Sonhos de Natal — Portuguese Christmas Fritters

Light, airy fried dough puffs rolled in cinnamon sugar, a traditional treat at Christmas.

TIME BREAKDOWN
Prep: 20 min
Cook: 20 min
Total: 40 minutes
Vegetarian
✅
Nuts
❌
Serves
8 people
Difficulty
Easy

Ingredients

  • 250ml water
  • 50g unsalted butter
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • Pinch of salt
  • 150g plain flour
  • 4 eggs
  • Sunflower oil, for deep frying
  • 100g caster sugar
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon

Method

  1. Bring the water, butter, lemon zest and salt to the boil in a pan. Tip in the flour all at once and beat vigorously until the dough pulls away from the sides. Cook for 1 minute.

  2. Cool for 5 minutes, then beat in the eggs one at a time until the dough is smooth, glossy and drops reluctantly from a spoon.

  3. Heat 6cm of oil in a deep pan to 170°C.

  4. Drop in heaped tablespoons of dough, in batches, and fry for 4 to 5 minutes, turning, until puffed and deep golden.

  5. Drain on kitchen paper and roll in the cinnamon and sugar while hot. Serve warm.