Traditional Dutch Oliebollen

A traditional Dutch pastry prepared with dried fruit, Oliebollen is a typical wintertime treat and is often served during the holidays and on New Year’s Eve throughout the Netherlands. Smakelijk!

Ingredients (Makes about 15 pieces)

• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons salt
• ½ egg, whipped
• ¾ cup lukewarm milk
• 1 ½ tablespoon dried yeast
• ⅓ cup currants
• ⅓ cup raisins
• Oil or fat for frying
• Powdered sugar
• Cinnamon

Directions

Sieve the flour in a bowl and add the salt. Make a little hole in the flour and pour in the whipped egg and the lukewarm milk. Add yeast and stir until the batter is smooth. Beat and stir the batter with a spoon for a few more minutes until it falls in pieces from the spoon.

Rinse the currants and raisins, drain and mix into the batter. Put a towel over the bowl and let batter rise for about 1 hour.

Heat a deep fry pan to 340°F. Coat 2 tablespoons with oil, scoop generous balls of dough from the bowl and carefully slide them into the heated oil. Fry for about 5 minutes until golden brown. Put the Oliebollen in a large bowl to drain.

Sprinkle them with powdered sugar and cinnamon, and enjoy as you wait for the clock to strike midnight!