Italian Doughnuts Recipes

ITALIAN DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/2-inch thickness. Using a floured 2-inch cookie cutter, cut out doughnut rounds. Using a floured 1-inch cookie cutter, cut out a hole in the center of each doughnut. Gather the dough scraps and reroll. Cut out more doughnuts.
• Whisk the sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl to blend. Set the cinnamon-sugar aside.
• Pour equal parts of vegetable oil and olive oil into a large frying pan to reach a depth of 2 inches. Heat the oil over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 375 degrees F. Working in batches, fry the doughnuts until they puff but are still pale, about 45 seconds per side. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the doughnuts to paper towels to drain. Cool slightly. While the doughnuts are still warm, generously coat each 2 times with the cinnamon-sugar. Serve warm.
• Alternately, cool the fried doughnuts to room temperature. Stir 3 ounces of milk chocolate and 1/4 cup of whipping cream in a heavy small saucepan over medium-low heat until the chocolate melts. Set aside until the chocolate sauce comes to room temperature but does not set. Dip 1 side of each doughnut into the chocolate mixture. Sprinkle with finely chopped toasted almonds or crushed espresso beans and set aside until the chocolate is set.

ITALIAN DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Pour equal parts of vegetable oil and olive oil into a large frying pan to reach a depth of 2 inches. Heat the oil over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 375 degrees F.
• Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/2-inch thickness. Using a floured 2-inch cookie cutter, cut out doughnut rounds. Using a floured 1-inch cookie cutter, cut out a hole in the center of each doughnut. Gather the dough scraps and re-roll to cut out more doughnuts.
• Whisk the sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl to blend. Set the cinnamon-sugar aside.
• When the oil is hot, working in batches, fry the doughnuts until they puff but are still pale, about 45 seconds per side. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the doughnuts to paper towels to drain. Cool slightly. While the doughnuts are still warm, add to the bowl with cinnamon-sugar and generously coat each 2 times with the cinnamon-sugar. Serve warm.
• Alternately, cool the fried doughnuts to room temperature. Stir 3 ounces milk chocolate and 1/4 cup whipping cream in a heavy small saucepan over medium-low heat until the chocolate melts. Set aside until the chocolate sauce comes to room temperature but does not set. Dip 1 side of each doughnut into the chocolate mixture. Sprinkle with finely chopped toasted almonds or crushed espresso beans and set aside until the chocolate is set.

ZEPPOLE - ITALIAN DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine the water, butter, sugar and salt. Cook until the butter completely melts.
• Add the flour all at once and mix vigorously with a wooden spoon, until the dough comes together in a ball. Continue cooking for a minute or two.
• Place the dough in the bowl of a standing mixer. Mix with a paddle attachment, until you don't see any more steam rising up from the bowl.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, until they are fully incorporated. You can also use a hand held mixer, or even mix up the dough by hand.
• Meanwhile, pour in enough oil into a large, heavy pot (I use my Dutch oven). You should have at least 2 inches of oil, I usually use one full container of oil. Heat up the oil to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Transfer the dough to a large ziptop bag. Cut a hole in one corner. Slowly pipe out the dough and cut off snippets of the dough right into the oil. Be careful not to splash yourself. You can also use 2 small spoons to drop bits of dough into the oil, or use a small portion scoop.
• Keep the temperature above 350 at all times, preferably 360-375 degrees.
• Fry the zeppole about 5 minutes, turning over the ones that don't turn themselves over.
• Take them out of the oil using a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel lined plate, baking sheet, etc. When you're done frying all the zeppole, dust them with powdered sugar.

ITALIAN SFINGI (ITALIAN DOUGHNUTS)

Steps:

• Mix flour, sugar, and baking powder.
• Add eggs, water, and vanilla; mix well.
• Drop batter by tablespoons in hot, deep oil.
• If oil is hot enough, sfingi will cook and turn over without help.
• If not, turn with a large spoon to brown on both sides.
• Add as many sfingi that will fit in skillet or deep-fryer.
• Fry until golden brown.
• Drain on paper towels.
• Combine powdered sugar and cinnamon.
• Sprinkle warm sfingi with powdered sugar and cinnamon mixture.
• Delicious served warm!

TORTELLI DI CARNEVALE (ITALIAN CARNEVALE DOUGHNUTS)

Steps:

• Combine water, butter, and salt in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove from heat; stir in flour until well mixed. Return saucepan to medium heat; cook and stir until dough starts to pull away from the sides of the saucepan, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Remove saucepan from heat and stir anise-flavored liqueur, sugar, grappa, and lemon zest into dough. Cool dough to room temperature, at least 30 minutes.
• Beat egg yolks into the cooled dough until well mixed. Cover bowl with a clean towel and let rest for 3 hours.
• Beat egg whites in a bowl until stiff peaks form; gently fold into the dough until no white streaks remain.
• Heat lard in a heavy saucepan over medium heat or in a deep fryer. Form dough into balls the size of golf balls; fry in the hot lard in batches, until doughnuts are lightly browned and cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes.

SOFIA'S ITALIAN DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• CREME PATISSIERE - place milk and vanilla paste in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to just below boiling point and remove from the heat.
• Whisk yolks and sugar together until thick and pale and then add cornflour and whisk until combines and then slowly whisk the milk mixture into the egg mixture until well combines and then transfer to a clean saucepan and whisk over medium heat for 3 minutes or until mixture thickens.
• Transfer to a bowl, cover surgace with plastic wrap to prevent a skin forming, then chill until cold.
• DOUGHNUTS - using a box grater, grate the pear and place in a large bowl with the lime zest and juice, sugar, passionfruit pulp, egg, vanilla paste, water and a pinch of salt and then stir to combine and then gradually mix in sifted flour to form a wet dough.
• Fill a deep frying pan with 2cm of oil, and heat over medium heat until 180C or a cube of bread turns golden in 10 seconds.
• In batches of 4 gently drop heaped tablespoons of dough into oil and top with 3 blueberries and cook for 1 1/2 minutes each side or until golden and puffed and drain on paper towel, repeating until all mixture is used.
• Place creme patissiere in a piping bag and push the tip of the mozzle into the base of each doughnut and pipe about 1 teaspoon of creme patissiere into each doughnut.
• Warm the honey with water in a small saucepan until runny.
• Place the doughnuts on a platter and then drizzle with honey and serve.