Sweet Arancini

Ingredients:
4 cups water
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
kosher salt
4 cups skim milk
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 vanilla beans, split and seeds scraped
2 cinnamon sticks
2 1/2 cups Arborio rice
1 cup Nutella
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup plain dried breadcrumbs
8 cups vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preparing the arancini:
In a medium saucepan, bring 3 1/2 cups water and butter to a boil; season with a pinch of salt. In a separate medium saucepan, heat the milk, 1 1/2 cups sugar, vanilla bean and seeds, cinnamon sticks over medium-low heat. When the water comes to a boil, add the rice. Cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the water has absorbed into the rice, about 15 minutes. Strain the milk mixture into the rice; cook, stirring often, until the rice is tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Spread the cooked rice on a large rimmed baking sheet to cool; refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to overnight.

Place the hazelnut spread in a pastry bag. On a wax paper-lined plate, pipe the spread into 12 (1-inch) morsels. Transfer plate to freezer; freeze until hazelnut spread is solid, about 1 hour.

Using a 1/2-cup measure, form the cool rice into balls; insert a portion of the frozen hazelnut spread into each ball. Repeat with remaining rice and hazelnut spread.

In a large bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup flour and 1/2 cup water until smooth (should be the consistency of buttermilk). Place the breadcrumbs in a shallow dish. Dip each rice ball into the batter, shaking off the excess; roll in the breadcrumbs. Repeat with the remaining rice balls.

In a Dutch oven or other large pot, heat the oil to 350 degrees F. Use a slotted spoon to lower the rice balls into the hot oil in batches of 2 to 4 arancini; don't crowd the pan. Fry the arancini, turning occasionally, until golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Place arancini on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. In a small bowl, stir together the remaining 1/4 cup sugar with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Roll warm arancini in cinnamon sugar.

Makes 1 dozen