When it comes to donuts, there is nothing quite like an Italian donut. These fried treats are crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside, making them the perfect snack or dessert. And while they may seem daunting to make at home, with our tips and tricks, you’ll be cranking out perfect Italian donuts in no time.
Italian Donuts Ingredients
- 2⅓ cups all-purpose flour + 2 tablespoons
- ⅔ cups milk
- ¼ cup sugar, divided
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 package of active dry yeast
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon orange zest, optional
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- Jam, chocolate spread, eggnog cream, etc. for filling
Step-by-step guide on how to make Perfect Italian Donuts In Les Time
- In a large bowl combine milk, yeast, 2 tablespoons flour, and 2 tablespoons sugar. Let rest for 10 minutes
- Add remaining sugar, egg yolks, butter, flour, and orange zest. Knead for 8 minutes.
- Bring into a ball shape, cover the bowl and let rest for 2 hours or overnight. Now form the dough into a roll and cut off 12 evenly sized pieces.
- Form each piece into a ball-like shape. Place balls on a baking sheet with parchment paper and let rest covered with a dish towel for 40 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 395 F. Bake Bomboloni for 15 minutes. Right after baking gently brush the Bomboloni with some melted butter and dust them with sugar or powdered sugar.
- Once they are cooled down a little you might want to fill them with jam or pudding!
The Best Toppings for Zeppole
You can cover Zeppole in a variety of coatings. Our favorites are:
- Powdered Sugar – dust over the top of fried donuts
- Granulated Sugar – fill a bowl with sugar and roll the hot Zeppole to coat
- Cinnamon Sugar – this will make the donut holes taste like mini churros. Combine 1/2 cup sugar with 1 tsp cinnamon in a bowl and roll Zeppole as soon as they are done frying.
Common Questions
How to pronounce Zeppole?
Zeppole is pronounced “zeh-po-ley”
Can I bake zeppole?
If you wish to bake the pastry, we suggest following our cream puff tutorial for piping and baking the dough. You can fill the baked pastry if desired like we did our Baked Donuts, or simply dust the top with powdered sugar.
What is the best oil for frying donuts?
Use neutral-tasting oil with a high smoke point such as vegetable oil, peanut oil, or canola oil. We use peanut oil in our deep fryer.
Can Zeppole be made ahead?
Once Zeppole are fried, they are best enjoyed fresh the day they are made. You can make the Choux Pastry Dough ahead, just cover and refrigerate up to 3 days. You can also freeze up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Making donuts is a labor of love that can take some time, but you don’t have to wait hours for the dough to be proofed and ready for frying. With a few simple tricks, you can speed up the process and get your delicious donuts sooner.
The first step in making any successful donut is proofing the dough. This is when you let it “rest” so that it can rise and develop flavor before frying. Allowing time for this process will yield better results – but there are ways to accelerate it if needed.
To make your donuts proof faster, try increasing the temperature of your environment and keeping it warm with a space heater or light bulb. You can also add more yeast than normal or use instant yeast (which does not need to be activated).
Baking donuts instead of frying them has become increasingly popular in recent years, as more and more people look for healthier alternatives to fried snacks.
The good news is that baking donuts can be just as tasty and delicious as their fried counterparts, with some even arguing that the baked versions are better. So the answer to the question “Can I bake my donuts instead of frying them?” is a resounding yes!
The key to making a successful baked donut lies in choosing the right ingredients and finding the perfect combination of flavors.
Start by picking out your favorite dough recipe – whether it’s a classic cake-style or something more adventurous like pumpkin spice – then use oil or butter to grease your pan before adding your batter. Finally, finish off by sprinkling with sugar and spices if desired.
Making delicious donuts is a great way to enjoy a treat any time of day. But before you can savor the sweetness of those delectable treats, the dough must be kneaded first. So how long should you knead donut dough for?
The answer depends on the type of donut dough being used and the desired texture. Generally, yeast-risen or light donut dough is kneaded for at least 3 minutes, while laminated dough such as croissant or puff pastry is kneaded until it becomes elastic and smooth but still pliable.
For firmer types of dough like Danish pastries or brioche, kneading times may vary from 5 to 10 minutes depending on what kind of texture you’re looking for in your finished product.
Making dough from scratch is a process that requires time and patience. Before you can begin to shape your dough into the desired form for baking, it must first sit for an appropriate amount of time. But how long should your dough rest before rolling it out?
It depends on the type of recipe you are using. Generally, most recipes will require that you let the dough rest for at least 30 minutes after kneading. This gives the gluten strands in the flour enough time to relax, resulting in a softer and smoother texture when rolling out.
If you don’t give your dough enough rest time, it can be difficult to roll out because of its elasticity and stickiness – making it more likely to tear or break apart when shaping or transferring onto a pan.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Italian donuts are a delicious treat that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. They are perfect for any occasion and can be easily made at home with just a few ingredients. If you’re looking for something special to make for your next party or event, consider making these delicious donuts. Your guests will be sure to enjoy them.
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