Loukoumades – Turkish Fried Honey Puffs Recipe
Loukoumades, also known as Turkish Lokma, are delicious deep-fried dough balls soaked in a sweet syrup, creating a crispy yet tender treat. This traditional Turkish dessert features airy dough fried to golden perfection and then drizzled with a fragrant sugar syrup infused with lemon juice. Perfect for sharing, these bite-sized delights can be garnished with cinnamon for an extra touch of warmth and flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 30 loukoumades 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Turkish
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough:
- 3 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 2 cup (400 ml) water
- 1 pack (11 g) instant yeast
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
For the Syrup:
- 2 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 cup water
- 3–4 drops lemon juice
Instructions
- Prepare the Syrup: In a pot, combine 2 cups of sugar and 1 1/2 cups of water. Stir constantly over medium heat until the sugar dissolves completely. Increase to high heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Let it boil for about 10 minutes until the syrup thickens slightly. Remove from heat, add 3-4 drops of lemon juice to prevent crystallization, and allow the syrup to cool.
- Make the Dough: In a mixing container, combine 3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour, 2 cups (400 ml) water, 1 packet (11 g) instant yeast, 1 tsp sugar, and 1 tsp salt. Mix thoroughly with a mixer until all ingredients are well combined. The batter will be a bit thicker than cake batter but still quite loose. Cover the container with plastic wrap and let the dough rest for about 1 hour at room temperature to rise and become airy.
- Heat the Oil: Fill half of a medium-sized pot with frying oil and heat it until hot enough for deep frying. To test readiness, drop a small amount of batter into the oil; it should sizzle immediately.
- Fry the Loukoumades: Lightly oil a spoon to prevent sticking. Using your hands, scoop some dough with one hand and spoon it with the other, then carefully pour dollops of dough into the hot oil. Fry the dough balls evenly by stirring occasionally until they turn golden brown and crispy on the outside.
- Soak in Syrup: Remove the fried loukoumades from the oil using a slotted spoon and immediately immerse them in the cooled syrup. Stir gently and let them soak in the syrup for 2-3 minutes to absorb the sweetness.
- Serve and Garnish: Transfer the syrup-soaked loukoumades to a serving plate. Pour any remaining syrup over the top and optionally sprinkle ground cinnamon for added flavor. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure the syrup is fully cooled before soaking the loukoumades to avoid breaking their crispiness prematurely.
- You can use honey or a honey-lemon syrup as an alternative to the sugar syrup for a different flavor profile.
- If you don’t have instant yeast, active dry yeast can be used but must be activated in warm water before mixing.
- Using oil with a high smoke point, such as vegetable or sunflower oil, is recommended for frying.
- Serve loukoumades fresh, as they tend to lose their crispiness if left too long.
Keywords: Loukoumades, Turkish Lokma, Turkish Dessert, Deep Fried Dough, Sweet Syrup, Traditional Turkish Sweets
