Zeppole di San Giuseppe (St. Joseph’s Day Pastries)
Indulge in the delightful flavors of Zeppole di San Giuseppe, traditional Italian pastries that celebrate St. Joseph’s Day. These airy, cream-filled doughnuts boast a soft choux pastry that is both light and satisfying. Filled with a rich custard and topped with tart Amarena cherries, they are perfect for special occasions or simply as an indulgent treat. The combination of buttery dough and luscious filling creates a dessert experience like no other. With a beautiful presentation dusted with powdered sugar, these pastries are sure to impress guests and family alike.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 stick (115g) unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons (9g) granulated sugar
- 1 pinch fine sea salt
- 1/2 cup (120g) whole milk
- 1/2 cup (120g) water
- 1 1/4 cups (160g) all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs (beaten)
- 4 large egg yolks
- 2 cups (480g) whole milk (warmed)
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons (9g) vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup (35g) cornstarch
- Amarena cherries (or any cherries you like)
- Powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium heat, combine water, whole milk, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a gentle boil while stirring occasionally.
- Once boiling, add in all-purpose flour, stirring vigorously until a dough forms. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly before adding the beaten eggs and egg yolks one at a time until fully incorporated.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a piping bag to pipe round mounds of dough onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 25–30 minutes or until golden brown.
- In another saucepan, heat the warmed whole milk over medium heat. In a bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, cornstarch, and vanilla extract.
- Slowly pour in some heated milk into this mixture while whisking continuously to temper it. Return this mixture back to the saucepan over low heat, constantly stirring until thickened.
- Once cooled, use a knife to cut each pastry open slightly at the top. Fill each pastry with custard using a piping bag or spoon. Top with an Amarena cherry and dust lightly with powdered sugar before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 125mg