Sweet bites are soft lemon-scented fritters to prepare for Carnival, a night with friends, Sunday dessert, festive occasions, or simply when we crave something delicious. These leavened dough treats are very easy to make; the dough is quickly prepared and does not require much handling or long rising times. We can customize the sweet bites as we like, adding cocoa, liqueur, almond flour, coconut flour, etc., to the dough. They will delight children and more.
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Very Cheap
- Rest time: 3 Hours
- Preparation time: 5 Minutes
- Portions: About 30
- Cooking methods: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Carnival
Ingredients
- 2 cups All-purpose flour
- 2/3 tsp Fresh yeast
- 1 tsp Sugar
- 1/2 cup Room temperature water
- 1/2 Lemon
- as needed Vegetable oil
- as needed Granulated sugar (for coating)
- 1 pinch Vanillin
Preparation
In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in a tablespoon of water (taken from the 1/2 cup). Add the sifted flour, the level teaspoon of sugar, a pinch of vanillin, the grated zest of half a lemon, and, little by little, the rest of the water. Stir with a spoon until you have a very soft, semi-thick mixture, but not liquid.
Seal the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise until the surface is raised and full of bubbles.
Heat the vegetable oil in a high-sided pan on the smallest burner over high flame.
Meanwhile, put the sugar in a small bowl and set aside.
When the oil is ready (320°F), using two spoons, take a portion of the mixture slightly smaller than a walnut and drop it into the hot oil. With a wooden spoon, turn the fritters in the hot oil until they become puffed and evenly golden (open one to make sure it is perfectly cooked). With a slotted spoon, drain them, immediately roll them in the bowl with sugar, and place them on a plate covered with absorbent paper. You’ll smell a wonderful aroma. Remember, during cooking, the volume of our delicious carnival-scented fritters will almost double.
For better frying. To prevent the oil temperature from dropping too much, ruining our bites, fry a few pieces at a time, waiting at least ten seconds before adding the next; this gives the oil time to reach the optimal temperature again.
