Turdilli Recipe: Traditional Calabrian Honey Wine Cookies

EAT

ANNA'S KITCHEN

Turdilli Recipe: Traditional Calabrian Honey Wine Cookies

A Christmas memory, shaped by hand and sweetened with honey.

By Lady Anna

@thatladyanna

December 22, 2025

By Lady Anna

Ingredients

1

cup Gratsi Red
1

cup honey (plus more for coating)
1

cup oil (vegetable or olive oil)
5 1/2

cups Caputo flour
Vegetable oil, for frying

Instructions

TOTAL TIME

30 minutes

15-20 servings

For more Calabrian recipes and traditional Italian holiday baking, discover Amaretti Cookies, our classic Ciambelline al Vino, and our guide to Pizza and Wine Pairings.

An older woman with short white hair, wearing glasses and a yellow patterned apron, stands in a kitchen behind a wooden counter with flour, olive oil, honey, and a measuring cup on it. She is smiling at the camera.

A tray of golden, honey-coated Italian pastries sits on a blue tray in a modern kitchen with dark cabinets and stainless steel appliances in the background.

STEP 1: Prepare the Dough Base

Prepare the Dough Base
In a saucepan, combine the Gratsi wine, honey, and oil. Bring to a gentle boil, then remove from heat.

STEP 2: Mix the Dough

Mix the Dough
Add the flour to a stand mixer bowl. Slowly pour in the warm liquid mixture while mixing on low speed. Continue mixing until a smooth, pliable dough forms.

A pile of flour on a wooden cutting board, with olive oil, a glass of dark liquid, a large jug, and a measuring cup in the background in a modern kitchen.

A close-up of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment mixing a thick, light purple dough in a metal bowl on a kitchen counter. Various kitchen items are visible in the background.

A ball of purple dough rests on a floured wooden countertop in a modern kitchen, with a glass of dark liquid, bench scraper, and kitchen appliances visible in the background.

STEP 3: Shape the Turdilli

Shape the Turdilli
Take a small piece of dough and roll it into a rope about 1 inch thick. Cut into 2-inch pieces. Using the bottom of a clean, dry basket (or fork), gently roll each piece to create grooves.

Several long, brown dough ropes dusted with flour are lined up on a wooden cutting board in a kitchen with dark cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

Smiling elderly woman with short white hair and glasses stands in a modern kitchen, wearing a yellow patterned apron, holding a cutting board behind a counter covered with pieces of uncooked dough.

A pile of uncooked purple gnocchi pieces dusted with flour sits on a wooden surface in a kitchen, with a stove, cabinets, and countertop visible in the background.

STEP 4: Fry

Fry
Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan over medium heat. Fry the turdilli in batches until golden brown. Remove and place on paper towels to absorb excess oil.

An older woman with short white hair and glasses, wearing a yellow patterned apron, smiles while frying pastries in a pan on a stove in a modern kitchen.

A frying pan filled with sizzling, brown dough pieces in bubbling oil on a stove. In the background, a stack of finished pastries, three labeled canisters, and a yellow lemon-shaped container are visible.

STEP 5: Honey Coating

Honey Coating
In a separate pan, gently warm the honey over low heat. Roll the warm turdilli in the honey until fully coated.
Place them on a plate without overlapping, as they will stick.

Serve warm or at room temperature and enjoy this sweet Calabrian classic!

A plate of small, ridged pastries coated in syrup and topped with colorful sprinkles sits in front of a GRATSİ sign and a GRATSİ glass in a modern kitchen setting.

The market

Red Wine

$39

White Wine

$39

Rosé Wine

$39