Ciambellone di Pasqua con Limone e Anise/ Italian Easter Cake with Lemon and Anise

 Ciambellone di Pasqua/ Easter Breakfast Cake and Easter Traditions

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My mother would make this "dosa" as she called it for Easter Morning and I absolutely loved it. Breakfasts in our house were always a cafe latte with some type of sweet or dried biscuit such as this ciambellone. My mother would warm up milk on the stove until it was super hot then add some fresh coffee and sugar. It was served in a large cup and we would dunk our ciambelle or ciambellone into the sweet and comforting hot drink. I have been drinking coffee for as long as I can remember. It was especially welcoming on cold winter days before we set off for school. 

On Easter Mornings this "dosa" would be waiting for us! We would happily eat it and then get dressed into our Sunday best and go to church. My mother would stay home to prepare the Sunday feast. At church we would greet all of our friends and relatives and wish them a "Buona Pasqua". We would run home knowing that our feast was soon to be served. We would have soup, pork or veal cutlets, lasagna, salad and so much more. After dinner we would share our chocolate that we received from our parents. We didn't receive a great deal of chocolate, usually one of the beautifully wrapped eggs from the "Salami man" that would come all the way from Toronto in a white refrigerated van with fresh Italian salumi and cheeses and dolci (that's a story for another time😊) I was so excited! The best part was my little brother who would always get this HUGE Easter Bunny from his Godparents and we would bid on the parts of the bunny. We called it "baptizing the bunny." I am pretty sure it was something we did once and it became our own family tradition- as strange as it was. Of course, my brother came away with all the money but we got a part of a chocolate Easter Bunny and in my eyes that was a fair deal!!! 

A ciambellone is a regional donut shape cake that is traditionally eaten for Easter breakfast. It has simple ingredients of flour, sugar, baking powder, vanilla, milk and eggs that come together very quickly. It is typically baked in a tube pan. Different regions will add a variety of ingredients to this simple batter to make it unique to them. This ciambellone is the one that we would eat at Easter time and more common to the Campania Romana region.  It is made with the addition of anise seeds and lemon which is an incredible combination. It has a bright taste, is denser than a regular cake and not very sweet which makes it perfect with a cappuccino, espresso or tea in the morning. It can also be enjoyed for a mid afternoon snack! It has a beautiful crust and can be eaten as is, sprinkled with icing sugar or a glaze with icing sugar and lemon. However you choose to eat it it is delicious. I hope you enjoy this cake as much as we do!

Cominciamo!

Ingredients

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1tsp salt
• 3/4 cup sugar
• zest and juice of two large lemons 
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cup milk
• 2 tsps vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil such as canola or sunflower
• 1 tbsp anise seeds

                                      

                             

   

Directions

1. In a medium size bowl whisk together flour, sugar,salt and baking powder until well blended. Add in the zest and stir in until well incorporated. Let sit.
2. In a large bowl whisk 4 eggs until well blended, add in the milk, lemon zest, vanilla extract and oil. Mix in each ingredient one at a time until all are combined with oil being last.
3. Slowly add the flour to the wet ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon until all the flour has been incorporated. 
4. Sprinkle in anise seeds as mix gently
5. Spray and lightly flour a tube or bundt pan and pour in batter.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 50 minutes. The actual time will depend on your oven. The ciambellone is done when it is golden on top and the toothpick comes out clean.
7. Wait about 5 minutes and then remove from pan and cool completely before icing

A mangia!

Easter Morning
I was in Grade 2 and I remember this day well as I was wearing my First Communion shoes and my brand new coat. My Godmother made my dress and I adored it as she made my mother a matching one!

Fatto con amore,

Elena 💜