The original of this recipe comes from Anonimo Toscano, Libro della Cocina, a cookery book of the late 14th or early 15th century from Tuscany.

We served these in the final remove of our Italian Feast in 2006. If you make these in quantity, the cookie part can be made up earlier in the day and the heated honey and lemon can be poured over them just before serving. 

•  1 egg well-beaten  ( 6 servings)

• 1/2 -3/4 cup sifted flour

•  pinch of salt

• water if needed to make a dough

• Honey

•  lemon (s) thinly sliced.

• oil or lard for frying.  

Beat egg until light colored, stir in sifted flour and salt to make a soft dough. More flour can be kneaded in until it can be handled.  Roll out thin, fold over itself and roll back to the same thickness. Cut into shapes.

Fry in hot oil just until done. We are not looking for any browning, just doneness.  Cookies will puff up some, remove and drain on paper towels.  Can be made some ahead.

Just before serving, heat honey in pan with sliced lemon (or other flavoring) Bring to a boil for one minute and drizzle over cookies.

Note: As you can see below the original does not call for the lemon in the honey, and I can't for the life of me remember why I decided to add the lemon, but it cut the heavy sweetness of the honey. You could easily leave it out or substitute some other flavoring such as orange, lavender or other herbs.

Dulcamine, that is, fritters not for Lent.
[146] Take flour diluted with eggs and water and roll it out thin; cut it in the shape of leaves or figs, or as you like, and fry in plenty of lard or oil; and once cooked put boiling honey on it, and eat.

This English Translation is the work of Vittoria Aureli and was previously available on line but is currently unavailable.

 We served this at Last Chance 2006

Other recipes from Anonimo Toscano

Onions in Sauce

Other Italian recipes

• Armored Turnips 

• Dulcamine 

• Imperial Fritters 

• Ofella

• Ravioli 

• Sweet and Sour Sauce for Pork

• White Fritters  

• White Torte 

• Other Fritters

• Apple Fritters

• Apple Puffs

• Apple Pillows

• Cherry Puffs

• Frytours of Mylke

• Puffed Apples