Zeppole Recipe: Authentic Italian Cream-Filled Pastries 2026

Zeppole are a beloved Italian pastry, festive and full of tradition. These elegant treats have a light, airy texture and a creamy filling that makes them perfect for enjoying the best of Italian pastry on their traditional feast day or any special occasion.

While they were once fried in oil, today they are most commonly baked in the oven, which makes them much lighter. The cream is flavored with vanilla and sweet wine, though lemon, orange, or cinnamon are also popular additions to make it even more aromatic.

This recipe yields 10 pastries and comes together in about 50 minutes, plus cooling time. They are best enjoyed fresh, but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.

Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or simply craving a delicate Italian dessert, these zeppole are sure to impress.

Ingredients for Zeppole

For 10 pastries

• 2 medium egg yolks
• 60 g white sugar
• 30 g cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon vanilla paste
• 1 teaspoon sweet wine
• 300 ml milk
• 10 amarena cherries in syrup
• 10 g powdered sugar for decorating
• 120 ml water
• 60 g unsalted butter
• 10 g white sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• 65 g wheat flour
• Half a teaspoon baking powder (Royal type)
• 2 medium eggs

How to Make Zeppole Step by Step

1. Prepare the cream

Start by making the cream. In a saucepan, mix 2 medium egg yolks, 60 g white sugar, 30 g cornstarch, 1 teaspoon vanilla paste, and 1 teaspoon sweet wine. Once well combined, add 300 ml milk and mix well.

2. Thicken the cream

Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the cream thickens.

3. Cool the cream

Remove from heat and pour into a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let cool completely at room temperature.

4. Preheat oven and heat butter mixture

While the cream cools, prepare the zeppole dough. Preheat the oven to 200°C (392°F) with top and bottom heat and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a saucepan, combine 120 ml water, 60 g unsalted butter, 10 g white sugar, and 1 pinch salt.

5. Bring to a boil

Bring to a boil and let the butter just melt, then remove from heat.

6. Add flour and baking powder

Add 65 g flour and half a teaspoon baking powder and integrate with a spatula.

7. Dry the dough

Return to medium heat and let the dough dry gradually until a thin crust forms on the bottom of the saucepan.

8. Cool the dough

Remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl. Let cool for 5-10 minutes.

9. Incorporate the eggs

Add 2 medium eggs one at a time, meaning do not add the second until the first is completely integrated. First add one egg and stir vigorously with the spatula to integrate. At first, the dough may seem to separate, but it will come together. Repeat with the second egg and mix well to achieve a smooth, shiny dough.

10. Shape and bake

Transfer the dough to a piping bag with a star tip and form the zeppole by making an overlapping spiral shape until you reach a diameter of about 8-10 cm. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, until golden.

11. Cool completely

Remove from the oven and let cool, first on the baking sheet and then on a wire rack until completely cool.

12. Cut the pastries

Once the cream and pastries are cold, cut the pastries in half using a serrated knife.

13. Fill with cream

Transfer the cream to a piping bag with a star tip and fill the pastries.

14. Decorate and serve

Cover with the top half, dust the surface with about 10 g powdered sugar, and pipe a small dollop of cream in the center of each zeppole. Finish by placing the 10 amarena cherries in syrup on top of each cream dollop.

Tips for the Best Zeppole

Oven Tips

To achieve perfect zeppole, it is important not to open the oven during baking, so the dough does not deflate and you get perfect volume.

Storage

Once prepared, you can enjoy them immediately or store in the refrigerator for a maximum of 24 hours, so the dough does not soften too much. However, it is preferable to eat them freshly made, as they are an exquisite and delicate sweet that deserves to be enjoyed at its best.

Flavor Variations

The cream is flavored with vanilla and sweet wine, though it is also common to add lemon, orange, or cinnamon to make it even more aromatic.

30 Go-To Recipes I Keep Coming Back to in My Own Kitchen

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a rotation that covers cozy classics, dishes from around the world, and sweets that make everyone happy.

Some nights I want something luxuriously rich, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a truly indulgent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I'm after something fruity and soothing, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

For mornings that call for something easy and for lighter plates, I'll whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And whenever I need a gluten-free staple for the pantry, this straightforward Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

When tapas and Mediterranean cooking are calling, I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion feels a bit more special.

Hearty midday meals and comforting suppers? These are the ones I'm always recommending: this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something more substantial, I'll bake up this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, rustic Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually lead me to this juicy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crackly Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine for a quick appetizer or snack.

And when I'm hosting and putting together drinks alongside a full menu, I'll often serve dinner with this refreshing Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this potent Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To bring the whole table together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or finishing things off with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for Your Family

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes boil down to three things: straightforward methods, techniques you can trust, and serious flavor.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely cook over and over—whether it's a fast meal just for me or something a little more celebratory for friends and family.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and uncomplicated is what I'm after, I'll usually make the classic Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For cozier, more filling meals, I frequently point people to the satisfying Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm also a big fan of sharing dishes with roots in other countries, such as the authentic Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it cuts down on time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

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