These baci di ricotta — perfect kisses, hot, soft and melting — are a surprisingly easy dessert. It’s just a question of mixing the ingredients in a bowl (by hand) and then frying rounded teaspoonfuls of the batter in just under an inch of oil until you have some light, small, vaguely ball-shaped fritters that need no more than a powdery dusting with confectioners’ sugar. Put a dish mounded with them on the table with coffee and watch them go.
Ingredients
- 1 cup ricotta
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup Italian 00 flour (note below)
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon superfine sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Vegetable oil for frying
- 2 teaspoons confectioners’ sugar
- Nutritional Information
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)
245 calories; 18 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 10 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 13 grams carbohydrates; 0 grams dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 7 grams protein; 82 milligrams cholesterol; 197 milligrams sodium
Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.
6 servings
Preparation
- In a medium bowl, combine ricotta and eggs, and mix until smooth. Add flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, sugar and vanilla. Mix again to make a smooth batter.
- Fill a wide, shallow skillet with about 3/4 inch of oil. Place over medium-high heat until a bit of batter sizzles when dropped in. Drop rounded teaspoons of batter into pan, 5 or 6 at a time. When batter puffs and undersides turn golden brown, after about 1 minute, flip kisses and allow to brown again for about 1 more minute. Transfer browned kisses to paper towels to drain, and continue until all batter is used.
- Pile kisses in a rough pyramid on a serving plate. Pass confectioners’ sugar through a small fine-meshed sieve evenly over baci. Serve immediately.
- Italian 00 flour is sold online or in most specialty food markets.
20 minutes
Dining and Cooking