Step 1

Heat the milk, vanilla and citrus peel if using in a saucepan until boiling them turn off immediately to avoid it overflowing.

Step 2

In a large bowl mix the egg yolks and sugar together until combined then mix in the cornstarch.

Step 3

Remove the citrus peel then slowly pour the milk into the egg a little at a time whilst whisking until thoroughly combined. Transfer the mixture back to the saucepan and heat it on low.

Step 4

Stir the mixture until thickened (about 10 minutes). It should be thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon.

Step 5

Once thick, transfer the mixture to a clean bowl and cover with plastic wrap (cling film). Make sure to place it directly on top of the custard so a skin doesn’t form.

Step 6

Set aside to cool completely.

Step 7

Pre-heat the oven to 190C (375F). Line a large baking tray with parchment paper.

Step 8

Put the water and sugar in a large saucepan and heat until the sugar has dissolved. Once dissolved, add the butter and a pinch of salt and bring to a boil.

Step 9

Turn the heat down low and add the sifted flour to the butter mixture. Mix it vigorously with a wooden spoon until a dough had formed and is no longer sticking to the edges. Make sure to cook the dough whilst stirring for at least 5 minutes.

Step 10

Turn off the heat and transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl. Mix the egg into the dough a third at a time making sure the egg is fully absorbed before adding more egg. The dough should be smooth and sticky.

Step 11

Transfer the dough to a piping bag with a star nozzle and pipe the zeppole in a ring overlapping it in the middle (as you would frost a cupcake) about 3 inches in size. Make sure to pipe them 2 inch apart.

Step 12

Bake them in the oven at 190C (375F) for 10 minutes then turn the heat down to 170C (340F) for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a cooling rack.

Step 13

Once cooled, add the custard to a piping bag (we used a star nozzle but any will do). Cut the zeppole in half and fill them with custard. Top each zeppole with a little more custard and top each one with a cherry.