Oliebollen – who doesn’t love them? During New Year’s Eve these treats are an absolute must. In December you can find these delicious fried dough balls almost everywhere: at the local bakery, at oliebollen stalls and even at various sports clubs that sell them around the New Year. Of course, we enjoy baking oliebollen ourselves. Homemade oliebollen are simply the most delicious, provided you prepare them the right way. In this article we share several helpful tips for baking oliebollen so you can easily make the tastiest ones at home. Read on to learn more.
Which Appliances Can You Use to Bake Oliebollen?
You can use several different appliances to bake these delicious dough balls. Oliebollen can be made in a deep fryer, a large soup pan, and nowadays some people even bake them in an air fryer. Below we explain how to prepare oliebollen using each method.
Baking Oliebollen in a Deep Fryer
Most people use a deep fryer to bake oliebollen. A deep fryer keeps the oil at a constant temperature. Before you start, make sure the fryer is thoroughly cleaned so the oliebollen do not taste like chips or croquettes. In a deep fryer, the dough balls often turn over automatically once one side is cooked.
Baking Oliebollen Without a Deep Fryer
It is also possible to bake oliebollen without a deep fryer, although it can be slightly more challenging. You can bake them in a pan, but with a pan it is more difficult to keep the oil at a consistent temperature. Keep a close eye on the temperature by occasionally checking it with a thermometer. The lower the oil temperature, the less crisp and tasty the oliebollen will be.
Baking Oliebollen in a Pan
If you want to bake oliebollen in a pan, it is best to use a large one. Make sure the pan is fairly deep so that hot oil does not easily splash out. Add enough oil to the pan, but do not fill it to the brim. Heat the oil to about the same temperature as in a deep fryer, around 190°C. While the dough balls often turn by themselves in a deep fryer, you will probably need to turn them manually in a pan. Bake the oliebollen for about 5 to 8 minutes until cooked through.
Baking Oliebollen in an Air Fryer
Would you like to bake oliebollen without deep-frying because you prefer a slightly healthier option? Then you can choose to bake them in an air fryer. Another major advantage is that your home will not smell like frying oil. In an air fryer the dough balls are not cooked in oil, which means they become slightly more compact than traditional oliebollen. For baking oliebollen in an air fryer you will need a suitable baking accessory.
How Do You Bake Oliebollen in an Air Fryer?
Place the baking accessory in the air fryer and grease it lightly with baking spray. Moisten an ice cream scoop with a little water and use it to scoop a ball of batter into the mould. Wet the scoop again and form another ball. Continue until the accessory is filled, leaving enough space between the dough balls. Spray the tops lightly with olive oil spray to give them a nice colour. Bake the oliebollen at 200°C for about 10 minutes. The exact baking time depends on the size of the dough balls.
Which Oil Is Best for Baking Oliebollen?
Oliebollen are best fried in a neutral oil with little flavour or aroma, such as sunflower oil or groundnut oil. Olive oil and even vegetable oil can also be used. We do not recommend frying oliebollen in standard frying oil. In theory it is possible, but the final result is less enjoyable. Frying oil can cause the dough balls to develop a pale coating that becomes hard as they cool and does not taste very pleasant. It is therefore best to use a neutral vegetable oil that can be heated to high temperatures.
At What Temperature Should You Bake Oliebollen?
Whether you use a deep fryer or a regular pan, we recommend heating the oil to about 190°C. Some oil packaging suggests not heating the oil above 180°C, but when the batter is added to the pan or fryer basket the temperature naturally drops to around 180°C. This is an ideal temperature for baking oliebollen.
How Can You Check If the Oil Is Too Hot?
You can easily check whether the oil has become too hot. Oil that has been overheated or heated for too long turns brown. Brown oil is not healthy, so it is best not to fry your oliebollen in it. If the oil becomes dark, it is time to replace it. If you are unsure whether the oil is too hot, dip a small piece of bread crust into the oil. If the oil is at the correct temperature, the crust will quickly crisp up. If smoke appears, the oil is too hot.
How Can You Reheat Oliebollen?
If your freshly baked oliebollen are not all eaten on the same day, that is no problem because they can easily be reheated. The best way to warm them up is in the oven or air fryer so they keep their crispy crust. Preheat the oven to 200°C and heat the oliebollen for about 5 minutes. If you prefer using an air fryer, preheat it to 170°C and warm the dough balls for about 3 minutes.
How Long Should You Reheat Oliebollen in the Microwave?
Oliebollen can also be reheated in the microwave, although they will become a little softer. Heat them at 600 watts for about one minute. If you prefer them warmer, you can leave them in the microwave slightly longer.
How Should You Store Oliebollen?
Homemade oliebollen stay fresh for about three days. Allow them to cool completely first and then store them in an airtight container or plastic bag. This will help keep them fresh for longer.
Can You Freeze Oliebollen?
Yes, oliebollen can be frozen very well. In the freezer they will keep for up to two months. Make sure the dough balls are completely cooled before packing them in a freezer bag or container.
Get Started
Are you planning to bake your own oliebollen soon? Make it easy for yourself with our convenient oliebollen mixes, which allow you to achieve a delicious result in no time. Prefer to start completely from scratch? Then take a look at our step-by-step oliebollen recipe and discover how to make perfectly light and fluffy oliebollen yourself.
