Scalille (Sweet Fried Dough) Southern Italian Christmas Treats (e98)

Buon giorno a tutti. In this episode, Nonna Mia, la nonna di tutti (everyone's grandma), shows us SCALILLE, a sweet, fried Southern Italian Christmas Classic!
Recipes for this sweet fried dough treat vary considerably region to region and family to family, as does its name. Scalille, scaliddri, scalilli, scalette, depending on the dialect, means little ladders. At our home, without fail, every Christmas we whip up big batches of scalille, turdili (wine cookie) and chianuille (filled pastry).
Here are the ingredients that you will need to make them Nonna's way. There's a slight Canadian twist - Canada Dry Ginger Ale came when Nonna and her sister-in-law, Gilda, began making them some six decades ago in Canada.
Recipe:
- 10 large eggs
- 8 cups (1 kg) all purpose flour (6c for the nest; 2c while kneading)
- 2 cups of sugar (400 grams)
- 1 cup of canola or olive oil (250 ml)
- 1 cup of ginger ale (250 ml)
- 4 teaspoons of baking powder (18 grams)
- powdered sugar for dusting or
- if you want to roll them in honey (warm up about 2 cups of honey, pour in a little water to thin out the honey a bit for easier coating / stop the honey from burning)
Nonna uses her big board for blending/kneading/rolling, but you can also mix in a large bowl. Because eggs vary in size, the flour might vary somewhat, so have extra on the side if needed.
Knead the dough until soft and smooth, not sticky and divide the dough into smaller, more workable portions. You will eventually need to transfer the dough to a dusted surface to roll 'snakes', about a foot long for shaping.
Nonna makes two twists in the center of each Scalille and then pinches the edge to hold it in place. Using water or egg can also help to secure the ends in place. Of course you can make them smaller or bigger - it depends on you. Some families like to use a stick to wrap the dough around.
You will require canola oil for frying the pastries - pour the oil about 1.5 inches high and heat to about 350F/190C. Canola has a higher burn point than olive oil, so Nonna prefers to fry with that. Test with a small piece of dough to ensure it is hot enough.
It just takes a few minutes to fry them to a golden brown colour. Drain off excess oil by placing the Scalille on paper towels.
Here, in this demonstration, we dusted the Scalille with powdered (icing) sugar, however, you can heat up honey and roll the pastries through the honey. Maple syrup makes for a lovely Canadian twist! Some people like to add sprinkles on top of the honey, but we never did.
Feel free to modify the flavour to suit your family's preferences - some families like anise, or lemon, or cinnamon or sprinkles - the possibilities are endless.
Nonna freezes them plain and then tops them just before serving with warm honey or powdered sugar. This will yield over 30 scalille about the length of your hand, so feel free to half the recipe if you have a smaller family or you don't wish to freeze them.
Buon appetito!
If you want to watch Nonna make turdilli or chianuille, please click on these links:
Turdilli: • Turdilli: Delicious Ca...
Chianuille: • Chianuille: The Southe...
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[@user-rr9vq5ui7r]

You fill me with joy!🙏

[@nonnamia7890]

Wow, that is so so so sweet. Thank you so much!

[@michelefisher5171]

I look forward to making these! Thank you! 🙏

[@nonnamia7890]

Wonderful. I hope you enjoy them. 🥰

[@angesull5946]

Love love this nonna. My famiglia is from San Giovanni in Fiore. We make similar call them Fritti.

[@nonnamia7890]

That's wonderful cara - we are paeani ... Buon Natale a voi tutti! xoxo

[@tullioossa23]

Ciao Nonna Mia, thanks so much for your recipes! We made the Nutella chocolate chip, lemon, and pignoli cookies last night and they all came out so good! Buon Natale to you and your family!! 🙏🏻

[@nonnamia7890]

That makes me so so happy! Thank you for watching my videos and for making these cookies. I am so grateful. Buon Natale a voi tutti!! xoxox

[@loretalatini911]

Nonna. Mia, you are so lovely! Scalloped we’re my beloved mother’s Christmas tradition, too…thank you for bringing me back to such a beautiful memory! I will definitely attempt this recipe this Christmas. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

[@nonnamia7890]

Prego cara. I’m so happy to read this. I hope you enjoy them. Buon Natale bella. 🥰😍😘

[@tonyp6369]

Ciao, nonna. It is a pleasure watching you bake all these italian things. I come from a small town in southern italy( Accadia) .My parents came to Toronto, Canada when I was 5 in 1957. My mother made all this but I never learned. Am rediscovering my heritage through you. By the way I am a male that loves your baking!!

[@nonnamia7890]

Caro Tony!! I am so honoured. Thank you so much for your note and more importantly, for following some of my videos. 🙏 Grazie mille bello. 🤗

[@heather.darcangelo]

- From one Nonna to another Grazie, Grazie. Buon Natale e Dio vi benedica

[@nonnamia7890]

Grazie tanto cara. Buon Natale a voi tutti. ❤️❤️

[@TuckerSP2011]

My Calabrese grandma made this for us almost every Sunday! She rolled it in honey. Buon Natale Nonna!

[@nonnamia7890]

Oh yes. I love them rolled in honey too. So glad you know these cara. 😘

[@944gemma]

So many memories. Grandmom and grandpop were Calabrese. (Albanese).

[@nonnamia7890]

Cara that warms my heart … happy you have Calabrese roots and that my video brought back some memories for you. Buon Natale cara. 😘😍🥰

[@surinderpuri9141]

Looks delicious!

[@nonnamia7890]

Thank you so much caro. 🤗

[@FrancescoTangorra]

Bravissima! Sembrano proprio deliziosi.

[@nonnamia7890]

Grazie tanto caro 🤩

[@caitogrady8747]

Looks so good! Would be amazing with a baileys and coffee Christmas morning :)

[@nonnamia7890]

Grazie cara. You’re absolutely right! 🥰

[@franceskloos1297]

Nonna, it looks delicious my grandmother used to make it I’m gonna definitely make it and put some in my freezer like you suggested. I ❤️Watching you!!! I even go back and watch other videos of yours, especially around Christmas with your cookies, cakes and your cooking. Merry Christmas 🎄to you and your family!!!

[@nonnamia7890]

This warms my heart so much bella. 🥰😍😘

[@samirakuche4844]

I wish you and your family a happy new year.🎉

[@nonnamia7890]

Grazie bella. You too. I love your name by the way! xx

[@francescoscaglione5182]

Ok, scalille: no more words required 😍👍😍👍😍👍 buon Natale nonna ❤

[@nonnamia7890]

Buon Natale caro!! xoxo

[@francescoscaglione5182]

@@nonnamia7890 nonna❤

[@angelastcyr1781]

That looks delicious!! Merry Christmas and God Bless. Enjoy your videos!!

[@nonnamia7890]

Thank you so much Angela. I’m so glad you watch my videos. Sending you a big hug!! 🤗🤗

[@ilovesyababe]

DELICIOUS ......................

[@nonnamia7890]

😍

[@jamesjordan2980]

IT LOOKS NONNA LIKE YOU PUT TWO CUPS OF OIL IN THE DOUGH, NOT ONE AS YOU SAID, AM I WRONG ? THANKS NONNA ! ANELLO GIORDANO FROM REGIO CALABRIA,,LAGO ! MY MOM MADE THESE EVERY XMAS !!! THANKS SO MUCH,, ENJOY WATCHING YOU !!!!

[@nonnamia7890]

Buon Natale caro - just one cup. xx

[@sbirulinapanda5055]

🌹Buongiorno anche a te!!vorrei sapere se con 10🥚uova hai usato solo un 1 kg Farina?..🙏complimenti dall’Italia👏🏻

[@nonnamia7890]

Grazie cara 🥰 … si un 1 kilo.

[@loretalatini911]

Scallile! My phone mistyped scallops.

[@nonnamia7890]

I do understand! Autocorrect!!!! 😩

[@oneitalia2312]

My beautiful, friend ~♡~ I wish we could bake together ~♡~ I'll make the espresso, sweep the floor and do the dishes! ~♡~ God Bless You Across The Miles ~♡~ You Are Lovely ~♡~

[@nonnamia7890]

You’re so sweet Natalia. I would love that too!! Buon Natale cara. ❤️❤️❤️

[@oneitalia2312]

@@nonnamia7890 Merry Christmas, Friend ~♡~

[@coreenpike8969]

Looks delicious!

[@nonnamia7890]

Grazie cara! Buon Natale!! 🥰