• Sugared and deep-fried to perfection, zeppole are deliciously light Italian pastries. They’re often filled with everything from cream to a butter and honey mix, but we’ve kept ours sweetly simple with a sprinkling of sugar and cinnamon.

    Zeppole

    Serves: 6 – 8
    Cooking Time: 20 mins

    Ingredients

    • 2,5ml (½ tsp) vanilla paste
    • 125ml (½ cup) castor sugar,
    • plus 45ml (3 tbsp)
    • 30ml (2 tbsp) ground cinnamon
    • 130g butter
    • a pinch of salt
    • 250ml (1 cup) water
    • 250ml (1 cup) cake flour
    • 4 large eggs
    • oil, for frying
    • cinnamon sugar, to serve

    Instructions

    1

    Combine the vanilla, 125ml (½ cup) sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl and set aside.

    2

    Using a medium saucepan, combine the butter, salt, remaining sugar and water over medium heat and bring to the boil. Remove the pan from the heat and add the flour.

    3

    Return the saucepan to the heat and stir until the mixture forms a ball. Transfer the flour mixture to a bowl and, using an electric mixer, add the eggs one at a time, making sure the eggs are well combined before adding the next one.

    4

    Heat the oil in a large saucepan and drop tablespoons of the batter into the oil. Turn the zeppole a few times during the cooking process until golden and puffed. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper.

    5

    Roll in the cinnamon sugar while warm and serve immediately.