Loukoumades
Active dry yeast and chopped walnuts come together in this Greek dessert — 60 minutes, 6 steps, and the kind of result worth repeating. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 6 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.
You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and large pot. At medium difficulty across 6 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, the ingredients are plant-based.
What you'll need
Shopping list (2)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Stir the yeast and sugar into the warm water and let it stand for about 10 minutes until foamy on the surface.
- Whisk the flour and salt in a large bowl, pour in the yeast mixture, and beat into a smooth, thick, sticky batter, then cover and leave in a warm spot for 1 to 1.5 hours until bubbly and doubled.
- Warm the honey gently with a splash of water until pourable and runny, then set it aside to keep warm.
- Heat the frying oil to 170°C, then scoop up batter with a wet spoon or squeeze small portions from a wet hand and drop walnut-sized balls carefully into the oil.
- Fry in batches for 2 to 3 minutes, turning so they puff and color evenly to deep golden brown, then lift out with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
- Pile the hot loukoumades onto a platter, drizzle generously with the warm honey, and finish with a heavy dusting of cinnamon and the chopped walnuts before serving at once.
You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Large pot · Whisk
Ingredient substitutions
- Honey
- maple syrup · agave
What to serve with Loukoumades
- Garides Saganaki Seafood
- Moussaka Beef
- Stuffed Lamb Tomatoes Lamb
- Lamb and Lemon Souvlaki Lamb
Tips & common questions
How long does Loukoumades take to make?
About 60 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 6 steps and 9 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of honey?
Try maple syrup. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Loukoumades vegan?
Based on its ingredients, this recipe contains no meat, fish, dairy or egg, so it looks vegan-friendly. Always double-check labels on packaged items.
Related recipes
Loukoumades is an original Greek recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Loukoumades Greek Doughnuts with Walnuts and Honey.jpg by Alpha from Melbourne, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.