Baked Zeppole with Ricotta Filling for St-Joseph’s Day

Baked Zeppole with Ricotta Filling for St-Joseph’s Day as enjoyed by Italians each year on March 19th. My lightened up zeppole are baked instead of fried but have all the flavors of traditional zeppole with a sweet creamy ricotta filling! 

St-Joseph’s Day is around the corner and it’s time to celebrate with another delicious creamy, ricotta filled dessert! The Italian community celebrates St-Joseph’s Day each year on March 19th by indulging in zeppole. This recipe is my version of this traditional dessert! 

Zeppole consist of a choux pastry, either fried or baked, filled with a creamy ricotta or pastry cream filling. In order to lighten up this recipe, I opted to bake my dough rather than fry. In fact, most bakeries in my area now offer the option of baked zeppole for those who are health conscious!

Ricotta or custard filled zeppole?

Zeppole are filled with ricotta or custard, also known as pastry cream or crema pasticciera. Personally, I choose ricotta filling over pastry cream any time. Think cannoli; cassatelle; sweet panelle; or pizzelle cannoli with ricotta just to name a few!

But if you prefer pastry cream filled desserts, check out my recipe for this cream in my Pineapple Layer Cake with Pastry Cream recipe here.

What does the word zeppole mean?

Zeppole apparently originated in Sicily, although they are common throughout southern Italy. The word zeppole is derived from an Arabic word which means sweet fried dough. So I guess my recipe is not quite authentic since I baked mine. Nonetheless, they are delicious!

The following are step by step instructions with images to guide you through the recipe. The complete detailed printable recipe card at the end of this post.

How to make Baked Zeppole with Ricotta Filling for St-Joseph’s Day:

Make a basic choux pastry: 

Combine the butter and water in a medium sized sauce pan. Bring to a boil. Meanwhile, sift together the flour, salt and sugar. When the butter and water come to a rolling boil, remove the pan from the heat. Dump the flour mixture in all at once, stirring with a wooden spoon until the flour is well incorporated.Return the pan to the heat and cook stirring, for 1 minute. The mixture will form a ball and coat the pan with a thin film.

Transfer the mixture to a stand mixer bowl equipped with the paddle attachment. Let the mixture cool for a few minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, completely incorporating each one before adding the next. Beat until the dough is smooth.Place a pastry bag fitted with a star tip inside a tall glass with the top folded over the edge of the glass. Transfer the dough to the pastry bag with a spatula. Alternately, use a medium sized freezer bag with the tip cut off.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and anchor to the baking sheet by dabbing a little of the dough in each corner. Pipe a 3 inch diameter circle onto the parchment paper and go over the circle with a second layer of dough. Pipe the remaining dough.

Bake for 15 minutes in a 425 degrees F preheated oven until golden and puffed. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and bake for another 10 minutes. Turn off the oven and leave the choux to dry for 10 more minutes in the oven with the door ajar. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely before filling.

Fill the choux with ricotta filling:

Meanwhile, prepare the filling:  whisk ricotta with powdered sugar until smooth. Use a sharp knife to carefully slice in half the cooled choux. Pipe with the ricotta mixture, place the top half on and, if desired, pipe more ricotta in the center of the zeppole.

Dust with powdered sugar and place a maraschino cherry or amarena cherry in the center. 

Can zeppole be shaped differently?

I pipe my choux pastry into doughnut like shapes as I am used to finding in local Montreal bakeries. However, you may also pipe the dough as for a cream puff, that is without the hole in the center. To fill, simply make a hole at the base of the pastry with the tip of your pastry bag. Pipe cream directly into the middle hollowed section.

How long do filled zeppole keep well for?

To be honest with you filled zeppole are best the day they are prepared. Although you can keep leftovers refrigerated for a few days, the filled choux pastry tends to soften up.

Can choux pastry be made in advance and filled on another day?

Your best choice is to store unfilled choux pastry in an airtight container at room temperature. However, they do tend to soften up the next day. Therefore, when you wish to fill your choux, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Turn it off and place the choux on a baking sheet in the oven with the door slightly ajar for 10 minutes. This will allow the choux to crisp up again. 

Let cool and fill with ricotta or pastry cream as desired.

Tips and suggestions for making Baked Zeppole with Ricotta Filling for St-Joseph’s Day:

• If you don’t have a stand mixer, use a whisk to fully incorporate your eggs one at a time to the pastry dough.
• If you prefer a creamier, richer ricotta filling add some whipping cream to the mixture. Adjust the amount of sugar added according to your taste.
• Ricotta cream is my filling of choice for zeppole, however they can be filled with pastry cream. Click here for my pastry cream recipe found within my Pineapple Layer Cake with Pastry Cream post.
• Other possible add-ins to your filling include grated chocolate, cinnamon, lemon zest or even candied fruit. 

If you try out my recipe, please let me know how much you enjoyed it by rating it in the recipe card below.  You can also pin this recipe for later.

Happy St- Joseph’s Day!

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