Umbrian Honey Cake (Umbria)

Desserts

Ingredients

All purpose flour - 1 1/2 cups

Granulated sugar - 1/2 cup

Olive oil - 5 tbsps

Eggs, lightly beaten - 2

Oil for frying

Honey - 1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp

Blanched almonds, slivered - 2-3 tbsps

Ground cinnamon

Sift the flour into a bowl, make a well in the middle and add the sugar, oil and eggs. Work to a firm, using a little more flour if necessary, knead until smooth and pliable.

Break off pieces of the dough and roll into long, thin "sausages". Cut each sausage into slices and roll each slice into a ball the size of a large pea. Heat plenty of olive oil in a deep frying pan. Drop the dough "peas" into the hot oil, a few at a time, and fry until golden. Take from the pan and drain on absorbant paper.

Melt the honey in a pan and cook until it begins to change color. Add the fried dough "peas" and stir carefully with a wooden spoon until well mixed. Turn out on to a plate or marble slab brushed with water. When the mixture is cool enough to handle, wet your hands and form into a ring shape, like a large doughnut. Sprinkle with the almonds, cinnamon.