Today we are going to talk about an Italian dessert called Zeppole (the singular term is Zeppola and in southern dialects it is Zeppoli) and it seems that it is a type of doughnut. This is a “new to me” dessert, but I think I’ve made these in the past and didn’t realize what they were called.
Wikipedia defines Zeppoli as “commonly light fried dumplings about 2 inches in diameter.” They are known as donuts or fritters and he goes on to say that they are usually covered in powdered sugar and can be filled with custard, jelly and cannoli-style custard or a mixture of butter and honey. The texture or consistency varies from light and puffy to bread or paste. Are you getting the picture I’m painting here? Do you think you have done them too? The Wikipedia article goes on to give various other names for this cake; Cake of Saint Joseph, Bignè di S. Giuseppe, fingers and baked cream puffs. It is said that it can be stuffed with anchovy or ricotta stuffed with chocolate chips, candied fruit and honey. How many of you have made baked cream puffs, cut off the top and filled the center cavity with vanilla, chocolate or caramel pudding or custard, then replaced the top and sprinkled powdered sugar on top? I have made them for years! I never thought I was making an Italian dessert!
When I researched the history, this is what I found: Zeppole, or St. Joseph’s Cake, or sfinge, Bignè di S. Giuseppe is a cake that you would normally find in Roman, Neapolitan, and generally Peninsular Italian cuisines, as well as in Sicily. and the island of Malta. They are pastries that are usually consumed in The Feast of San Giuseppe (Saint Joseph’s Day celebrated in Italy on March 19). In Rome, Naples and Sicily, Wikipedia continues, these cakes are sold on the streets and sometimes even given away on this celebrated day. In Calabria, the anchovy or sultana variety is typically consumed on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Another research source reports that the Saint Joseph’s Day tradition originated in Sicily during a period of severe drought. The people prayed to Saint Joseph for rain and promised him a big party in his honor if he answered their prayers. Well, apparently St. Joseph complied with his request; he rained and received a festival named in his honor that was celebrated throughout history beginning in the Middle Ages and is still observed today. This day is considered a day of generosity and has come to be celebrated as a way to honor Saint Joseph and share good fortune with the poor in his communities. The tables do not contain meat as this holiday falls in Lent and the old Catholic tradition has a meat restriction during the Lenten season. Here is an interesting tidbit that I will tell, as the tradition started in Sicily, where there is more fish than meat, many of the breads take the form of fish. Can you imagine that? Great, huh!
I checked various other sources and found the story line to be more or less the same. There seems to be a lot of effort put into the celebration, with vendors lining the streets, games for children, gifts for sale, and all manner of Italian desserts available to eat and give away. The celebration is still observed today and the mere mention of the Saint Joseph’s Day celebration brings smiles and many, many memories from southern Italians.
I used to make this for my friends and family’s kids. I didn’t really have a name for them… I just called them “things”. They were fried and dusted with any combination of granulated white sugar, powdered sugar, and cinnamon. The children loved them and the cakes disappeared as if by magic. I’m sure you’ll get the same result if you make them for your “kids” of all ages.
