very delicious! yum!
Igor
Thanks for the information, Diana! I am going to check awameh and maybe make them for the blog someday 🙂
Tara
Love Loukoumades! Yours look amazing. I love the step-by-step photos.
Igor
Thank you for the kind words, Tara!
ATHANASIOS
Hi Igore , you have a very nice blog here ! im from Greece and i want tell you a big thanks about good words and delicious sweets you make . I want sugest you also to try make this greek desert " karidopita" or walnutspie
8 tablespoons walnuts (1 glass of water) grated
10 tablespoons breadcrumbs
500 g. sugar
75 ml brandy
4 tsp baking powder (1 sachet)
6 eggs
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp clove powder
250 ml water
Preparation time
Degree of difficulty
easy
In a bowl, beat with a mixer the egg whites with 250g. sugar, then add the egg yolks, breadcrumbs, nuts, brandy, baking powder, cinnamon and cloves.
Pour the mixture into a baking dish and bake in a preheated oven at 180 C for about 60 minutes.
For the syrup
Boil in a pot 250g. sugar 250g. water until the sugar melts. Let the syrup cool completely and evenly spread on cake while hot.
Let the sweet 20 minutes to drink syrup, cut into portions and serve.
serve with icecream 😉
e.g for the best Loukoumades you need good Thym honey .