Carnival Fritters or Puffs: The Soft and Golden Delight that Announces the Arrival of Carnival
Carnival fritters are a typical dessert of the Emilian tradition, prepared for the most joyful celebration of the year. These soft, golden, and fragrant fritters are real comfort food, perfect for pampering yourself and sharing moments of joy with friends and family. They are easy to make and accessible to everyone, and the result is always guaranteed.
To prepare Carnival fritters you will need a few simple ingredients: flour, eggs, butter, sugar, and a pinch of salt. The dough is light and airy, and frying it in hot oil makes it crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They are a delicious dessert that brings back many cheerful Carnival memories, with grandma covering us with fritters to keep us calm—a nearly impossible task.
Below are other carnival recipes:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Very Affordable
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 30 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Winter, Carnival
- Energy 1,697.62 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 24.45 (g) of which sugars 3.28 (g)
- Proteins 7.65 (g)
- Fat 177.90 (g) of which saturated 34.50 (g)of which unsaturated 135.06 (g)
- Fibers 0.84 (g)
- Sodium 171.58 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 140 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for Carnival Fritters or Puffs
- 1 cup water
- 3.5 tbsp butter
- 1 lemon peel (grated)
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tbsp sugar
- as needed peanut oil (or lard)
Tools
- 1 Saucepan Lagostina Pratica Stainless Steel Saucepan with Long Silicone Handle, Suitable for Induction, Gas, and Oven up to 410°F, 6.3 inches
- Wooden Spoons 4x Wooden Kitchen Spoons – Beechwood Cooking, Roasting, and Baking Utensil Set – 12-inch One-piece Design – Scratch-proof Accessories – Spatula, Ladle
- Frying Pans Lagostina Linea Rossa Stainless Steel Wok with Fry and Steam Basket, Ø 11 inches, Suitable for Induction, Gas, and Oven up to 350°F, Non-slip Silicone Handles
- Electric Whisks Moulinex HM4641 Prep'Mix+ Hand Mixer, with Stainless Steel Whisks and Dough Hooks for Mixing, Beating, and Whipping, 2.5 L Rotating Bowl, 5 Speeds and Turbo Setting
Steps for Carnival Fritters or Puffs
Place the water in a saucepan, add the butter and a pinch of salt, and heat until the butter melts. At this point, remove the pan from the heat and add the flour all at once, stirring vigorously with a wooden spoon or an electric whisk with hook attachments, which is much more convenient. Return to the heat, continuing to stir forcefully, beating the mixture against the sides of the pan until it detaches sizzling from the sides. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
At this point, incorporate the whole eggs and yolks one by one, complete with sugar and grated lemon peel, and continue working the dough for a few minutes, always with a wooden spoon or better, with an electric whisk with hook attachments. Cover the pan and let the dough rest for a few minutes.
Heat the oil and fry the dough in small pieces over moderate heat so that they puff up and achieve a nice, even golden brown outside. Drain the fritters on paper towels and continue until the dough is used up. Arrange them on a serving plate and dust with vanilla powdered sugar.
Tips, Notes, Variations for Carnival Fritters or Puffs
Carnival fritters can be enriched with the addition of raisins, candied fruit, or grated lemon peel. For a more indulgent touch, you can fill them with pastry cream or jam.
You can accompany them with Vin Santo or a Moscato.
