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Loukoumades

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loukoumades with sweet syrup and chopped walnuts

loukoumades with sweet syrup and chopped walnuts

Light, airy, puffs of fried dough drizzled in sweet syrup and sprinkled with chopped walnuts – have I got your attention yet? Loukoumades are AMAZING, its that simple.

As a child, I asked for these every year on my birthday.  First my Yiayia made them for me and after she passed away, my dad took over and now I make them for my birthday guests.  These are a bit of a special occasion desert  but I will admit to making them once in a while on a random weeknight just because!

loukoumades

loukoumades

In Greece, loukoumades are more of a winter desert but you can find them around in summer if you ask.  My family still teases me about the time I tucked away 5 softball sized loukoumades on one summer trip to Chios – I couldn’t help myself, they were that good. In the US, spring and summer Greek festivals always have them cooking up and the loukoumades are as big a draw as the bands.

A handful of everyday ingredients – flour, sugar, yeast and water – are all you need to make up a batch of these lovelies. Let the batter rise for an hour or so and drop them by the spoonful into hot oil for a couple of minutes until they’re a gorgeous golden brown.  Drizzle them with sweet syrup of honey (or agave) and sprinkle with chopped walnuts.  That’s all there is to it!

flour, yeast, sugar and water

flour, yeast, sugar and water

Ingredients

  • 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 cups warm water
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 packet of yeast (2 1/2 tsp loose yeast)
  • vegetable oil for frying

Syrup

  • 1/3 cup honey or agave nectar
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 cup water

Instructions

Add yeast to 1/2 cup of warm water, add teaspoon of sugar, stir gently and set aside to proof.  Make sure that the yeast/water becomes bubbly and foamy on top after a minute or two –  this means your yeast has proofed.  If it doesn’t, your yeast may be too old.  If that’s the case, toss it out and try a new packet of yeast.  Don’t try to use the old, or unproofed, yeast – your batter won’t rise.

proofed yeast

proofed yeast

Combine the flour and sugar completely in large mixing bowl. Scoop out a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add proofed yeast and 1 1/2 cups warm water.

add wet ingredients to well in dry ingredients

add wet ingredients to well in dry ingredients

Stir well to combine all ingredients completely.  The batter should be loose but thick and sticky.

loose batter

loose batter

Cover bowl of batter with clean dish cloth and set aside in a warm place to rise.  Batter should rise to about double its size in 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

cover bowl of batter and set to rise

cover bowl of batter and set to rise

While batter is rising, combine honey or agave nectar, water, sugar and cinnamon together in saucepan and heat until you get a gentle simmer.  Cook carefully for another 10 minutes and remove from heat. Set aside.

Risen batter should be soft and just about doubled in size with small bubbles on the surface.  Stir dough gently to deflate batter.

soft, risen batter with small surface bubbles

soft, risen batter with small surface bubbles

Add vegetable oil to medium sized pot.  The oil should be at least 3 inches deep with 5 inches being ideal.  Choice of pot/pan size is up to you, just keep in mind the at least 3-5 inches of oil rule. Heat oil to about 350 degrees.  If you don’t have a thermometer, heat on medium low heat for about 3-4 minutes and test by adding a drop of batter to the oil. If it hisses and spits, your oil is hot enough and you’re ready to get started.

I use the two-spoon method of scooping out the batter.  My Yiayia used to just scoop up a handful of dough and squeeze it from her fist right into the oil. I’ve never perfected her method and every time I try it end up with more batter on me than in the pot so two-spoons it is.  Keep a cup of warm water next to batter bowl to dip your spoons in between scoops.
If you’re using an electric deep fryer, keep your temp set at 350.  If you’re frying on a stovetop, move pot of oil off of the heat between batches to keep the oil from burning. Drain loukoumades on a paper towel lined dish and serve warm with syrup.

drain on paper towel

drain on paper towel

Make sure not to drench the loukoumades – too much syrup makes for soggy, heavy puffs.  Lightly drizzle on syrup as you serve dish by dish.  its best not to syrup the entire batch as the loukoumades at the bottom of the bowl will inevitably get soggy the longer they sit at the bottom of the bowl.

Sprinkle with chopped walnuts. For a fun twist, use long wooden grilling skewers and alternate loukoumades and maraschino cherries – an extra festive way to enjoy this delicious desert!

loukoumades and cherries

loukoumades and cherries

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16 Responses to Loukoumades

  1. Anna January 2, 2014 at 4:19 am #

    Looks awesome! Recipe bookmarked! Love your blog. Xronia Polla – Anna

    • Kiki January 2, 2014 at 4:21 am #

      Thanks Anna, so glad you found us! Episis, kali xronia! Kiki 🙂

  2. Jennifer June 4, 2014 at 11:00 pm #

    Is this a vegan version of a typically non-vegan recipe? Or are loukoumades usually vegan?
    I live in a primarily Greek neighborhood (Astoria, NY) and I’ve always been tempted to try these bad boys. They look so good! But I’ve been scared that they may have milk or eggs. Is that usually the case?… Like if I were to buy them from a Greek bakery or restaurant should I worry?

    • Kiki June 10, 2014 at 12:57 am #

      Hi Jennifer! Loukoumades are traditionally vegan. Strangely, there are some people who do make them with eggs and even milk. To be safe, I’d just ask. I’m sure the bakery/restaurant would be happy to share the info with you. Guaranteed you’ll find vegan/fasting ones many places in Astoria, I promise. Thing is you’ll soon become addicted – but a sweet, albeit fattening, addiction it will be! Kiki 🙂

  3. Hadia's Lebanese Cuisine November 10, 2014 at 6:26 pm #

    The similarities between Lebanese and Greek cuisinecannot be denied. We have a similar recipe in Lebanon called Awamat! Your recipe sounds so good!

  4. Nick F May 9, 2015 at 9:40 am #

    How many loukoumades would you say this recipe yields?

    • Kiki May 9, 2015 at 1:44 pm #

      Nick, I’d say 50-60 good sized loukoumades.

      • Nick F May 9, 2015 at 7:11 pm #

        Just waiting for the mix to rise now. This is a test run for next week at church the head Loukomades guy doesn’t want to show me how to make them so I’m on my own for our fundraiser.

        • Kiki May 10, 2015 at 9:43 pm #

          If you need a taste tester Nick, I’m just in Boston and happy to come and sample 🙂

          what church? it drives me crazy when people won’t share their recipes!!!!

  5. Honey Dee December 8, 2015 at 1:52 am #

    i will definitely try.. Thank you sharing loukomades recipe.

  6. Olga March 14, 2017 at 6:00 am #

    Very thorough instructions and great tips! I will try these now esp during Lent. Thanks!

  7. Natalie March 31, 2017 at 11:17 am #

    I’ve made these a few times now and they’re great. Thanks for all your recipes!

  8. Ko April 1, 2017 at 2:43 pm #

    Honey is not vegan however my family is also from Chios and hey make their own syrup for Bakalhava so I will powder them up Italian tono or drizzle home made sugar syrup. Thank you. I am preparing for Easter and hope they are as well received as chocolate easter eggs.

  9. George October 26, 2017 at 12:33 pm #

    Can this recipe apply with gluten free flour?

  10. Michele May 1, 2020 at 4:38 pm #

    Thank you very much for sharing this recipe !!! They are delicious and will easily become a favourite 🙂

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