This delicious Italian Bomboloni comes together in about 90 minutes and involves some frying for a quick and easy dessert that your family will love! Switch up the fillings to suit your taste or use it as an opportunity to clean out the fridge of any jam or chocolate spread you have lying around. Trust me, these fluffy little pillows of sweetness are perfect for any occasion and are bound to become a family favorite!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 3 cups Bread or All-Purpose Flour
- 2 1/4 tsp Fast-Acting Dry Yeast
- 2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar (Plus More for Coating)
- 1 Zested Lemon
- 2 Large Eggs (Lightly Beaten)
- 3/4 cup Whole Milk
- 4 tbsp Butter (Softened)
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- Vegetable Oil (for Frying)
- Chocolate-Hazelnut Spread, Jam, or Pastry Cream (for Filling)
Let’s Get Cooking!
Step 1: Prepare the Dough
Begin by grabbing a large mixing bowl (or your beloved stand mixer). Combine flour, yeast, salt, sugar, and lemon zest. Mix these dry ingredients until well combined.
Now, here’s the fun part: Add in the eggs, milk, softened butter, and vanilla extract. Mix until everything is combined, and then knead until it’s nice and smooth. This should take about 8-10 minutes if you’re doing it by hand, your arm workout for the day! If you’re using a stand mixer, you can let it run for about 5 minutes with the dough hook.
Step 2: Let It Rise
Transfer your beautiful dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover it with a clean kitchen towel. Place it in a warm spot for about 1 hour, or until it doubles in size. I love turning on the oven for 1 minute, then turning it off. The warm air is just perfect for letting the dough rise!
Step 3: Roll Out the Dough
Once your dough has risen, punch it down (it’s so satisfying!) and roll it out to about 3/4-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Now grab a round cutter (or even the top of a glass) and cut out rounds, aim for about 2-3 inches in diameter. Place your cut dough on a piece of parchment paper, cover them up, and let them rise again for about 1 hour. You want these little guys to be puffy!
Step 4: Fry Those Bad Boys
When the second rise is complete, heat oil in a deep pot to 350°F. Carefully drop a few bomboloni at a time into the hot oil. Fry them for about 4-5 minutes, flipping once, until they’re beautifully golden brown. Be mindful not to overcrowd the pot, this keeps the temperature steady and gives you those perfectly crispy outsides.
Step 5: Coat and Fill
Once they are fried, remove them and drain briefly on paper towels. While they’re still warm, roll them in granulated sugar. Trust me, this step is essential! Now, once they cool a bit, take a piping bag and fill them with your choice of chocolate-hazelnut spread, jam, or pastry cream. You can push the tip of the piping bag into the side of the bomboloni and gently squeeze until you feel some resistance, just don’t overfill!
If you loved this Italian Bomboloni, be sure to check out my Blueberry Lemon Muffins, my Easy Breakfast Tacos!
Why This Recipe Works
Quick & Easy
It comes together all in about 90 minutes with minimal hands-on time, perfect for those busy days when you need something special!
Crowd-Pleaser
The whole family will love it! Seriously, I won’t tell you how many I’ve eaten by myself… but it’s a lot!
Customizable
You can fill these fluffy wonders with just about anything, leftover jams, spreads, or even a tasty homemade pastry cream. Whatever you’ve got on hand works perfectly!
Comfort Food
These bomboloni are loaded with tons of flavor, it’s like a hug in food form. Fluffy and sweet, they’re just heavenly!
Make-Ahead Friendly
You can prepare the dough in advance and let it rise slowly in the fridge overnight. Just bring it back to room temperature before rolling it out, and you’ll have freshly fried bomboloni ready to go!
Serving and Storage Tips
Serving Suggestions
These treats are best served warm and dusted with sugar. Pair them with this creamy Pumpkin Coconut Milk Latte or a glass of cold milk for an extra special moment!
Storage
Homemade bomboloni, if there are any left (which is rare!), will last in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. However, they’re at their best the day they’re made!
Reheating Instructions
To reheat, simply place them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. Alternatively, pop them in the oven at 350°F for about 5 minutes to get them warm and toasty again!
Freezer Friendly
Yes! You can freeze the unfilled bomboloni before frying them. Just let them cool, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet, and freeze until solid before transferring to a freezer bag, where they’ll keep for about 3 months. Fry them directly from the freezer, just add an extra minute or so to the cooking time!
And there you have it, your guide to making Quick and Easy Italian Bomboloni that are guaranteed to delight your family! Whether it’s for a cozy evening or a festive occasion, these treats will surely make everyone smile. Enjoy!
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Quick and Easy Italian Bomboloni
- Total Time: 90 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delicious Italian bomboloni that are fluffy, sweet, and perfect for any occasion. Fill them with your favorite spreads and enjoy a delightful treat!
Ingredients
- 3 cups Bread or All-Purpose Flour
- 2 1/4 tsp Fast-Acting Dry Yeast
- 2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar (Plus More for Coating)
- 1 Zested Lemon
- 2 Large Eggs (Lightly Beaten)
- 3/4 cup Whole Milk
- 4 tbsp Butter (Softened)
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- Vegetable Oil (for Frying)
- Chocolate-Hazelnut Spread, Jam, or Pastry Cream (for Filling)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, yeast, salt, sugar, and lemon zest. Add in eggs, milk, softened butter, and vanilla extract; mix until smooth and knead for 8-10 minutes.
- Let It Rise: Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a towel, and let it rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour until it doubles in size.
- Roll Out the Dough: Punch down the risen dough and roll it out to about 3/4-inch thickness. Cut rounds and place them on parchment paper to rise for another hour.
- Fry: Heat oil in a deep pot to 350°F. Fry bomboloni for about 4-5 minutes until golden brown, flipping once.
- Coat and Fill: Drain on paper towels and roll in granulated sugar. Fill with chocolate-hazelnut spread, jam, or pastry cream using a piping bag.
Notes
Best served warm and dusted with sugar. Can be filled with various spreads, making them customizable for different tastes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bomboloni
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 60mg