• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Me
  • Shop

Cooking on the Front Burner

Creating memories with delicious recipes for all!

Home ยป Uncategorized ยป Italian Honey Balls

Published: Mar 4, 2014 ยท Modified: Mar 10, 2019 by Deb Attinella

Italian Honey Balls

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please visit my disclosure page.

3shares
  • 3

Happy Fat Tuesday where today I’m sharing with you an Italian tradition of what I grew up with called Honey Balls or as my Nonni called them Castoniole.

Italian Honey Balls | Cooking on the Front burner

This sweet treat was always made before the first day of lent started as a last indulgence before the fasting of lent began – made either on Fat Tuesday or a few days before.  I remember the anticipation of them and watching my grandmother and my mom make these.  These hot donut-like balls would be placed in a large bowl and warm honey poured all over them!  I really have fond memories of these times back in the day.  I am keeping the tradition alive by making them for us which is normally just the DIY Guy and myself.  But this past weekend Kristina, Benj and Emily were in town and were able to dig in with us!   (Though not Emily – no honey for babies under a year!)

I still follow this recipe in my mom’s handwriting and you can tell it is quite loved and used!

I’m happy to share this typed recipe with you!

Honey Balls (Castoniole)

by Deb Attinella
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: about 5 minutes
Yield about 18
6060933

Ingredients
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 heaping tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon melted shortening
  • 1 1/3 cup flour
  • 2 heaping teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 lemon grated zest
  • 1 1/2 tsp anise seeds
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • vegetable oil for frying
  • honey
Instructions
  1. Beat with fork the egg and milk
  2. Add the sugar and shortening
  3. Mix the flour and baking powder together than add to egg mixture
  4. Add lemon zest, anise seeds and vanilla and stir well
  5. Heat oil in a medium size sauce pan (about 5″ of oil)  to 350 degrees and drop a rounded tablespoon of dough – cook until light brown (the ball will flip itself as it fries)
  6. Remove from oil, place in bowl and drizzle warm honey over them
Powered by Recipage

Now I do think there are many variations of this traditional Italian dessert.  I found a spelling of Castagnole that is very similar to what these are. I’m sure each region of Italy had a slight variation of this treat.

I always eat way too many – when you only get them once a year, you sure want to get your fill!!

Italian Honey Balls | Cooking on the Front Burner #honeyballs #castoniole
3shares
  • 3

Previous Post: « Link Party – Marvelous Monday #88
Next Post: Tomato Tortellini Soup »

Reader Interactions

Related posts

  • Blog Anniversary and $500 Cash Giveaway!

    Blog Anniversary and $500 Cash Giveaway!

  • Kitchen Aid Mixer Giveaway!

    Kitchen Aid Mixer Giveaway!

  • Best Of the Weekend and News

    Best Of the Weekend and News

  • Best of the Weekend-Tasty Recipes

    Best of the Weekend-Tasty Recipes

Comments

  1. Lulu Abruzzo says

    March 04, 2014 at 12:05 pm

    My friends in Abruzzo keep raving about these. I need to try some when I'm next over there!

    http://www.myfamilyandabruzzo.com
    http://www.lululovesfilms.wordpress.com

    Reply
  2. Carrie R says

    March 04, 2014 at 1:50 pm

    Oh, I love this, Deb! ๐Ÿ™‚ And I adore the handwritten recipe card- those are always fave family recipes. <3 Thank you for sharing this recipe with us all…

    Reply
  3. Tanya-Lemonsforlulu.com says

    March 04, 2014 at 2:32 pm

    Those look tantalizingly light and delicious Deb! Beautiful pics too!

    Reply
  4. Marcie FlavortheMoments says

    March 04, 2014 at 2:38 pm

    Wow, Deb, these look amazing! They remind me of the Greek donut-hole style dessert called loukoumades, and I love them! I love that recipe in your mother's handwriting — that's so special to have!

    Reply
  5. Consuelo @ Honey & Figs says

    March 04, 2014 at 10:27 am

    How come I'd never heard of these? They look phenomenal Deb! I wouldn't be able to stop at one, for sure ;–) xx

    Reply
  6. Lori @ Foxes Love Lemons says

    March 04, 2014 at 7:28 pm

    So, lately I've had this intense craving for melomakarona, which are a Greek honey-dipped cookie. I made them once and fell in love, but they're kind of labor-intensive. And now I'm craving these, too! I never fancied myself much of a honey lover, but that first photo with the honey dripping down the sides of the ball has me drooling!

    Reply
  7. Cindy Eikenberg, Little Miss Celebration says

    March 05, 2014 at 2:15 am

    Oh my goodness, Deb, does this bring back memories for me, too, and makes me miss my childhood days! My grandmother made a version of these, too. I love seeing your recipe card – I totally love that I have recipes written by my mom and grandmother (though I have to stop dripping stuff all over them!) These look so great! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe, it's very special.

    Reply
  8. sprinklesandsauce says

    March 05, 2014 at 5:05 am

    simple and great!

    Reply
  9. Ann Jones says

    March 05, 2014 at 11:43 am

    These remind me of hushpuppies (the sweet kind) which I love! Your photos are beautiful (as always), I bet my family would love this recipe!

    Reply
  10. Joan / My Cookie Clinic says

    March 05, 2014 at 1:31 pm

    Deb, These look delicious! I love that you are carrying on the tradition of your mother and grandmother with this sweet delight.

    Reply
  11. Kelly LifemadeSweeter says

    March 06, 2014 at 11:57 am

    These look incredible and so delicious Deb! Love family recipes like these, thank you so much for sharing with us ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  12. Chef Mireille says

    March 07, 2014 at 2:58 pm

    such a treasure to have this traditional recipe passed down in your family

    Reply
  13. Pat Ombrello says

    March 08, 2014 at 1:13 am

    I am your newest follower! Your Castoniole look like a version of zepole that my husband's grandmother used to make for us! Your sauce starts like hers as well! Many varieties of meat as a base and meatballs poached rather than baked or broiled! I thought I was the only one who still did my meatballs that way! Looking forward to future posts!

    Reply
  14. dina says

    March 10, 2014 at 12:14 am

    i've never heard of these but any kind of dough especially with honey is OK by me! what region of italy is your family from?

    Reply
  15. Jamie Sherman says

    March 11, 2014 at 1:56 am

    What a treasure! These sound incredible, Deb ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  16. Evelyn @ My Turn for us says

    March 14, 2014 at 3:14 pm

    These awesome babies were totally featured today at Freedom Fridays With All My Bloggy Friends!!

    Thanks for sharing!!!

    Hugs

    Reply

Have a question or comment? Please leave a reply. Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Follow us on Pinterest! Follow us on Facebook! Follow us on Instagram! Follow us on Twitter! Send an email!
Search here

FIND A RECIPE

Footer

Past Posts

Categories

Search

© Copyright 2019 · Graphics & Theme customization by Little Eye

ร—
  • Recipe Index
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Shop

Modern Mobile Menu Social icons

  • Follow us on Pinterest! Follow us on Facebook! Follow us on Instagram! Follow us on Twitter! Send an email!