Orange And Chocolate Zeppole Recipes

Steps:

• Cut open the vanilla bean lengthwise. Using the back of a knife, scrape along the inside of the vanilla bean to collect the seeds. Scrape vanilla bean seeds into a small bowl. Add the 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon and stir to combine. Set aside.
• In a medium saucepan combine the butter, salt, 3 tablespoons of sugar, and water over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Take pan off the heat and stir in the flour. Return pan to the heat and stir continuously until mixture forms a ball, about 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer the flour mixture to a medium bowl. Using an electric hand mixer on low speed, add eggs, 1 at 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.
• Meanwhile, pour enough oil into a large frying pan to reach a depth of 2 inches. Heat the oil over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 375 degrees F.
• Using a small ice-cream scooper or 2 small spoons, carefully drop about a tablespoon of the dough into the hot olive oil, frying in batches. Turn the zeppole once or twice, cooking until golden and puffed up, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Toss with cinnamon-sugar. Arrange on a platter and serve immediately.

Steps:

• For the Chocolate Sauce
• Heat the cream in a small saucepan until hot but not boiling. Combine the cream and chocolate in a heat-proof bowl and stir until smooth.
• For the Orange Zeppole
• Combine the butter, sugar, salt, and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the flour. Return the pan to low heat and cook, stirring continuously, until the mixture forms a ball, about 4 minutes. Transfer the flour mixture to a medium bowl. Using an electric hand mixer on low speed, beat in the eggs, one at a time, incorporating each egg completely before adding the next. Add the orange zest and beat until smooth. Set aside.
• For the Orange Sugar
• Place the orange zest and sugar in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is blended. Transfer the sugar to a shallow dish and set aside.
• Pour enough oil into a large frying pan to reach a depth of 2 inches. Heat the oil over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 350°F.
• Using a small ice-cream scoop or 2 small spoons, carefully drop about a tablespoon of the dough into the hot oil. Make three more zeppole, being careful to not crowd the pan. Turn each zeppole once or twice, cooking until golden and puffed, about 5 minutes. Roll the cooked zeppoles with the orange sugar, then transfer to a plate. Continue frying the remaining batter in batch's of 4.
• Reheat the chocolate sauce if necessary, and serve in a small bowl with the zeppole.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Combine the crushed chocolate wafers and the melted butter. Place a tightly packed teaspoon of the wafer mixture into each mini-muffin cup and press down firmly.
• In a food processor combine the ricotta cheese, cream cheese, 1/4 cup of the sugar, half of the orange zest, and the egg. Blend until smooth. Lightly grease the sides of the mini muffin tin with butter. Fill the cups with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the cheesecake mixture. Place the mini muffin tin in a baking dish and pour enough hot water in the baking dish to come halfway up the sides of the mini muffin tin. Bake for 25 minutes. Transfer the mini muffin tin to a wire rack and let cool for 30 minutes. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Use a small knife to gently pop the cheesecakes out of the cups.
• Just before serving, combine the remaining orange zest with the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Top each individual cheesecake with about 1/4 teaspoon of the orange zest mixture and serve.

Steps:

• Combine the butter with 1 cup of water in a saucepan. Heat over medium until the butter melts and the water shimmers. Sift the flour into the melted butter and water. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the dough comes together (it will be the consistency of a cookie dough). Transfer the dough to a bowl and refrigerate for 20 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, beat the eggs into the dough 1 at a time.
• Spoon the dough into a pastry bag. Pipe circles (the size is up to you) onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Set the zeppole aside to rise in a warm place for at least 1 hour.
• In a heavy high-sided pot heat 2-inches of oil over medium-high until it reaches 350 degrees F. Drop 2 or 3 zeppole into the oil and fry until crisp and golden, about 4 minutes per side. Drain the zeppole on a plate lined with paper towels and repeat, until all the zeppole are fried.
• When the zeppole are just cool enough to handle, roll them in sugar. Serve the zeppole warm topped with honey, if desired.

Steps:

• For sauce:
• Put chocolate in a medium bowl. Stir cream and honey in a small saucepan over medium heat until mixture starts to bubble; pour over chocolate and whisk until smooth. Keep warm. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill. Rewarm before using.
• For zeppole:
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle, combine flour and next 6 ingredients. Beat at low speed until dough forms. Gradually add butter, beating until absorbed between additions and occasionally scraping down sides of bowl. Increase speed to medium and beat until smooth and glossy, about 3 minutes. Scrape dough from paddle and sides of bowl. Cover with plastic wrap; let rise for 2 hours. Pour enough oil into a deep, heavy 5-quart pot to reach a depth of 1 1/2" Attach a deep-fry thermometer to side of pot and heat oil over medium heat until it reaches 325°F. Working in batches, drop dough into oil by heaping teaspoonfuls (about 1"-diameter rounds). Cook, turning occasionally, until zeppole are golden and cooked, about 4 minutes per batch. Using a slotted spoon, transfer zeppole to paper towels; drain. Sift powdered sugar over zeppole or put sugar in a paper bag and add zeppole; shake gently to coat. Serve with sauce for dipping.