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Cherry-on-top fritters (zeppole di San Giuseppe)

These golden fritters are light and fluffy with a crisp crust. Zeppole di San Giuseppe, Saint Joseph fritters, are served on Saint Joseph’s Day which in Italy happens to be Father’s Day.

Cherry-on-top fritters (zeppole di San Giuseppe)

Credit: Bonacini's Italy

  • makes

    6

  • prep

    20 minutes

  • cook

    15 minutes

  • difficulty

    Mid

makes

6

serves

preparation

20

minutes

cooking

15

minutes

difficulty

Mid

level

Traditionally these fritters are served with pastry cream but I like to do them with this sour cherry mascarpone and whipped cream topping.  

Ingredients

Dough
  • 1 cup (250 ml) water
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) butter
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 4 eggs
  • Vegetable oil, for frying
Sour cherry mascarpone whipped cream
  • 1 cup whipping cream
  • 1 cup mascarpone cheese
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) sour cherry syrup
  • 1½ tbsp (30 ml) icing sugar
Garnish
  • 12 sour cherries in syrup
  • Icing sugar
Special equipment: 2 pastry bags, 1 star-shaped tip, 1 round tip

Sitting and cooling time: about 30 minutes

Instructions

1. For the dough, add water, butter and salt to a saucepan, then bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Add flour and cinnamon to the saucepan and mix in thoroughly with a wooden spoon. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature, then beat eggs into mixture one at a time.  Let sit for 20 minutes.

2. Once cool, transfer to a pastry bag that has a star-shaped tip.

3. Take a large piece of parchment paper and cut into 7.5 cm x 7.5 cm (3x3 in) squares. Using your pastry bag, create a ring of dough on each square of paper.

4. Pour vegetable oil into a pot with high sides until it reaches 5-6cm (several inches) high. Heat the oil to 375° F (190°C), then carefully lower 2-3 pieces of paper with rings attached into oil, batter side down, making sure to keep your fingers away from the oil. The parchment paper will separate from the ring once it hits the oil, at which point you should remove the parchment using metal tongs. Fry the rings until golden-brown, turning once, then remove using a slotted spoon to a paper-towel lined plate. They will only take a few minutes to cook. Repeat until all rings are fried, then set aside to cool.

5. Once pastry rings have cooled, sprinkle with icing sugar.

6. For the sour cherry mascarpone whipped cream, add whipping cream to a chilled bowl, then beat with a hand blender or whisk until thick. Add mascarpone and sour cherry syrup to cream and continue to whip until thick peaks form. Add sugar as you whip until just combined.

7. Fill another pastry bag with a round tip with the sour cherry mascarpone whipped cream, then top the hole of each ring with a mound of whipped cream. To finish, top the cream with a sour cherry, and drizzle over a little of the sour cherry syrup. Buon Appetito!

Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.

Traditionally these fritters are served with pastry cream but I like to do them with this sour cherry mascarpone and whipped cream topping.  


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Published 14 May 2020 2:49pm
By Michael Bonacini
Source: SBS



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