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golden Egyptian zalabya sweet fritters

Egyptian Zalabya Sweet Fritters

Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside—these Egyptian zalabya sweet fritters are fried golden bites of joy. Soaked in sugar syrup or dusted with powdered sugar, they’re a Middle Eastern dessert favorite you’ll want to make again and again.
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Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: Egyptian, Middle Eastern
Calories: 220
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Dough:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon instant yeast
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 ¼ cups warm water adjust if needed
  • Pinch of salt
  • Vegetable oil for frying
For the Syrup:
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon rosewater or orange blossom water optional

Method
 

  1. Mix the dough. In a bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, yeast, sugar, and salt. Slowly add warm water while mixing until you get a smooth, sticky batter.
  2. Let it rise. Cover the bowl and let it rest in a warm place for about 1 hour until bubbly.
  3. Prepare the syrup. In a saucepan, boil sugar and water together. Add lemon juice and simmer 10 minutes until slightly thick. Stir in rosewater if using. Cool completely.
  4. Heat the oil. Pour oil into a deep pan, about 2 inches deep. Heat to 350°F (175°C).
  5. Shape and fry. Scoop small spoonfuls of batter and drop them carefully into hot oil. Fry until golden brown, turning often.
  6. Coat with syrup. Remove fritters with a slotted spoon, drain quickly, and toss in cooled syrup until well coated.
  7. Serve hot. Eat right away for the best crunch.

Notes

  • Make the syrup in advance so it’s cool when the fritters come out of the oil. Hot syrup will make them soggy.
  • Eat them fresh—these fritters lose their crunch after a few hours.
  • Powdered sugar is a good alternative if you prefer a lighter topping.