Zeppole donuts are rolled in sugar with a fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth center. These Italian donut holes are simple to make and always disappear fast. Watch the easy video tutorial.
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Zeppole Video Tutorial
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What is Zeppole?
Zeppole are an Italian pastry similar to Bomboloni and are basically fried donut balls made out of Cream Puff dough. They are very popular during St. Josephs Day in Italy which is also Italian Father’s Day. These fried pastries are traditionally served at Italian carnivals or festivals in simple paper bags, dusted with powdered sugar.
Ingredients for Zeppole
This Zeppole recipe uses the same choux pastry dough as Cream Puffs, Chocolate Eclairs and Churros. Once you master this easy dough, you will be making pastries like a pro.
- Milk – we use whole milk, but 2% will work
- Water – we use filtered water
- Unsalted butter – If using salted, omit the extra salt.
- Sugar – you just need 1 tsp for the dough
- Salt – to balance the sweetness
- All-purpose flour – measured correctly
- Eggs – use large eggs, at room temperature
The Best Toppings for Zeppole
You can cover Zeppole in a variety of coatings. Our favorites are:
- Powdered Sugar – dust over the top of fried donuts
- Granulated Sugar – fill a bowl with sugar and roll the hot Zeppole to coat
- Cinnamon Sugar – this will make the donut holes taste like mini churros. Combine 1/2 cup sugar with 1 tsp cinnamon in a bowl and roll Zeppole as soon as they are done frying.
How to Fry Zeppole
A Pot or Dutch Oven: You can deep fry in a regular pot, just be sure to use a clip-on thermometer to gauge temperature and a wire strainer helps with quickly straining and removing the fried zeppole.
Deep Fryer: This is our favorite method and we love our deep fryer because it automatically adjusts to the correct temperature, it drains and filters the oil for you and it has a wire basket for easy transferring of the fried donuts. Also, nearly everything that needs cleaning is dishwasher-friendly.
Pro Tip: Once the Donuts are out of the oil, transfer them to a paper-towel lined plate to absorb any extra oil.
Common Questions
Zeppole is pronounced “zeh-po-ley”
If you wish to bake the pastry, we suggest following our cream puff tutorial for piping and baking the dough. You can fill the baked pastry if desired like we did our Baked Donuts, or simply dust the top with powdered sugar.
Use neutral-tasting oil with a high smoke point such as vegetable oil, peanut oil, or canola oil. We use peanut oil in our deep fryer.
Once Zeppole are fried, they are best enjoyed fresh the day they are made. You can make the Choux Pastry Dough ahead, just cover and refrigerate up to 3 days. You can also freeze up to 3 months.
Zeppole are irresistibly good. Walk into a room of kiddos with a bowl of these sweet treats and watch everyone’s eyes light up. I hope this Zeppole recipe becomes a favorite for you and your loved ones.
More Italian Desserts
If you loved these Italian Donuts then you won’t want to miss our top-rated, reader-favorite Italian Desserts.
- Tiramisu – no-bake dessert
- Panna Cotta – with fresh berry sauce
- Affogato – simple, 2-ingredient dessert
- Berry Tiramisu – a summer twist on a classic
- Jeweled Biscotti – with dried fruit and nuts
Zeppole Recipe (Easy Italian Donuts)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 8 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- oil for frying, such as peanut oil or vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup confectioners sugar, to dust
Instructions
- In a large 3-quart saucepan, combine water, milk, butter, granulated sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently.
- Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup flour all at once using a wooden spoon. Once incorporated, place the saucepan back over medium heat and stir constantly for another 1 1/2 to 2 minutes to release extra moisture and partially cook the flour. The dough will look smooth and a thin film will form on the bottom of the pan.
- Transfer the dough to a large mixing bowl and use an electric mixer to beat on medium speed for 1 minute to cool the mixture slightly. Add 4 eggs, adding them 1 at a time and allowing eggs to fully incorporate between each addition. Once all eggs are incorporated, beat another minute until the dough is smooth and forms a thick ribbon when you pull up on the whisk.
- Transfer dough to a piping bag with a 1/2-inch opening, or use a large zip bag and cut a 1/2-inch opening at the tip.
- Heat oil to 375˚F in a dutch oven with a thermometer attached, or in a deep fryer. Once oil is hot, pipe 1-inch lengths into the hot oil, swiftly cutting the dough as you pipe into the oil. Pipe closer to the surface of the oil to avoid oil splashes.
- Fry 4-5 minutes total, turning them over halfway if they don't turn on their own then transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to soak up extra oil then dust with powdered sugar to serve.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Natasha Kravchuk
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
I made the zeppole & I got tadpoles instead of round balls. What did I do wrong.
Hi Darlene, It’s hard to say without being there. I recommend reading through all the instructions and videos again to make sure nothing was substituted or altered in the ingredients or process.
Good recipe.
Pronounce “Zeppole” with an unaccented “a” as the last letter.
Thank you Turkina!
Hi,
After I added the eggs the dough became very runny! Not sure what I did wrong. Anyway to fix it?
Hi, did you possibly use extra-large eggs? Also, make sure to mix on the dough on the stove for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes before removing and adding the eggs. That step is important to release excess moisture in the dough. I would recommend watching the video again to see if anything else was done differently and if the dough looked correct before the eggs were added.
Hi I tired this recipe but for some reason my donuts came out hallow. What’s the reason for that? It taste great but just hallow.
Hi Daisy, these are fairy airy and have some hollow spots – that is normal with this dough, but if they are completely hollow, it could be due to frying at too high of heat? That is my best guess.
Delicious!! Kids went crazy for them! Super easy to make. Thanks for sharing!
That is the best when kids love what we moms make. That’s so great!
Do you have to use a hand mixer or is it okay to use a stand mixer?
We prefer it for this recipe, but that may work.
Hello…I am new at trying your recipes..they all look so tempting. I am trying the Zeppole recipe and I wanted to take them to my daughter’s hse, what would be the best way to transfer them so they stay crusty. Thinking they may flatten.
Hi Joan, Once Zeppole are fried, they are best enjoyed fresh the day they are made.
Natasha, how far ahead can I make the pastry? And can I store in fridge? Is it the same tasting?
Hi Vicky, Once Zeppole are fried, they are best enjoyed fresh the day they are made. You can make the Choux Pastry Dough ahead, just cover and refrigerate up to 3 days. You can also freeze up to 3 months.
Thanks Natasha ! They are for Easter next week. I hope I impress y Italian Mother-in law!
Oh, she’s going to love these! I hope you do too!
Anyone want to make me some of these, I’ll pay top dollar. My mom used to make these and they are yummy!!
You can try this at home too, I’m sure you can do a good job!
Hi Natasha,
I’m new to your recipes but have accumulated around 15 so far! They are amazing 🤩
Can I use an electric whisk instead of a beater? I don’t have that. I knave the handheld kitchenaid that is a mixer, forager chopper etc. it has a whisk attachment too. I hope I can because I really want to make them tonight.
Wow, glad you’re enjoying my recipes! If you have an electric hand mixer, it will take longer to mix. I would give it an extra 3-5 minutes of mixing time depending on how much power your mixer has and definitely on high speed.
Natasha, I love your recipes. I’ve been collecting them. I have a question – don’t you have an Amazon store with your favorite cooking items? I’m looking for a good induction cooktop. Thanks
Hi Cheryl, great to hear that you’re enjoying my recipes. You can see the kitchen tools that I use here on my Amazon affiliate shop
Can I do this in the air fryer?
Hi Michelle, I haven’t tried that yet to advise. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.
Can you use an airfryer and at what temperature for how long ?
Hi Rena, I haven’t tried that yet to advise. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.
I made Zeppole and my husband and I really liked them. I have never piped anything and when I cut the tip off of a gallon bag and tried what I ended up with looked like a funnel cake!!
So I just put batter on a spoon and dropped dollops into the oil. Worked well.
Thank you for your fantastic recipes and wonderful personality.
ATH
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
can you make croissant that you show us in the fridge tour
Hi Malak, we buy those at Costco, but It’s on my list to have a homemade Croissant recipe.
Can you please make wool roll bread because it looks so nice
Hi Sara, I haven’t tried that but thank you for the suggestion. Looks tasty!
Love ur recipes it was so good can u do a video of baked oats recipe plz.
Thank you for that wonderful suggestion, Isabelle! I’m happy you’re enjoying our recipes.
I tried the the recipe it was so delicious and btw it was eaten in less then one hour and i love ur recipes.
It sounds like you found a new favorite dessert, Isabelle! I’m so happy you all enjoyed it!
No thank u for making wonderful recipes
Hi Natasha!
Have you ever added baking powder?
Thanx for all you do. ♥️
Hi Anastasia, I haven’t tried that yet to advise. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.
Hi cam these be made without eggs
Hi Leela, I haven’t tried that yet to advise.