Olie Bollen

4 cups flour

3 packages of yeast 

2 cups lukewarm milk

3/4 cup sugar

2 cups raisins or currants

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

Sugar or powdered sugar for rolling

Vegetable oil for frying (Crisco is best)

Make a batter of milk, yeast, and flour; add raisins, salt, and eggs. Let stand for one hour under a damp cloth. Meanwhile, heat your oil to 350 degrees. Drop a tablespoon (or small cookie dough scoop) of dough into the hot oil. Fry until brown and crispy, turning if necessary. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on layers of paper towels to drain. Roll olie bollen in sugar or powdered sugar.

In the Netherlands, olie bollen (or sometimes called vet bollen) are made on New Year's Eve. When I was growing up, a dear friend who had emigrated from the Netherlands made these every New Year's Day for our family. I've continued the tradition! Some recipes add chopped apple or citrus.