Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Italian Potato Donuts, from Calabria, also known as Zeppole Potato Donuts, are famous during Christmas and New Year’s.
You can enjoy zeppole potato donuts coated with granulated sugar or cinnamon, orange or lemon zest, or stuffed with anchovies.
Today, let me show you how easy it is to make this delicious Italian Christmas recipe.
Italian Zeppole Potato Donuts Are Calabrese
Ring in Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s with a sweet or savory Italian potato donut, also called Zeppole or Zippuli, among many others.
You may have heard of these potato donuts in different parts of Italy during the holiday season.
Other Traditional Names
You will find even more traditional names for these delicious Italian fried potato donuts.
- Cullurielli
- Cuddruriaddi or Cuddrurieddri
- Grispelle
- Graffe
- Ciambelle
- Culluraci
- Crustela
- Fried Dough
- Zippuli
Italian Tradition For Zeppole
Zeppole in Italy is a traditional fare served on Saint Joseph’s Day, March 19, and during the Christmas and New Year’s Holidays.
Last week, I asked our Italian friends Marco and Christina about getting some information about their famous Italian recipe for savory potato donuts.
Being British, I joke around and call them spud nuts donuts just because that’s what we call potatoes in the UK.
I turned their zeppole donut into my Zeppole Spudnut based on the same concept but adding personalized flavours.
Cake Donuts vs. Yeast Donuts
Since moving to Canada and being exposed to Tim Horton’s donuts, I have always wondered about how to make them.
It can’t be that difficult, and with the myriad of donut flavors available, you can’t go wrong with a homemade donut recipe.
I understand there are two types of donuts: a cake donut and a yeast donut, but I’m not a donut connoisseur.
Is a donut a cake?
For example, when you bite into a Boston Cream Donut, a yeast donut is light and puffy.
When you bite into a sour cream glazed donut, that is a cake donut.
The textures in the mouth differ and appeal to my sweet desires.
Eating Dinner At Our Italian Friends’ House
Every time we go to Marco and Christina’s house for dinner, we know they will fill the table with Italian food dishes that amaze us.
When Christina and Marco introduced us to this odd mashed potato donut recipe, we were surprised by the taste and texture.
They were so good. I ate three that night and wanted to know more about their recipe secrets.
Their Italian Zeppole donut is crispy on the outside and light and chewy in the middle.
Zeppole Potato Donut Variations
You can make a few variations of this Italian fried donut, which we’ve tried and enjoyed.
There is also the sfinge, a baked cream puff called zeppole.
Zeppole filled with ricotta cheese and chocolate
You can also find potato zeppole donuts filled with a sweet ricotta filling and topped with chocolate and custard cream.
Plain or Sugar-Coated Zeppole Donuts
Below are photos of the plain zeppole potato donut, which you can keep savory or roll in granulated sugar.
Italian Potato donuts filled with salty anchovies are considered savory zeppole potato donuts.
Using the plain recipe for zeppole potato donuts, make a long straight donut, flatten it, and fill it with anchovies, then close it before deep-frying.
Typically, the plain zeppole and anchovy-filled zeppole are eaten with dinner or on their own.
The sweet zeppole donuts might be enjoyed with Italian espresso, coffee, tea, or milk.
Donut Frying Safety
Donut frying is likely one of the reasons many people shy away from making homemade donuts.
Frying with oil can be scary, but not if you are prepared and take time.
Always consider safety first if you are deep-frying, and keep all water away from hot oil.
These donuts are best served hot, rolled in granulated sugar, or left plain.
We have also taken the dough that we made ahead of time and froze it for a later occasion.
How To Make Zeppole Italian Potato Donuts
Tools To Make Zeppole Italian Potato Donuts
Scroll Down For the printable version of the Zeppole recipe
- Huge tinfoil lasagne pan to roll donuts in sugar
- Large pot
- Spoon
- Measuring cups
- Large bowl
- Peeler
- Strainer
- Potato masher or ricer
- Tinfoil
- Deep-frying thermometer
Zeppole Ingredients
I made the plain, orange, sugar-coated, and anchovies stuffed potato donuts.
- 1 package of active dry yeast
- 5 cups of all-purpose flour (you may not need it all)
- 5 cups boiled potatoes riced
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- zest of 4 oranges (optional)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of fresh ground nutmeg (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon (optional)
- 2 cups granulated sugar (for coating optional)
- Anchovies (optional)
- Canola oil, Corn oil, or Vegetable oil for deep-frying
- 1/2 cup bench flour for the surface
Note: To keep your Zeppole Potato donuts plain, eliminate the orange zest, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg.
You can coat your plain zeppole donuts in granulated sugar or leave them as is.
Another version, as suggested, is to add salty anchovies to the middle before frying your Zeppole donuts.
Step By Step Zeppole Prep With Photos
- Boil potatoes until tender in salted water, then mash them or put them through a ricer (if you have one)
- Add 5 cups of flour, dry yeast, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the wet ingredients (potatoes) into the bowl and combine.
- Pour the dough onto a flour-dusted counter and knead it until it forms a ball. (2 mins)
- Add more flour if the dough is too sticky.
- You do not need to add liquid, as the potatoes have enough moisture.
- Return the dough to the bowl and cover it with a tea towel for up to 3 hours to let it rise.
- Turn the bowl onto a floured surface, and divide it in half or quarters.
Shaping The Potato Dough
- Start to rip off dough balls and roll them on the floured surface until you make a 1-inch rope-like shape, then twist it to form a ribbon, or leave them as balls or form them into a simple round donut. It’s up to you.
- Let the donuts rest for 10 minutes to proof.
- Heat the canola oil to about 360-375 degrees for deep-frying.
- Frying takes just a couple of minutes on each side until golden brown.
- I suggest timing cooking one and tearing it open to ensure it is cooked all through, as everyone has different stoves and deep fryers.
- The colour of the potato should be golden brown.
- When they come from the oil, toss them into a foil pan with a layer of granulated sugar to coat.
- Shake off the excess sugar from the donuts, then place them on a tray or into another foil pan to cool.
- You can make the same recipe without the orange, cinnamon, and nutmeg for a plain zeppole Italian potato donut that is crispy and chewy, as seen in the photo above.
- Also, you can fill the dough with anchovies, but you must seal the dough before frying.
Italian Zeppole Potato Donuts
Italian Potato Donuts, from Calabria, also known as Zeppole Potato Donuts, are famous during Christmas and New Year's.
You can enjoy zeppole potato donuts coatedwith granulated sugar or cinnamon, orange or lemon zest, or stuffed withanchovies.
Ingredients
- 1 package of active dry yeast
- 5 cups of all-purpose flour (you may not need it all)
- 5 cups boiled potatoes riced
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- zest of 4 oranges (optional)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of fresh ground nutmeg (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon (optional)
- 2 cups granulated sugar (for coating optional)
- Anchovies (optional)
- 1 to 2 inches of Canola Oil for deep-frying
- 1/2 cup bench flour for the surface
Instructions
- Boil potatoes until tender in salted water, then mash them or put them through a ricer (if you have one)
- In a large mixing bowl add 5 cups of flour, dry yeast, and salt.
- Add the wet ingredients (potatoes) into the bowl and mix.
- Pour the dough onto a clean, flour-dusted surface and knead the dough for 2 minutes until it forms a soft ball.
- Add more flour if it's too sticky,
- You do not need to add any liquid as there is enough moisture in the potatoes.
- Return the dough back to the bowl and cover it with a tea towel for up to 3 hours to let it rise.
- Turn the bowl onto a floured surface and divide it in half or quarters.
- Start to rip off dough balls and roll them on the floured surface until you make a 1-inch rope-like shape, then twist it to form a ribbon, or leave them as balls or form them into a simple round donut. It's up to you.
- Let the donuts rest for 10 minutes to proof.
- Heat the canola oil to about 360-375 degrees for deep-frying.
- Frying takes just a couple of minutes on each side until golden brown.
- I suggest timing cooking one and tearing it open to ensure it is cooked all through, as everyone has different stoves and deep fryers.
- The colour of the potato should be golden brown.
- When they come from the oil, toss them into a foil pan with a layer of granulated sugar to coat.
- Shake off the excess sugar from the donuts, then place them on a tray or into another foil pan to cool.
- You can make the same recipe without the orange, cinnamon, and nutmeg for a plain zeppole Italian potato donut that is crispy and chewy, as seen in thephoto above.
- Also, you can fill the dough with anchovies but you must seal the dough before frying.
Notes
Do not put hot or warm donuts into a plastic bag or container, as they will get soggy. Let them cool completely before storing them in the freezer or a container.
Orange zest, cinnamon, granulated sugar all optional as you can keep the potato donuts plain.
You can store your Italian zeppole potato donuts for a few days under a tea towel to keep that crispy outer texture, but I’m betting they won’t last long.
Whatever you do, please don’t put the donuts in a plastic bag, or they will go soggy.
Please don’t say I didn’t warn you!!
You can also freeze them for up to 3 months, making this recipe perfect for preparing in advance.
Happy Holidays, everyone.
They look good!!!, I’m not fond of deep frying things but…… I do find it funny that you will mention using a ricer for mashing potatoes… I’ve used one since I was a kid and my Mom used one all her married life…. But when ever I mention ricers to other people I get the blankest looks from them including my sisters-in-law, so I have to explain to all just what a ricer is and how it’s used.
The story I got from my Momwas that when she married Dad he told her there was no way he was going to eat mashed potatoes unless she could guarantee no lumps!!! His mother(my English Grandma) was a wonderful intelligent woman but not the greatest cook I’m sorry to say. Mom went crying to her Mom and Grandma told her to just use a ricer and that was that. So that is why Mom used one and as that was the only way I knew to make mashed potatoes was with a ricer…..I’m on my second one as hubby used mine once to try to crush raw rhubarb and popped the rivet……
oh they are the best for smooth potatoes for sure or you could put them in the food processor. We don’t deep fry often at home but yes we have to be very careful when frying but traditionally that’s what they used to use. Happy New Year Christine
Should I eat these before or after my Weight Watchers meeting?
You can do what you like.. just like the budget and $$ you are in control of what you put in your mouth!! Happy New Year mate!
I am in donut heaven. Nom nom nom. It always is such a pleasure to stop by and indulge in your tasty midnight picture snacks. Happy New Year, Mr. CBB, sir!
I only post 1 recipe every Sunday because we don’t just talk money here at CBB… haha.. it’s all about money, life, love and the stomach… Happy New Year Mate…. Mr.CBB
This looks like my favourite thing you have made so far. It looks similar to chirros.
Thanks mate, What are chirros Glen?
Those look delicious! Very tempting but I am trying to stay away from too many carbs in the new year!!! =)
Happy New Year!
Good for you!!! Happy New Years to you both! Mr.CBB
I’m definitely a cake donut man. Blueberry old-fashioned donut is always my first choice.
As far as mashed potatoes, my great-grandmother always made the best ones. They were “lumpy” (my name for them as a child), but what she did was separate out some of the potatoes before she mashed them and used those to only cut into cubes and then mix them back in.
I prefer both types of donuts but back in the UK I never really got into them as they are certainly not as popular as in Canada. I like Boston Cream donuts.. as I just love custard. Happy New Year Mate
MMMMmmmmm, I am drooling at the moment…..one sec….’
Sorry about that. Man, these look deliscious. Now if I could just find that ol’ sack o’ potatoes…
Haha.. you’re awesome mate… good thing I didn’t call them love nuts… already getting hits on nuts.. haha!! Have a Happy New Year mate… let’s think about working together in the New Year.. I think it would be a great union! Mr.CBB