Baked castagnole are one of the most loved Carnival sweets, especially for those looking for a lighter version compared to the classic fried castagnole. In this recipe you make soft and light baked castagnole, without frying, easy to prepare and also suitable for the air fryer.
Thanks to the ricotta in the dough, you obtain soft castagnole with a lemon fragrance, ideal to serve as a dessert or for a tasty snack during Carnival. By following this easy step-by-step baked castagnole recipe, you will also find the video recipe to make the preparation even simpler; you’ll bring to the table a traditional dessert revisited in a light version without giving up taste.
Follow me through the recipe for ricotta castagnole baked in the oven or in the air fryer and let’s make them together — you’ll see how delightful they are: soft, fragrant, and they melt in your mouth!
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very inexpensive
- Preparation time: 6 Hours 30 Minutes
- Cooking methods: Oven, Air fryer
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Carnival
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 7 oz ricotta cheese (cow)
- 1 lemon zest (Grated)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup potato starch
- 2 tsp baking powder
- as needed powdered sugar (For decorating)
Steps
In a large bowl whisk the egg together with the sugar using a hand whisk until you obtain a light and homogeneous mixture.
Add the well-drained ricotta and the grated lemon zest, then mix thoroughly until you obtain a smooth cream.
Now incorporate the dry ingredients: sift together the all-purpose flour, the potato starch and the baking powder and add them to the mixture.Work the dough until the right consistency, first mixing with a spoon and then with your hands, until you obtain a soft, smooth and slightly sticky dough.
Take small portions of dough and shape them into balls slightly smaller than a walnut.
For oven baking place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving them slightly apart from each other, and bake in a static oven preheated to 356°F for about 15-18 minutes.
For air-fryer cooking place the castagnole in the air fryer basket on perforated parchment paper and cook at 338°F for about 10-12 minutes.
Important: baked or air-fryer castagnole should remain pale, this way they stay soft and not dry.
Once cooked let them cool, dust with powdered sugar and serve — delicious!
… Vane’s tips
If you want to personalize the recipe, you can add vanilla or orange zest to the dough.
Store the castagnole in an airtight cookie tin or under a cake dome; they will stay soft for a couple of days.
