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Sfinci di San Giuseppe

An italian pastry eaten in honor of St. Joseph!
Course Dessert
Cuisine Italian

Ingredients
  

Dough

  • 113 g Unsalted Butter 1 stick
  • 150 g AP Flour 1 1/4 cup
  • 250 ml Water 1 cup
  • 10 g Sugar 2 tsp
  • 2 g Salt 1/4 tsp
  • 3 Large Eggs
  • Oil for deep frying

Filling

  • 2 cups Ricotta, drained
  • 1 cup Confectioners Sugar
  • 1/2 cup Mini Chocolate Chips
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • Amarena Cherries
  • Candied Orange peel optional

Instructions
 

Cannoli Cream

  • Add the Ricotta to a strainer lined with a cheesecloth. Place over a bowl and let it sit overnight in the refrigerator to drain. This is a very important step or the cannoli cream will be watery!
  • The next day, place the drained ricotta into a bowl and add confectioner's sugar, vanilla extract and mix well. Then fold in the chocolate chips. Place into the refrigerator until ready to use.

To make the Pate a Choux

  • Add butter and water to a sauce pan. Melt the butter and then add salt and sugar. Mix to dissolve.
  • Add the flour all at once and mix vigourously until the dough comes together. Cook for a few minutes until the dough detaches from the pan and looks slightly shiny.
  • Place into a bowl and let it cool. **Tip: I place the dough into the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the paddle attachment on low speed, I let the mixer cool the dough for me. Once cool enough, add one egg at a time with the mixer on medium speed.
  • Once you have achieved a creamy dough, set aside and start to heat your frying oil in a medium sized pot. Fill the pot 2 inches below the rim. Do not over fill with oil or it will overflow when you add the dough. Heat the oil to 330℉. No more than that or they will get dark on the outside and not expand on the inside which results in a dense center. This process could take between 5 - 8 mins to ensure they have puffed up nicely.
  • Place the sfinci on a wire rack to cool.
  • Add the cannoli cream to a piping bag with no tip or a star tip if you want to be fancy!
  • Once cooled cut them right down the middle but not all the way through.
  • Fill the inside with cannoli cream and pipe some cream on top as well. Top with an Amarena Cherry and a candied orange peel if you have it.
  • Sprinkle with powdered sugar and enjoy! Keep refrigerated if not serving immediately.
Keyword sfinci, sfinci di san giuseppe