Loukoumades
Crisp little dough puffs drenched in honey and cinnamon.
Ingredients
- 300 g All-purpose flour
- 200 g Honey
- 500 ml Neutral oil
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- ½ tsp Salt
- 1 Cinnamon stick (optional)
- 50 g Walnuts (optional)
Method
- Whisk the flour, sugar, and salt with warm water (and yeast, if you have it) into a loose batter, then cover and leave in a warm place to rise until bubbly and doubled, about 1 hour.
- Drop spoonfuls of the risen batter into hot oil and fry, turning, until golden and puffed all over, about 12 minutes, then drain on paper towel.
- Warm the honey in a small pan over low heat, then stir in a little cinnamon grated from the stick to make a loose, pourable syrup.
- Drench the warm puffs in the honey syrup and scatter the walnuts over to serve.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Loukoumades
Loukoumades are Greece's beloved honey-drenched dough puffs, tiny fried fritters with a history stretching back to antiquity, when similar honeyed treats were said to be given to victors of the ancient games. They begin as a loose yeasted batter left to rise until bubbly, which is what gives the fried puffs their airy, open interior beneath a crackling shell. Spoonfuls are dropped into hot oil and turned until golden all over, then immediately drenched in warm honey syrup scented with cinnamon.
Fresh from the syrup they are irresistible: crisp on the outside, light and hollow within, and soaked in fragrant honey with a scatter of chopped walnuts for crunch. They are festival and celebration food, sold hot from street stalls and served at family gatherings and religious feasts, always eaten warm while the contrast between crisp shell and sweet syrup is at its peak. A dusting of extra cinnamon and more walnuts finishes them. The care in this version is in the rise — a properly proofed, bubbly batter is what guarantees puffs that are hollow and tender rather than dense.
Loukoumades: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Loukoumades?
A serving has about 375 calories — 5.6g protein, 68.6g carbs, 9.9g fat, 0.3g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Loukoumades gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains All-purpose flour. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
How long does Loukoumades take to make?
About 90 minutes start to finish, but only around 17 of those are hands-on — the rest is cooking time. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Loukoumades?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out cinnamon stick, walnuts — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Loukoumades make?
This recipe makes 6 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.