Servings
Font
Back
5.0 from 6 votes

St Joseph Zeppole or Zeppole di San Giuseppe

St Joseph Zeppole or Zeppole di San Giuseppe are Italian choux pastries filled with pastry cream, and traditionally prepared on Father's Day.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings: 15
Calories: 163 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 80 g butter cut into chunks
  • 125 g water
  • ½ teaspoon sugar optional
  • a pinch salt
  • ½ teaspoon lemon zest finely minced, optional
  • 125 g flour
  • 3 medium eggs
To decorate:
  • 200 g Italian Pastry Cream
  • 15 black cherries (amarene) in syrup
  • 1 tablespoon confectioner's sugar

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Place the butter, water, salt, sugar (optional) and lemon zest (optional) in a saucepan, whisk gently and bring to a boil over low heat.
  2. When the water is starting to boil add the sifted flour all at once. and vigorously mix the flour in. Using a wooden spoon mix until the dough comes together into a smooth ball that pulls away from the sides of the pan.
  3. Using a wooden spoon mix until the dough and cook for 1-3 minutes, until it comes together into a smooth ball that pulls away from the sides of the pan.
  4. Transfer the dough onto a marble surface and spread it to let it cool. You can also place the dough in a bowl, and then flatten the dough along the sides of the bowl.
  5. Transfer the dough into a bowl. Whisk the eggs in a jar, then slowly incorporate them into the dough, whilst whisking, until you have a creamy, dense shiny dough that is pipeable.
  6. Preheat oven to 400°F/200°C and arrange the oven tray onto the middle shelf.
  7. Transfer the dough to a pastry bag with a large star-shaped tip. Pipe the dough into 3-inch sized circles (you can make one circle or two overlapping ones) onto a tray covered with parchment paper.
  8. Bake the zeppole for 10 minutes, then lower the oven temperature to 360°F/ 180°C and bake for 20 minutes. Open the oven door slightly, and let the zeppole bake for another 5 minutes.
  9. Transfer the zeppole on a cooling rack, then cut them horizontally, and fill them with pastry cream. Close, and pipe more cream on top, decorate with cherries and sprinkle with confectioner's sugar.

Notes

  • Please note that all my baking recipes are tested with gram measurements, which are more accurate than cup measurements. US cup amounts are provided, but for best results please always use a scale when measuring ingredients.
  • Baking tips
  • I highly recommend using a kitchen scale to measure the ingredients.
  • Cut the butter into small cubes, and make sure it's melted before the water starts to boil.
  • Don't add the eggs while the dough is too hot. This can cook the eggs, and give a frittata taste to your zeppole.
  • To pipe the pastry dough and the pastry cream I use a large star tip, but feel free to use whatever tip you have at hand.
  • Make sure you leave enough space between the zeppole as they’ll double in size in the oven.
  • Do not open the oven whilst the zeppole are baking, this could make them collapse.
  • Storage tips
  • The non-stuffed zeppole can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 week.
  • Once filled, I recommend keeping them in the refrigerator and consuming them within a couple of days at the most.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1g Calories 163kcal (8%) Carbohydrates 8g (3%) Protein 2g (4%) Fat 6g (9%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 1g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 44mg (15%) Sodium 47mg (2%) Potassium 22mg (1%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 181IU (4%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 8mg (1%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 15Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 163

% Daily Value*

Serving 1g
Calories 163kcal 8%
Carbohydrates 8g 3%
Protein 2g 4%
Fat 6g 9%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 44mg 15%
Sodium 47mg 2%
Potassium 22mg 0%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 181IU 4%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 8mg 1%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.