Lemon Lavender Zeppole

August 21, 2016 12 Comments

Zeppole is my childhood at the Jersey Shore. I couldn’t go to the boardwalk without splitting a batch with my siblings and getting powdered sugar all over myself. They just speak to my love for all Italian food and my love for summers at the beach! Since I haven’t had time to get to the boardwalk yet this summer (which is a problem that will hopefully be fixed soon), I decided to bring the boardwalk home with these amazing lemon lavender zeppole.

The dough for the lemon lavender zeppole was very similar to choux pastry, which is the dough cream puffs and eclairs are made from. I gently boiled a mixture of butter, water, sugar, ground lavender, cinnamon and salt. Then I brought it together in the pot with flour and let the dough gently cook while I stirred it.
The dough for the lemon lavender zeppole was very similar to choux pastry, which is the dough used to make cream puffs and eclairs. I gently boiled a mixture of butter, water, sugar, lemon zest, ground lavender, cinnamon and salt. Then I brought it together in the pot with flour and gently cooked the dough while I stirred it.
I added eggs to the dough after I moved it to a bowl and let it cool a little. It was really sticky and wet, which was perfect. Then I used my beloved cookie scoop to drop perfect dollops of that dough into my hot oil. The lemon lavender zeppole puffed up and browned so gorgeously! They took about 5-6 minutes to cook through and become crispy.
I added eggs to the dough after I moved it to a bowl and let it cool a little. It was important to let it cool so that the eggs didn’t scramble when they went in. The dough was really sticky and wet, which was perfect. Then I used my beloved cookie scoop to drop perfect dollops of that dough into my hot oil. The lemon lavender zeppole puffed up and browned so gorgeously! They took about 5-6 minutes to cook through and become crispy.
After I removed the lemon lavender zeppole from the oil, I let them drain on paper towel. Then I dropped them into a paper bag with lots of powdered sugar. I closed the bag and gave it a good shake to perfectly coat them! That's the way I saw it done on the boardwalk, so it seemed like the right thing to do.
After I removed the lemon lavender zeppole from the oil, I let them drain on paper towel. Then I dropped them into a paper bag with lots of powdered sugar. I closed the bag and gave it a good shake to perfectly coat them! That’s the way I saw it done on the boardwalk, so it seemed like the right thing to do.

Oh my goodness, these lemon lavender zeppole were so incredible fresh out of the fryer. It was the only way to eat them since they don’t keep well as leftovers. The flavors were there just enough to enhance the pure joy of the fried dough. Hope you all enjoy this summer boardwalk classic! xoxo

Lemon Lavender Zeppole
Lemon Lavender Zeppole
5 from 1 vote
Lemon Lavender Zeppole
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Lemon Lavender Zeppole
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 

Lemon lavender zeppole is such an amazing, puffy and flavorful take on the classic Italian street food dessert! The powdered sugar coating just makes them. 

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Lemon Lavender Zeppole, Zeppole
Servings: 24 zeppole
Calories: 192 kcal
Author: Jeanie and Lulu's Kitchen
Ingredients
  • 1 stick butter
  • 1 cup water
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 whole lemon zested
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground lavender
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 whole eggs
  • canola oil for frying
  • 1 cup powdered sugar for coating
Instructions
  1. Combine the butter, water, sugar, lemon zest, lavender, cinnamon and salt in a medium saucepan and heat it over medium high heat. Let it come to a gentle boil and cook for a couple of minutes. Take it off of the heat and stir in the flour until it becomes pasty. Put it back on the heat and keep stirring to cook off the flour and bring it into a ball. This will take about 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the dough into a large bowl and let it cool for a minute or two so that the eggs won't scramble when they go in. Then use a hand mixer to beat in the eggs one at a time until you have a sticky, well mixed dough. At this point the dough can be covered and refrigerated up to a day to fry up later if desired.
  2. When you are ready to fry the dough, pour about 2-3 inches of canola oil into a large stainless steal pan with deep sides. Heat it over medium high heat and use a deep fry thermometer to make sure it stays around 375 degrees. Once the oil is hot enough, use a 1.5 inch cookie scoop to scoop perfect portions of dough right into the oil in batches. They will take about 5-6 minutes to get puffed up and gorgeously brown on the outside. I did two batches of 7 and one batch of 6 to get 20 zeppole total. When the first batch is done, remove the zeppole with a slotted spoon or spider to a plate lined with paper towel and get the next batch in.
  3. While the first batch is draining and cooling enough to handle, pour the powdered sugar into a medium sized paper bag. Don't use plastic here since it could slightly melt into the hot zeppole. Put the first batch into the bag, close it tightly and give it a good shake to coat the zeppole. Serve them immediately while they are still hot, and repeat with the next batches. Enjoy this classic boardwalk treat! These are really only good immediately out of the fryer and don't keep well as leftovers.
Nutrition Facts
Lemon Lavender Zeppole
Amount Per Serving (2 zeppole)
Calories 192 Calories from Fat 123
% Daily Value*
Fat 13.7g21%
Saturated Fat 5.6g35%
Cholesterol 75mg25%
Sodium 87mg4%
Potassium 29mg1%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Fiber 0.3g1%
Sugar 13.1g15%
Protein 2.3g5%
Calcium 20mg2%
Iron 0.5mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Lemon Lavender Zeppole
Lemon Lavender Zeppole

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12 thoughts on “Lemon Lavender Zeppole”

  2. Ah I love my cookie scoop too! One of my favorite tools for baking. These look awesome! I just can’t say no to a doughnut

    1. Lavender and lemon is one of my all time favorite flavor combinations, I think this is the 4th or 5th time I’ve written a recipe using it! Thanks so much for the feedback 🙂

  6. We can buy something similar looking at the baker’s here in Germany, so delicious, my daughter is crazy about them. I should definitely make these, they would be a hit for sure.

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5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)