Loukoumades are delicious, soft and airy, fried confections with a sweet and sticky honey glaze. The recipe is easy and can be made with very little prep time, aside from waiting for the yeast to proof. These doughnuts go well with coffee, tea, or (if you’re feeling decadent) ice cream!
On the Ingredients
- Honey is probably the healthiest option for sugar sweeteners. It’s been used in natural medicine for centuries. Honey is sweeter than sugar, meaning you can use less of it. It contains trace amounts of local pollen, amino acids, antioxidants, enzymes, minerals, and vitamins. It is naturally anti-bacterial and anti-microbial and has been shown to suppress coughs and help heal wounds. It’s easier to digest than table sugar.
Recipe Notes and Substitutions
Freezing: You can easily freeze these doughnuts without their glaze, in an airtight ziplock after they have cooled down. They thaw out beautifully and can then be glazed. This is a good solution if 20 or so doughnuts will not be eaten quickly in your household.
What’s the best oil for frying? We can all probably agree that fried foods aren’t exactly healthy. However, if you’re treating yourself to some delicious fried food at home, you want to ensure you’re doing it in the best way possible. The best options are olive, avocado, soybean, peanut, and canola oils, all high in monounsaturated fatty acids. This means they’re more stable and fit well with the recommended frying temperatures of 350° F – 375° F. Yes, olive oil works, so long as you’re frying at those optimal temperatures, its smoke point is 410° F. However, olive oil has a strong flavor that might not go with everything. If you don’t think the flavor will go, avocado oil is a great, more neutral oil. If the price tag on avocado oil is too high for a high volume use like frying, canola oil is likely the most cost effective if you get the Field Day 32 oz bottle with C-op Basics.
Honey Glazed Greek Doughnuts (Loukoumades)
20
servings1
hour15
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minutesLoukoumades are delicious, soft and airy, fried confections with a sweet and sticky honey glaze. The recipe is easy and can be made with very little prep time, aside from waiting for the yeast to proof. These doughnuts go well with coffee, tea, or (if you're feeling decadent) ice cream!
Ingredients
- Doughnut Ingredients
4 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
1/2 cup warm milk
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp salt
1/3 cup butter (room temp)
3 eggs (room temp)
4 cups all-purpose flour
- Glaze Ingredients
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup water
- Other Ingredients
oil for frying
powdered sugar for dusting
Directions
- Combine the warm water and active dry yeast in a small bowl and let sit for 5 min until bubbly.
- Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine the milk, sugar, and salt. Stir in the yeast mixture. Add the butter and eggs and beat until combined.
- Slowly add the flour while mixing. Combine until you have a soft, sticky dough. Cover the bowl with a damp towel and let sit in a warm place until doubled in size (30-60 minutes).
- Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the honey and water for the glaze. Bring to a boil and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and let cool.
- When the dough is ready, heat a medium-sized heavy-bottomed pot with 1 inch of oil. To test if the oil is hot enough, insert a toothpick or bamboo skewer into the oil. It's ready when the oil bubbles around the wood.
- Scoop about one tablespoon of dough and carefully drop it into the oil. The dough is wet and sticky, so it won't make perfect balls; that's okay. Fry small batches at a time so you don't crowd the doughnuts.
- Fry each batch for 2-3 minutes on each side until they're golden brown.
- Transfer the fried doughnuts to a papertowel-lined tray. Roll each doughnut in the honey glaze before transferring to a serving dish. Garnish with a dusting of powdered sugar. Enjoy!
