In 2007, my family and I took a Carnival cruise around the Mediterranean coast. My Papa, grandfather had the biggest sweet tooth and loved to try all the Italian desserts. While we were in Naples, we stopped at a cafe for Limoncello. In the bakery case, they were selling fried dough dusted with powdered sugar, Zeppole. Naturally, my Papa ordered us some to go along with our Limoncello. We were handed a brown paper bag filled with Zeppoles.
We explored Naples, carrying that beautiful greasy bag, pulling Zeppole out one at a time, getting the sugar all over ourselves. We were two very happy people!
Zeppole are tiny Italian doughnuts – crisp, light and incredibly fluffy, usually served in a brown paper bag or wrapped in parchment paper.
As it turns out, Zeppole are really easy to make at home and take almost no time at all — about 15 minutes.
Ingredients:
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup of unsifted flour
- 2 1/4 teaspoons of baking powder
- dash of salt
- 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
- 1 cup of whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- Confectioners Sugar for Dusting or maybe Cinnamon Sugar
- Canola or vegetable oil for frying
Directions
Crack your two eggs into the mixing bowl and beat until foamy.
Add all of your dry ingredients into the eggs in the mixing bowl while on slow speed and then add your ricotta and vanilla right away.
Continue to mix on a slow speed till it is all combined. The batter will be thick…creamy and sticky. It is not a cookie dough consistency…it is a rich thick waffle type batter. Do not over mix.
Have your oil ready in your favorite pot. I use a cast iron dutch oven. Your oil should be approximately 375 degrees.
I use a small cookie dough scoop …first I spray it with oil so that batter doesn’t stick …then scoop up the batter (no exact measurement here : ) and carefully drop it into the oil…repeat with consecutive scoops but don’t let them touch…
Zeppoles will turn themselves over. Fry them for about about 3 minutes…if they are a little bigger…a little longer.
Once you get to that nice deep golden brown it is time to scoop them up and place them on brown paper or paper towels to drain. Continue with another batch.
Sprinkle them with Confectioners sugar or some Cinnamon Sugar.
Whisk Away Kitchen 