Italian Desserts Recipes - Carnival Cakes (Tortelli di Carnevale) Recipe

Ingredients                                     

• 300 ml/1 1/4 cups milk

• 300 ml/1 1/4 cups cold water

• 1.5 ml/1/4 tsp salt

• 2.5 ml/1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

• 75 g/3 oz/1/3 cup caster (superfine) sugar

• 5 ml/1 tsp vanilla essence (extract)

• 100 g/4 oz/1/2 cup unsalted (sweet) butter

• 5 ml/1 tsp grated lime rind

• 275 g/10 oz/2 1/2 cups plain (all­purpose) flour

• 6 eggs

• 2 egg yolks

• 30 ml/2 tbsp dark rum

• Oil for deep-frying

• 100 g/4 oz/2/3 cup icing (confectioners') sugar, sifted

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Method:

1. Put the milk, water, salt, bicarbonate of soda, sugar, vanilla essence, butter and lime rind in a saucepan and bring to the boil over a low heat.

2. Remove the pan from the heat and pour in the flour. Beat vigorously and return to the heat for 1 minute, stirring all the time.

3. Remove from the heat when the mixture comes away from the sides of the pan. Allow to cool for 2 minutes, stirring.

4. Gradually add the eggs and egg yolks, beating all the time. Stir in the rum and set aside for 1 hour to cool completely.

5. Heat the oil in a deep pan. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture into the hot oil and cook until golden.

6. Lift out with a draining spoon and drain on kitchen paper. Dust with the sifted icing sugar. Serve at once.