Keijsers Koning Dutch Dessert

Oliebollen, or “oil balls” is a traditional Dutch dessert that is only eaten on New Year’s Eve.
My parents were both born and grew up in the Netherlands, and all of my family still lives there to this day. My whole family would eat these every year during the New Year. Well, except for my dad and my Uncle, Omar Joost (Omar is the Dutch word for uncle).
One day while my mom and Omar Joost were at a fair with their sitter, Omar Joost found a stand selling lots of oliebollen. My mom was running around, doing whatever she pleased, leaving Omar Joost and the sitter. The sitter, who invited her boyfriend to hang out, gave Omar Joost as much oliebollen as he desired to keep him distracted. That slightly backfired when he threw it all up, and has never eaten it since. My dad also ate way too much oliebollen and threw it all up as well. Nonetheless, despite the sensitive stomachs, everyone else in the family enjoys and loves oliebollen.
Growing up, my sister and I only ate oliebollen occasionally, both refusing to accept our Dutch heritage. However, in the past few years, my mom became more interested in keeping our Dutch roots by doing things like making oliebollen. My family doesn’t have a specific recipe, but we always add a spin to the online recipes with our craziness.
Baking with my family is not cute and cuddly. It is an endless war, flour and utensils flying, screams that can be heard for miles. And that is just my sister and I. My mom constantly sweeps in to help diffuse the situations but doesn’t do much to end it. Regardless, through all of our battles, the end results are almost always positive.
Making oliebollen has another personal element that makes it all the more special. After struggling with COVID-19 for five months, I was able to bake again with my family. The very first thing that I baked, or rather fried, was oliebollen. It was fun being able to bake and laugh and fight with each other once again in the kitchen, rather than being trapped in a bed.
Now, to bring these delicious, fried goodness to life, the ingredients and recipe is listed below.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup + 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, divided 
• ½ cup lukewarm water 
• 4 ½ teaspoons instant dry yeast 
• 4 cups all purpose flour 
• 2 large eggs 
• 2 cups of milk 
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 1 to 2 cups of raisins ( optional, but considered more traditional) 
• Vegetable oil, used for frying
• Sifted confectioners sugar (topping)

Preparing the dough

• In a small bowl, mix the water and one teaspoon of sugar. Sprinkle the dry yeast evenly on the lukewarm water. 
• Let the yeast sit on the water for 10 minutes. 
• In a large bowl, mix the flour and remaining sugar. Create a well inside the bowl, then add the water and yeast mixture inside the well. 
• Warm up the milk, either in the microwave or in a saucepan, until lukewarm. 
• Add half of the milk and mix until well combined. Then add the rest of the milk until the batter is smooth. 
• Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel and allow the dough to rise for 1 hour. 
• When the hour is over, mix in the salt. Normally, the dough will be wet. Fold in the raisins (optional). Let the dough sit while heating up the oil.

Frying the dough

• Heat 3 inches of oil in a large pot or deep fryer, at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Quickly dip two spoons in the hot oil before using both spoons to pick up dough. Do not place huge amounts of dough in the pot or each oliebollen will be raw. 
• Carefully place the dough in the hot oil with both spoons. Immediately, the dough will sink to the bottom before popping back up. 
• There can be multiple balls of dough in the oil at a time, but be careful not to overcrowd the pot. 
• Fry both sides of the oliebollen until golden brown. 
• On a plate with paper towels, place the oliebollen ontop to drain the excess oil. 
• Shift confectioners’ sugar onto the oliebollen 
• Serve warm