Ciambellone (Italian Breakfast Ring Cake)
In short: A soft, fluffy lemon ring cake made with oil and milk instead of butter. The Italian home cake for dunking into coffee or milk at breakfast. It takes about 1 h in total and makes 10 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 45 min
- Total
- 1 h
- Servings
- 10
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 315 kcal
Ciambellone is the plain ring cake Italian mothers and grandmothers bake on weekends, and it has no frosting, no filling and no fuss. Made with oil and milk instead of butter, it stays soft for days and tastes of lemon and vanilla. Italians eat a slice for breakfast, dunked into milk or coffee, or as an afternoon snack. It is simple enough for kids to help with, and every family has its own small variation.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease a 24 cm (9 1/2 inch) ring or Bundt pan with oil and dust with flour, tapping out the excess.
- Whisk the eggs and sugar in a large bowl for 3 to 4 minutes with an electric mixer, until pale and doubled in volume.
- Slowly whisk in the oil, then the milk, lemon zest and vanilla until smooth.
- Sift the flour, baking powder and salt over the bowl. Fold in with a spatula until just combined, with no dry streaks. Do not overmix.
- Scrape the batter into the pan and smooth the top. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until golden and a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a rack. Cool completely and dust with powdered sugar.
Tips
- Fold in 100 g (3.5 oz) of chocolate chips, raisins or chopped nuts, or swap the lemon for orange zest, for a variation.
- Do not open the oven in the first 30 minutes, since the cake can sink. If a skewer comes out wet, bake for 5 minutes more.
Questions and answers
How long does ciambellone keep?
Wrapped, it stays soft at room temperature for 4 days. You can also freeze slices for up to 2 months.
Can I make ciambellone with butter?
Yes. Replace the oil with 120 g (1/2 cup) melted and cooled butter. The cake will be richer in flavor but slightly firmer once cool.
Why is Italian ring cake made with oil?
Oil keeps the crumb moist for days and needs no creaming, so the batter comes together in minutes. It is how many Italian households bake their everyday cake.
How long does it take to make Ciambellone (Italian Breakfast Ring Cake)?
About 1 h in total: 15 min of preparation and 45 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Ciambellone (Italian Breakfast Ring Cake)?
About 315 kcal per serving, with 6 g of protein, 44 g of carbohydrates and 13 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 315 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 6 g |
| Carbohydrates | 44 g |
| Fat | 13 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 21 g |
| Sodium | 130 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
