Home

Sweet Casatiello

17/11/2023

The sweet Casatiello is a variant of the more known Neapolitan Casatiello, typically savory. This sweet version is less common but no less delicious, perfect for Easter celebrations or a sweet moment of conviviality. Here is the recipe for you.

Ingredients

  • 500 g of flour 00
  • 200 g of sugar
  • 100 g of butter
  • 25 g of fresh brewer’s yeast
  • 3 eggs
  • 100 ml of lukewarm milk
  • The grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • A pinch of salt
  • For the finish:
    • 1 egg to brush
    • Candied fruit or nuts to taste
    • Icing sugar for decoration

Preparation

  1. In a bowl, dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm milk and add a tablespoon of sugar and 100 g of flour, mix until you have a homogeneous batter and let it rest for about 15 minutes, until it starts to form bubbles.

  2. In the meantime, put the remaining flour in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Add the eggs, the butter at room temperature, the sugar, the grated lemon zest, the vanilla extract, and the pinch of salt.

  3. Incorporate the previously prepared yeast mixture and begin to knead until you get a smooth and elastic dough. If the dough is too dry, add a little milk; if too sticky, add a handful of flour. Work the dough for about 10 minutes.

  4. Transfer the dough to a clean bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place, free from drafts, for at least 3 hours or until it doubles in volume.

  5. Once risen, take the dough and place it in a Casatiello mold (or a bundt pan if you do not have a specific one), previously buttered and floured.

  6. Let it rest again for about 30 minutes, then brush the surface with the beaten egg and decorate with candied fruit or nuts as desired.

  7. Bake in a preheated oven at 180° C for about 40 minutes or until the Casatiello is golden, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

  8. Let the sweet Casatiello cool completely before sprinkling it with icing sugar.

Curiosity

The sweet Casatiello, just like the savory one, has a recipe that has been passed down for generations in Neapolitan families. Traditionally, it is linked to Easter celebrations and is often rich in symbolism, such as the whole eggs embedded in the savory version representing the cycle of life and resurrection.

Sweet Casatiello