Zeppole Recipe 45

GRANDMA'S ZEPPOLE ITALIAN DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Add 2-inch oil to a large pot and heat to 375˚F (190˚C).
• In a medium saucepan on medium-low heat, add water, butter, sugar and salt. Cook until butter melts completely.
• Lower the heat and add flour. Use the wooden spoon to mix vigorously until well combined.
• Transfer the dough into a large mixing bowl. Let it cool off slightly, about 3-5 minutes, then add eggs, one at a time. Mix the eggs with the dough using a hand-mixer or wooden spoon. (Make sure your dough is not too hot, otherwise the eggs will scramble when added to the dough.)
• Check the temperature of the oil, if it's ready, it's time to fry the donuts. Use a small spoon to spoon out the batter, and then use another spoon or spatula to scrape the batter into the oil. Make sure to lower the spoon into the oil very gently so that you won't splash the oil onto yourself.
• Cook in batches and fry 10-12 donuts at a time. Fry for 4-5 minutes for each batch until they turn golden brown. You'll need to turn them over from time to time to make sure all sides get cooked properly.
• Remove cooked zeppole from the oil using a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel lined plate.
• Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm.

ZEPPOLE RECIPE (EASY ITALIAN DONUTS)

Steps:

• In a large 3-quart saucepan, combine water, milk, butter, granulated sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently.
• Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup flour all at once using a wooden spoon. Once incorporated, place the saucepan back over medium heat and stir constantly for another 1 1/2 to 2 minutes to release extra moisture and partially cook the flour. The dough will look smooth and a thin film will form on the bottom of the pan.
• Transfer the dough to a large mixing bowl and use an electric mixer to beat on medium speed for 1 minute to cool the mixture slightly. Add 4 eggs, adding them 1 at a time and allowing eggs to fully incorporate between each addition. Once all eggs are incorporated, beat another minute until the dough is smooth and forms a thick ribbon when you pull up on the whisk.
• Transfer dough to a piping bag with a 1/2-inch opening, or use a large zip bag and cut a 1/2-inch opening at the tip.
• Heat oil to 375˚F in a dutch oven with a thermometer attached, or in a deep fryer. Once oil is hot, pipe 1-inch lengths into the hot oil, swiftly cutting the dough as you pipe into the oil. Pipe closer to the surface of the oil to avoid oil splashes.
• Fry 4-5 minutes total, turning them over halfway if they don't turn on their own then transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to soak up extra oil then dust with powdered sugar to serve.

ZEPPOLE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• In a medium saucepan, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Stir in the eggs, ricotta cheese and vanilla. Mix gently over low heat until combined. Batter will be sticky.
• Drop by tablespoons into the hot oil a few at a time. Zeppole will turn over by themselves. Fry until golden brown, about 3 or 4 minutes. Drain in a paper sack and dust with confectioners' sugar. Serve warm.

ZEPPOLE

Steps:

• Cut open the vanilla bean lengthwise. Using the back of a knife, scrape along the inside of the vanilla bean to collect the seeds. Scrape vanilla bean seeds into a small bowl. Add the 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon and stir to combine. Set aside.
• In a medium saucepan combine the butter, salt, 3 tablespoons of sugar, and water over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Take pan off the heat and stir in the flour. Return pan to the heat and stir continuously until mixture forms a ball, about 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer the flour mixture to a medium bowl. Using an electric hand mixer on low speed, add eggs, 1 at a time, incorporating each egg completely before adding the next. Beat until smooth. If not frying immediately, cover with plastic wrap and reserve in the refrigerator.
• Meanwhile, pour enough 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.
• Using a small ice-cream scooper or 2 small spoons, carefully drop about a tablespoon of the dough into the hot olive oil, frying in batches. Turn the zeppole once or twice, cooking until golden and puffed up, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Toss with cinnamon-sugar. Arrange on a platter and serve immediately.

ZEPPOLE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Place water, butter, and salt in a small saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
• When the butter has melted, whisk in the flour and continue to stir, with a whisk or wooden spoon, until batter is smooth and does not stick to the sides of the pot.
• Remove from heat and transfer the dough to a bowl to cool to room temperature.
• Once it has cooled, add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Refrigerate the dough while you prepare the pastry cream filling (20 to 30 minutes).
• Gather the ingredients.
• In a small bowl, beat the egg yolks with the sugar until combined.
• Add the flour to the egg mixture, whisking well until combined.
• Place milk and lemon zest in a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. When the milk begins to boil, remove it from the heat and slowly add the egg mixture, constantly whisking, until the mixture is smooth.
• Return to medium heat and continue whisking until the cream thickens.
• Transfer the cream to a bowl, cover the surface with a piece of parchment paper, and let cool. Meanwhile, make the zeppole.
• Gather the ingredients.
• Prepare 8 (3-inch) squares of parchment paper or aluminum foil. Transfer the dough to a pastry bag with a star-shaped tip. Pipe a ring of dough onto each square of paper or foil, about 2 inches in diameter, to form a doughnut shape.
• Heat several inches of frying oil in a large pot with high sides to 320 F (160 C). Drop the zeppole (still on the paper or foil) in the oil one or two at a time to avoid crowding. The paper or foil will detach itself after a few seconds and you can remove it from the oil with tongs or a slotted spoon.
• When puffy and golden brown, remove each zeppole with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined platter or tray.
• When cool enough to handle, fill another pastry bag with pastry cream and attach a star-shaped tip. Slice the zeppole in half and fill with a ring of pastry cream. Place the top half on the cream and then fill the center hole with a little more pastry cream.
• Place an amarena cherry on top of the cream in the center of each doughnut, then dust all of them lightly with powdered sugar. Serve hot.