Sfenj for Hanukkah

Ingredients

What you’ll need

• Dough
• 3 cups flour
• 2 tsp active dry yeast
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp sugar
• grated zest of 1 orange
• 1.25 cups warm water
• Syrup
• 1 cup honey
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 cinnamon stick
• Vegetable oil for deep frying

Method

How it comes together

1. 1

   Dissolve yeast and sugar in 1/4 cup warm water. Let stand for 5 minutes. Combine flour, salt, and orange zest in a bowl. Pour in yeast and remaining warm water, beating dough vigorously for 10-15 minutes until extremely sticky and wet.

2. 2

   Cover and let rise in a warm place for 2 hours until doubled and full of bubbles.

3. 3

   Warm the honey, water, and cinnamon stick in a saucepan over low heat to make the syrup. Keep warm.

4. 4

   Heat deep frying oil to 350°F (175°C). Wet your hands, tear off a ball of dough, poke a hole in the center, stretch it wide into a ring, and drop carefully into hot oil.

5. 5

   Fry for 2-3 minutes per side until golden. Drain on paper towels, then immediately dip in the warm honey syrup.