We can’t celebrate National Doughnut Day without Lemon Zeppole with Homemade Whipped Cream now, can we?
Nope.
Tomorrow is National Doughnut Day and we’re bringing out the big guns!
Lemon Zeppole with Homemade Whipped Cream! BAM!
Zeppole are little Italian doughnuts that fry up soft and golden, crispy and delicious. I guarantee they’ll have you wishing you were perched on the top stair of The Spanish Steps taking in the bustling sights of Rome. With these sweetened fried dough balls in hand, you just might want to settle in for the afternoon. Served up in brown paper bags or parchment cones, this is Italian street food at its finest!
Luc and I drove home from Lake Placid on Tuesday, and as is protocol, we scooted through the D & D drive thru for our road trip elixir. Mine – hot black with a turbo shot, hers – iced black with a blueberry shot. While waiting on our order, I couldn’t help but notice the rather large scrumptious looking poster announcing National Doughnut Day, and I immediately thought, “Ohhhhh, this is happening!”
Our ride home provided us with ample time to ponder different flavors before ultimately settling in on Lemon Zeppole. Basically Lauren’s idea – she reminded me that I’ve done a lot of baked doughnuts lately – and it might be nice to fire up the fryer for some crispy fried doughs. (So happy she was with me! 😉 ) Lemon Zeppole with Homemade Whipped Cream it was.
The last time I made zeppole for the blog it was autumn of 2013 and they were loaded with apple and maple and all things fall. Today we’re going light and summery with the addition of fresh lemon zest.
A nice little doughnut designed to make your National Doughnut Day extra special – I highly recommend these tender yet crispy, fluffy lemon scented fried doughnuts as you head into your weekend. And don’t even get me started on the homemade whipped cream. I’ve said it before – but it’s worth repeating – homemade whipped cream could make your sneaker taste good! Imagine it coupled with Lemon Zeppole!
Buon Appetito!
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Lemon Zeppole with Homemade Whipped Cream
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
We can’t celebrate National Doughnut Day without Lemon Zeppole with Homemade Whipped Cream now, can we?
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 stick butter
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- zest of 1 large lemon
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 cup flour
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 1 Tbsp. powdered sugar
- Canola oil for frying
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan combine the sugar, butter, salt, lemon zest and water over medium heat. Bring to a boil.
- Take the pan off the heat and stir in the 1 cup of flour.
- Return the pan to medium heat and stir continuously until the mixture forms a ball, about 3 – 5 minutes.
- Transfer the flour mixture to a medium bowl.
- Let the mixture cool for a couple minutes before adding the eggs.
- Using an electric hand mixer on low speed, add eggs, one a time, incorporating each egg completely before adding the next. Beat until smooth.
- If not frying immediately, cover with plastic wrap and reserve in the refrigerator.
- Combine the whipping cream, vanilla and powdered sugar in a medium bowl.
- Whip until medium soft peaks form.
- Transfer to a serving dish and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Meanwhile, pour enough oil into a large frying pan to reach a depth of 2 inches. Heat the oil over medium until a deep-fry thermometer registers 325 degrees. (Never let your oil get above 375 degrees).
- Using a small scoop or two small spoons, carefully drop a rounded tablespoon of dough into the hot oil.
- Turn the zeppole once or twice until golden brown and puffed up. 5 – 6 minutes.
- Fry them in batches so not to overcrowd the pan.
- Drain on paper towels.
- Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
- Serve with Whipped Cream.
- Enjoy!
These are so lovely! It’s not too late to celebrate national doughnut day, is it? Cause if it is, I’ll have to celebrate in private! These zeppoles are a must make!
Never too late!! Enjoy!! 🙂
Fantastic photos…the zeppole look wonderful.
Thank you so much, Karen! 🙂
How do you get drool off of a keyboard? Asking for a friend. 😉
Annie, these. are. gorgeous! And that whipped cream for dipping!? Heavenly…
Hahahah! She just needs to fill her mouth with zeppole! Problem solved! 😉 Thank you, dear! 🙂
I gotta say, I like Lauren’s idea! And woah, no yeast? Instant gratification? These are absolutely gorgeous, Annie, so fluffy and light. I don’t think I’d share!
No yeast! Luc had the right idea!! Thanks, girlfriend! 🙂
That homemade whipped dream looks absolutely amazing!
It’s a nice little number! Thanks, Kevin!
Looking at these pictures is literally making my stomach growl. These look SO good Annie!!
That happens to me when I visit your site all the time! Thank you, dear!
Supremely yum they look. I can polish off this whole tray before you can count to 5! 😉
I’ll start counting! 😉 Thank you, Neha!!
You definitely brought out the big guns Annie! I could eat the entire tray! They look fabulous!
Thanks, Mary Ann! One tray comin’ up!
OMG, are these real? I don’t need any kind of day proclaimed to be eating your lemon zeppoles with the utmost gusto!
I am with you, my friend! Bring on the zeppole!
National Doughnut Day? I’m so glad you told me because otherwise I would have missed it, and missing out on an excuse to eat doughnuts is just depressing. I’ll gladly fire up the fryer to make these beauties! Have a great weekend, Annie!
Anything I can do! 😉 Thanks, pal! Fire up that fryer! 🙂
I remember eating Zeppoles in Rome and they were so delicious. Thanks for the recipe, what a treat. I can use my own lemons.
So delicious! Nothing better! 🙂 Thank you for stopping by with a kind word!
Well, well, well! What a perfect excuse to have a lil’ indulgence 🙂 I loves me some lemon anything so these would be dangerous around me…pretty sure I could eat the whole batch!! They look perfect! Hope you have an awesome upcoming weekend, my friend! XOXO
Hahahah! Oh yes! The perfect excuse! I had to walk away from the bowl – trust me! Have a great weekend, dear! XOXO
Oh yes please! Love the lemon flavours here. Such a nice treat 🙂
And fresh from the fryer…oh my! Thanks, friend!
Oh, YUM!!! I’ve got to make this recipe. Besides loving the taste of lemon how can you go wrong with stuffing a delicious goodie with whipped cream? I’ve made cream puff but not zeppole, Looks like I should make up for lost time.
It is time, Marisa!! 😉 Enjoy, my friend! 🙂