Sour Cherry-On-Top Fritters (Zeppole Di San Giuseppe Fritte)

Yield: 6 fritters
Ingredients:
Dough
- 1 cup (240 ml) water
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) butter
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt
- 1 cup (240 ml) flour
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) cinnamon
- 4 eggs
Sour cherry mascarpone whipped cream
- 1 cup (240 ml) whipping cream
- 1 cup (240 ml) mascarpone cheese, room temperature
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) sour cherry syrup
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) icing sugar
To finish:
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- Icing sugar
- 12 sour cherries in syrup
Special equipment
- 2 pastry bags
- 1 star-shaped tip
- 1 round tip
Method:
For the dough, add water, butter, and salt to a saucepan, then bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
Add flour and cinnamon to the saucepan, and mix in thoroughly with a wooden spoon.
Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
Beat eggs into mixture one at a time. Let sit for 20 minutes.
Once cool, transfer dough to a pastry bag with a star-shaped tip.
Cut a piece of parchment paper into 6 3×3-inch (7.5 x 7.5 cm) squares.
Pipe out a neat ring of dough on each square of paper.
For the sour cherry mascarpone whipped cream, in a chilled bowl, beat whipping cream with a hand blender or whisk until just thick.
Add mascarpone and sour cherry syrup to cream and continue to whip until stiff peaks form.
Whip the sugar into the mixture until just combined.
Transfer to a pastry bag with a round tip.
To finish, in a heavy pot over medium high heat, heat 3 inches (7.5 cm) of vegetable oil to 375 F (190 C).
A few at a time (do not crowd the oil), carefully lower paper with dough rings attached, batter side down, into the hot oil. When the paper separates from the ring, remove and discard.
Continue frying the dough rings until golden-brown, turning once, then use a slotted spoon to remove to a paper-towel lined plate.
Repeat until all rings are fried, then set aside to cool.
To serve, sprinkle the cooled dough rings with icing sugar.
Pipe the whipped cream mixture into the hole of each fried ring.
Top with a sour cherry, drizzle over a bit of the sour cherry syrup, and serve immediately.
Buon Appetito!