What Are Loukoumades? Greek Honey Doughnuts

Loukoumades are small Greek fried dough balls soaked in honey syrup and sprinkled with cinnamon or nuts. Here is their history and how they are served.

Loukoumades are small balls of yeasted dough fried until golden and crisp, then drenched in honey or honey syrup and sprinkled with cinnamon, sesame or chopped walnuts. They are eaten hot, straight from the fryer. In Greece they are a festival and street food, and a café treat in Greek communities everywhere.

An old idea

Fried dough soaked in honey is one of the oldest sweets in the eastern Mediterranean. Loukoumades are often linked to honey cakes described in ancient Greek sources, sometimes said to have been given to Olympic victors, but that connection is debated. Similar sweets include the Arab luqmat al-qadi and the Turkish lokma, and Egypt's zalabia.

How they are made

A soft, sticky batter of flour, yeast, water and a little sugar is left to rise until bubbly. It is squeezed through the hand or dropped from a spoon into hot oil, forming rough balls. Once golden, they are drained and poured over with warm honey syrup.

Toppings

Classic is honey, cinnamon and walnuts. Modern Greek shops add chocolate sauce, praline or ice cream. Some Greek islands serve them with thyme honey.

Hot from the oil, honey on top, eaten before it settles.

Loukoumades and zalabia

Egyptians will recognise loukoumades immediately: zalabia, or lokmet el-adi, is a near twin, fried and dipped in syrup. It is one of many sweets shared between Greek and Egyptian Alexandria.

Ask Délices

We bake by the season, so call us to ask what's on the counter today, or to plan Greek sweets for an occasion: +20 3 486 1432. You'll find us at 46 Saad Zaghloul Street, Raml Station, open daily 8 AM – 1 AM.