Oliebollen are the traditional Dutch New Year's Eve deep-fried dough balls.
The Dutch word oliebollen means “oil balls.” These round pastries are made from a yeast-based dough that may contain raisins, currants, or pieces of apple, then deep-fried and commonly dusted with powdered sugar. They are sold by temporary seasonal stalls and prepared in homes during the winter holiday period.
Oliebollen are especially associated with New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in the Netherlands and parts of Belgium. Their round shape and warm, festive preparation make them a familiar seasonal food, but they are not the same as stroopwafels, which are thin waffle cookies filled with syrup.
The dish has a long history connected with fried dough traditions in the Low Countries. Recipes and fillings differ, so not every oliebol contains fruit. The defining feature is the deep-fried dough, rather than one mandatory filling.