Zeppole
Our zeppole recipe makes golden, crisp Italian doughnuts with a soft, fluffy center. They’re tossed in powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar, just like the ones you’d find at a street-side pastry shop in Naples. Perfect for St. Joseph’s Day, the holidays, or any day that ends in Y.
Ingredients
- 1 cup ricotta cheese -full fat
- 2 large eggs -lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest optional
- 1 cup all-purpose flour '00' flour if available
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon table salt
- ½ cup powdered sugar for dusting
- ½ cup granulated sugar for dusting superfine / caster if available
- 2 tablespoon cinnamon mix with granulated sugar for dusting
- vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Add enough vegetable oil (or oil of your choice) to a heavy pot or Dutch oven so it's about 2 inches deep. When ready to fry, heat the oil to 360-375°F over medium-high heat.*Use a candy thermometer to monitor the oil temperature for best results.
- Add the granulated sugar (or caster sugar) and cinnamon to a small bowl. Mix to combine, and set aside until needed.
- Set up a baking sheet with a wire rack or a large platter with paper towels to drain the zeppole.
- Add the all-purpose flour (or 00), granulated sugar, and baking soda to a large bowl. Whisk to combine. Set aside until needed.
- Add full-fat ricotta cheese, large eggs, vanilla extract, and lemon zest (optional) to a large bowl and whisk to combine until smooth.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir to combine. The batter will be thick.*Use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.
- Scoop about one tablespoon of batter, and in small batches, begin frying the zeppole for 4 - 5 minutes until golden brown, turning them during the process to brown all the sides. * Don't overcrowd the pan, the batter will puff up in the hot oil.
- Remove the fried zeppole and place them on the prepared draining rack or plate with paper towels.
- Once cooled, roll half in the powdered sugar and the other half in the cinnamon sugar.
Nutrition
Calories: 99kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 2gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 130mgPotassium: 26mgFiber: 1gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 70IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 0.4mg
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