Neapolitan Donuts (Graffe): the recipe for a soft and delicious dessert from Naples

These Neapolitan donuts are known also as graffe and are typical of Campania region. They are first fried and then covered with granulated sugar. The addition of potatoes in the dough will make them swollen, honeycombed and very soft. It is a delicacy of ancient origin, a reworking of German krapfen – small fried doughs stuffed with jam – arrived in Italy at the beginning of the eighteenth century, during the period of Austrian domination. So let’s find out how to make perfect Neapolitan donuts by following our recipe step by step, for a truly impeccable result, and enjoy them hot as a snack, breakfast or at a party buffet.

How to make Neapolitan Donuts

In a small bowl, dissolve the fresh brewer’s yeast in the milk (1), add a couple of tablespoons of flour, taken from the total of the two flours, and let it rest for about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, peel the potatoes and boil them in a saucepan starting from cold water (2). When they are cooked, drain them, mash them and let them cool.

In a bowl, collect the two types of flours, the mashed potatoes and the leavened dough prepared previously. Then add the diced butter and eggs (3).

Pour in the orange juice (4) and start stirring the mixture.

Then transfer the mixture on a work surface and continue to knead until firm and homogeneous (5).

Transfer the dough into a bowl, cover it with a kitchen towel (6) and let it rise until doubled in size.

Roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1 cm and, with the help of some special molds, make donuts (7). Knead the scraps again and proceed in this way until you will have finished the dough.

Arrange each donut on a square of parchment paper and let it rise for about 30 minutes (8).

Heat abundant oil in a pan, dip the donuts with all the parchment paper and then remove it with the help of tongs (9).

When golden brown, turn them over and continue cooking on the other side as well (10).

Once well swollen and golden, drain the donuts and immediately pass them in the sugar (11).

Serve Neapolitan donuts still hot (12).

How to store Neapolitan Donuts

In order to enjoy all their fragrance and savor, it is recommended to fry the Neapolitan donuts and taste them when still hot. If there are some leftovers, heat the donuts for a few minutes in the oven before eating them.