Italian Donuts Recipes

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.

RICOTTA DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• In a deep saucepan, heat enough oil to deep fry (about half-way up the pot) to 350 to 365 degrees F.
• Mix the ingredients together in a bowl with a wooden spoon in order until the batter is smooth.
• Using 2 teaspoons, scoop a spoonful of batter then push it off into the hot oil with the other spoon. They will sink then float to the top of the oil. Turn them occasionally to fry evenly on all sides.
• Drain on paper towels and then dip in powdered sugar or roll at the table in cinnamon sugar. Serve immediately.

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.

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 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!