Written by Simon B.
For me Christmas during my childhood was always a special family time. I’d travel with my family to Holland where my extended family and grand parents lived. My grandmother was a traditional cook who knew how to masterfully cook all the Dutch classics.
In the days leading up to Christmas day, I’d help my grandmother prepare my personal favorite, called Oliebollen which is a simply donut-like delicacy made of flour, currents and apples. It was something wonderful I could do for the family and I always got a cheer presenting a large hot bowl of them covered in icing sugar.
There were many other mini-events that formed the tradition of the “Dutch Christmas” for me – like going to the city square to listen to the cathedral bells (called a carillion) play Christmas hymns, but the Oliebollen was always ranked high up there as well.
How to Make Your Own Oliebollen!
Ingredients:
1 (0.6 ounce) cake compressed fresh yeast
1 cup lukewarm milk
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
1 egg
¾ cup dried currants
¾ cup raisins
1 Granny Smith apple – peeled, cored and finely chopped
1 quart vegetable oil for deep-frying
1 cup confectioners’ sugar for dusting
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The Recipe:
- Step 1 – Break up the compressed yeast, and stir into the warm milk. Let stand for a few minutes to dissolve. Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Stir the yeast mixture and egg into the flour and mix into a smooth batter. Stir in the currants, raisins and apple. Cover the bowl, and leave the batter in a warm place to rise until double in size. This will take about 1 hour.
- Step 2 – Heat the oil in a deep-fryer, or heavy deep pan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Use 2 metal spoons to shape scoops of dough into balls, and drop them carefully into the hot oil.
- Step 3 – Fry the balls until golden brown, about 8 minutes. The doughnuts should be soft and not greasy. If the oil is not hot enough, the outside will be tough and the insides greasy. Drain finished doughnuts on paper towels and dust with confectioners’ sugar. Serve them piled on a dish with more confectioners’ sugar dusted over them. Eat them hot if possible.
Taken from allrecipes.com because unfortunately, I was far too young to remember the recipe for myself! Enjoy.
Revive Leeds 
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