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Baked Snowflakes

17/11/2023

Baked Snowflakes are a typical Neapolitan dessert, consisting of a soft brioche bread and a sweet ricotta cream. Here’s how to prepare them.

Ingredients

For the dough:

  • 500 g of 00 flour
  • 200 g of lukewarm whole milk
  • 100 g of sugar
  • 100 g of soft butter
  • 2 medium eggs
  • 12 g of fresh brewer’s yeast
  • A pinch of salt

For the ricotta cream:

  • 500 g of cow’s milk ricotta
  • 150 g of icing sugar
  • Vanilla pods or vanilla extract

Additionally:

  • Icing sugar for dusting

Preparation

  1. First, prepare the brioche dough. In a bowl, dissolve the brewer’s yeast in the warm milk with a teaspoon of sugar.

  2. In a large bowl or the bowl of a mixer, pour the sifted flour and add the mixture of milk and yeast, eggs, soft butter, the remaining sugar, and a pinch of salt. Knead until you get a homogeneous, elastic, and slightly sticky mixture.

  3. Let the dough rise in a warm place covered with a clean dishcloth until it doubles in volume, which may take about 1-2 hours.

  4. Meanwhile, prepare the ricotta cream by mixing the ricotta with the icing sugar and the vanilla aroma until you have a smooth and homogeneous cream. Store in the refrigerator until use.

  5. Once the dough has risen, deflate it gently. Divide it into portions of about 50-60 g each and form balls.

  6. Arrange the balls on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, leaving enough space between them.

  7. Let it rise again until they have doubled in size, about 30-40 minutes.

  8. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.

  9. Bake the snowflakes for about 15-20 minutes or until they turn golden brown.

  10. Once ready, let them cool completely.

  11. Before serving, cut the top part of each bun (like a cap), fill with the ricotta cream, and replace the “cap” on top.

  12. Dust with plenty of icing sugar before serving.

These tasty sweets are perfect for a rich breakfast or a sweet break. Their softness and sweetness will surely make those who taste them fall in love.

Curiosity

The name “Snowflakes” comes from their visual resemblance to soft flakes, thanks to the final dusting of icing sugar that recalls fresh snow.

Baked Snowflakes