How to Make the Legendary ZEPPOLE di San Giuseppe

ricotta cheese

🥗Healthier: cottage cheese

💰Cheaper: cream cheese

Cottage cheese offers a similar texture with fewer calories.

butter

🥗Healthier: coconut oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Coconut oil provides a dairy-free option with a unique flavor.

powdered sugar

🥗Healthier: stevia

💰Cheaper: granulated sugar

Stevia reduces calories while providing sweetness.

custard

🥗Healthier: pudding

💰Cheaper: whipped cream

Pudding offers a similar creamy texture at a lower cost.

Celebrate St. Joseph's Day by making zeppole.

Start by preparing the custard: heat milk with lemon zest and vanilla bean until hot.

In a separate pot, whisk egg yolks with sugar and corn starch until smooth.

Once the milk is hot, filter it into the egg mixture while whisking to avoid clumps.

Cook the custard on low heat, stirring constantly until thickened.

Cover the custard with plastic wrap touching the surface to prevent a skin from forming and let it cool in the fridge.

Prepare the dough: in a pot, combine water, butter, and a pinch of salt, and heat until the butter melts.

Once boiling, stir in flour until a dough forms and a patina forms at the bottom of the pot.

Transfer the dough to a bowl to cool slightly before adding eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next.

Fill a piping bag with the dough and pipe into circles for frying.

Heat oil to 160-165°C (320-329°F) and fry the zeppole until golden brown.

Remove zeppole from oil and drain on paper towels.

Decorate with custard and cherries in syrup.

For the baked version, use the same dough but add more butter and bake at 400°F for 25 minutes, leaving the oven door slightly open for the last 5 minutes.

Optionally, stuff larger zeppole with custard.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens