Grape Donut

Here is the recipe for a grape donut, a sweet and soft cake ideal for breakfast or a snack, to enjoy in autumn when the grapes are in full season. In the Italian tradition, particularly in some regions like Emilia-Romagna, this rustic dessert is highly appreciated.

Ingredients

• 300 g of white or black grapes (preferably wine grapes for a more intense flavor)
• 150 g of sugar
• 3 eggs
• 100 ml of seed oil (or extra virgin olive oil for a more rustic taste)
• 300 g of 00 flour
• 1 packet of baking powder
• A pinch of salt
• Icing sugar (for decoration, optional)
• Butter and flour for the pan

Preparation

1. Prepare the grapes by washing and drying them well. If you have chosen a type of grape with seeds, you can cut the grapes in half and remove the seeds.
2. In a bowl, whip the eggs with the sugar until you obtain a frothy and light mixture.
3. Gradually add the oil while continuing to stir, then incorporate the sifted flour with the baking powder and a pinch of salt, continuing to mix to avoid lumps.
4. Butter and flour a donut mold, then pour half of the batter into the mold.
5. Distribute half of the grapes on the batter, then cover with the remaining batter and finish with a new distribution of grapes on the surface.
6. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 40 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center of the donut comes out clean.
7. Let it cool, then unmold and sprinkle with icing sugar before serving, if desired.

Curiosity

Wine grapes are often used in rural sweet preparations for their distinctive flavor which holds up well even after cooking; the grape donut is a true celebration of the grape harvest season. This sweet donut can be accompanied with a glass of passito or vin santo, to stay on the theme of grapes and wine.