We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culinary

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Zeppola?

Tricia Christensen
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 10,488
Share

A zeppola is a Southern Italian dessert, a small round deep-fried cake, similar to a large donut hole, that is often filled with custard or with filling close to that used in traditional cannoli. The plural of zeppola may be written as zeppoli or zeppole, and to confuse matters, the little cakes may have two completely different names: sfinge, or Bigne di San Giuseppe (St. Joseph Day Cakes). The latter name refers to the fact that zeppole are often served on St. Joseph’s day, 19 March, which is somewhat analogous to the celebration of Father’s Day in the US, though it also honors Joseph, husband to the Virgin Mary.

Each zeppola is relatively small, about two inches (5.08 cm) wide. The dough used to make them is typically quick bread dough, though some variants might use yeast-risen bread dough. Dough isn’t often sweetened and depends upon filling or dipping to add sweetness. In simplest form zeppole may not be filled and are just given a light dusting of cinnamon sugar. Other times, bakeries make the distinction between a zeppola and a sfinge by suggesting that sfinge are those zeppole filled with custard, while a true zeppola is always filled with a sweetened ricotta cheese.

In Italy, particularly in Southern regions, and along the Italian peninsula, you’ll note zeppole sold in most bakeries. As St. Joseph’s day approaches, numerous street vendors, called friggitorie, meaning fried food stands, sell zeppola to waiting crowds. You’ll also find these little cakes filled with a few unusual ingredients in certain regions. They can for instance, be savory instead of sweet and contain anchovy paste, ricotta cheese with ground chickpeas and spices, or a variety of other ingredients.

There are some recipes for zeppole that are baked instead of fried. Other recipes suggest you lightly bake each zeppola before frying it. Writers of these recipes contend that prebaking reduces greasiness and frying time and results in a lighter and lower in calorie dessert. If you want to reduce calories, baking would be the way to go, and you can further reduce calories by filling zeppoli with any type of fruit jam or spread instead of custard or ricotta.

Another popular way to serve a zeppola is to dip it in honey. In many regions, when sweet zeppoli are made, and whether or not they’re filled, they’re given a dollop of whipped cream on the top and then topped with a cherry. If you buy them in a bakery though, they may have been sitting for a while. Some say the best way to eat them is straight from the friggitorie vendors, when they’re hottest and freshest. Of course, making them at home means you can eat them right after you allowed them to cool a bit.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Tricia Christensen
By Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia Christensen is based in Northern California and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her writing. Her wide-ranging interests include reading, writing, medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion, all of which she incorporates into her informative articles. Tricia is currently working on her first novel.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-zeppola.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.