“Holiday decorating” probably has your mind jumping to what’s packed away in the basement or sitting on display at Costco right now. But what if we reimagined holiday home décor? Because honestly, the best decorations aren’t the ones you buy or craft, they’re the ones you can eat.
Think about it: a glass bowl of gold-wrapped candies instantly adds sparkle to any room, just as a plate of cookies enhances any countertop. Even that infamous tin of holiday popcorn serves a dual purpose—a snack and a statement piece in one. From candied lemon peel to peppermint bark, edible treats bring color and charm to every corner of the house. Bonus points if they’re homemade.
And when it comes to edible décor, nothing beats a true table centerpiece. Sure, gingerbread houses and yule logs are classics, but Giada De Laurentiis has a festive favorite that might top them all—and it comes straight from her Italian kitchen.
Giada De Laurentiis’ Favorite Family Holiday Recipe
We had the chance to talk with Giada about her family traditions through her partnership with Loacker, and she shared the one recipe that’s always on her Christmas table. In fact, it actually makes an appearance on her table a couple of weeks before the big day.
“Struffoli during Christmas is really, really important to us,” she shared. “We use it as our centerpiece, but also as our main attraction when it comes to holiday dessert.”
It’s also the oldest holiday recipe in her family, passed down through four generations—so you know it’s something special.
What Is Struffoli?
Struffoli is a southern Italian dessert traditionally made in the Christmas season. It’s a mound of small fried dough balls and toasted nuts, coated in a sweet honey syrup. Giada shared, “It really runs deep in the Italian culture,” so much so that her great-grandparents used to make it, too.
The type of nuts used depends on the region—peanuts are common in Naples, while Giada’s Northern Italian version uses hazelnuts. “Nuts are expensive,” she explained, “so you kind of mimic the look of the nuts with these dough balls.” Some recipes even skip the nuts altogether.
Once the golden bites are fried and glazed, they’re stacked into a tower or formed into a festive wreath before being topped with colorful toppings. “We decorate it with all sorts of candies and colored sprinkles—the kids go wild decorating it the way they want,” Giada mentioned. “This year, I was thinking of crushing up little wafer cookies, the Tortina minis, and decorating the struffoli with that.”
The dough is fragrant with citrus and vanilla, and once it’s coated in honey and citrus syrup, it turns into a glossy, golden centerpiece that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. “It’s more edible than a gingerbread house…honestly,” Giada laughed. “Cause nobody eats a gingerbread house, really. But we actually eat this.”
And here’s the best part: it’s meant to be made ahead of time. The honey glaze hardens a bit and soaks into the dough, making it even tastier as the days go on. “We actually make it a lot of times, even up to two weeks before Christmas, and it’s still great,” she said. That means it can sit on the table looking beautiful until it’s time to eat—and when that time comes, everyone pulls off pieces like monkey bread.
So if you’re looking for a new way to decorate your table (and something that makes the countdown to Christmas even sweeter), skip the garland and give Giada’s family recipe a try. Struffoli might just become your new favorite holiday decoration.
Read the original article on Allrecipes
Dining and Cooking