Jul 09 2026

Zeppole Recipe

Time1h 30m
Serves12

An Italian favourite worldwide, this deep-fried dough is served all month in celebration of La Festa Di San Giuseppe (St. Joseph's Day) on March 19th. Sotto's Zeppole are filled with a rich custard cream, sprinkled with icing sugar and topped with an Amarena cherry.

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Ingredients

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Dough

Custard Filling

Toppings

Method

Prepare the Custard

  1. 1

    Make the Custard Filling

    In a saucepan, combine milk and sugar. Heat over medium heat until sugar dissolves. In a bowl, whisk together egg yolks and cornstarch until smooth. Slowly add the hot milk mixture to the egg yolks, whisking continuously. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and cook on low heat, stirring constantly until thickened. Stir in vanilla extract. Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until chilled.

Prepare the Dough

  1. 2

    Make the Dough

    In a medium saucepan, combine water, butter, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add flour, stirring until a dough forms. Let cool slightly, then beat in eggs one at a time until the mixture is smooth and glossy.

Fry the Zeppole

  1. 3

    Fry the Dough

    Heat vegetable oil in a deep pot to 350°F (175°C). Using a piping bag, pipe circles of dough into the hot oil. Fry until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes on each side. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

Assemble the Zeppole

  1. 4

    Fill and Serve

    Once the zeppole are cool, use a piping bag to fill them with the chilled custard. Dust with icing sugar and top each with an Amarena cherry before serving.

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