Jul 14 2026
RestaurantsCENTRAL Pizza + Bar LafayetteZeppole (italian Doughnuts) Recipe

Zeppole (italian Doughnuts) Recipe

Time1h
Serves12

fried doughnuts. honey. pistachio. dark chocolate whipped mascarpone. raspberry dust.

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Ingredients

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Doughnut Base

Honey Drizzle

Dark Chocolate Whipped Mascarpone

Raspberry Dust

Pistachio Garnish

Oil for Frying

Method

Prepare the Doughnut Base

  1. 1

    Boil the Water

    In a medium saucepan, combine water, unsalted butter, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until the butter melts.

  2. 2

    Mix in the Flour

    Once boiling, remove the saucepan from heat and add the all-purpose flour and baking powder. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until a dough forms.

  3. 3

    Incorporate Eggs

    Allow the dough to cool for a few minutes. Then, add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract until fully incorporated.

Fry the Zeppole

  1. 4

    Heat the Oil

    In a deep pot, heat vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C).

  2. 5

    Shape the Dough

    Using a spoon or a piping bag, drop small balls of dough into the hot oil, frying a few at a time to avoid overcrowding.

  3. 6

    Fry Until Golden

    Fry the zeppole for about 3-4 minutes, or until they are golden brown on all sides. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

Prepare Honey Drizzle

  1. 7

    Warm the Honey

    In a small saucepan, gently warm the honey over low heat until it is runny, then set aside.

Make Dark Chocolate Whipped Mascarpone

  1. 8

    Melt the Chocolate

    In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the dark chocolate in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth.

  2. 9

    Whip the Cream and Mascarpone

    In a mixing bowl, combine the heavy cream and mascarpone cheese. Whip until soft peaks form, then add in the melted chocolate and powdered sugar. Mix until just combined.

Prepare Raspberry Dust

  1. 10

    Blend the Raspberries

    In a food processor, blend the freeze-dried raspberries until they become a fine powder.

Serve

  1. 11

    Plate the Zeppole

    Arrange the zeppole on a serving platter. Drizzle with warm honey, dollop with dark chocolate whipped mascarpone, sprinkle with raspberry dust, and garnish with chopped pistachios.

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