Zeppole with Chocolate Sauce

Traditional Italian doughnuts served with a rich bittersweet chocolate sauce. These light, airy zeppole are made with a delicate yeasted dough, fried until golden brown and dusted with powdered sugar.

8 servings

2 hr 45 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•8 ounces 70% bittersweet chocolate, chopped
•1 cup heavy whipping cream
•¼ cup honey
•2 cups bread flour
•½ cup whole milk
•3 tablespoons sugar
•1½ teaspoons lemon zest
•¾ teaspoon active dry yeast
•¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
•2 large eggs
•¾ cup unsalted butter
•4 cups vegetable oil
•1 cup powdered sugar

Cooking Instructions

1.
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.
15 min
2.
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.
150 min

Ingredients

•8 ounces 70% bittersweet chocolate, chopped

•1 cup heavy whipping cream

•¼ cup honey

•2 cups bread flour

•½ cup whole milk

•3 tablespoons sugar

•1½ teaspoons lemon zest

•¾ teaspoon active dry yeast

•¾ teaspoon fine sea salt

•2 large eggs

•¾ cup unsalted butter

•4 cups vegetable oil

•1 cup powdered sugar

Cooking Instructions

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.

15 min

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.

150 min