Orange-Scented Carnival Roll Fritters

Filled with orange zest and sugar, these Carnival Roll Fritters have a vibrant citrus flavor and golden color. Whether you want something sweet for a dessert, breakfast, or snack, these pastries will fit the bill perfectly.

To make the carnival roll fritters, you begin by making a yeast dough by mixing milk with sugar, and yeast followed by eggs, butter, and rum. Next, you add flour to the dough and knead until it is a smooth and supple dough. Once the dough has risen, it gets rolled into a rectangle before being sprinkled with orange zest and sugar, and rolled up again. Finally, it is sliced and fried until the fritters have puffed up and become golden.

What are Carnival Roll Fritters?

Carnival roll fritters are classic Italian doughnuts that are served during carnival season. They are commonly shaped into balls before being fried and rolled in sugar. Often, the dough contains lemon zest for a bright lemony flavor but other types of citrus can be used as well.

Rather than being shaped into balls, this particular carnival roll fritters recipe involves shaping them into spirals of dough. These fritters also use orange zest rather than lemon which adds beautiful orange specks to the layers of dough.

Pro Tips

• The best temperature for the milk is between 100 F and 110 F (37.7 C and 43.3 C). This will help activate the yeast while not being too hot to kill it.
• You will know you have kneaded your dough enough when a small piece of it can easily be stretched until it is almost see-through without tearing.
• Feel free to replace the orange zest with lemon zest if you prefer.
• Use a sharp knife to slice the carnival roll fritter rounds to ensure that you don’t squish them.
• The ideal temperature for the oil for frying the fritters is between 350 F and 375 F (176.6 C and 190.5 C).

What to Serve with Carnival Roll Fritters?

These carnival roll fritters are delicious served with strong cups of coffee. They can also be served with a drizzle of chocolate sauce or melted chocolate on the side for dipping.

How Long Does the Dough Need to Rise For?

The dough should only need an hour or so to rise once it is mixed. You will know the dough has risen enough when it is double the size that you started with. If your dough doesn’t seem to have risen enough after an hour, simply leave it for more time until the dough has sufficiently doubled in bulk.

Can I Make These Doughnuts as Balls?

Yes, if you prefer to make ball-shaped doughnuts rather than spirals, you can definitely do that. To do so, you can knead the orange zest-sugar mixture into the dough before shaping them into balls and frying them.

How Do I Know the Fritters are Cooked Through?

You will know your fritters are cooked when they float to the top of the oil and are golden on both sides. However, if you are in doubt, you can also cut one open to determine if the fritters need more frying time.

How to Store Carnival Roll Fritters

These carnival roll fritters are best eaten shortly after they are made for optimal freshness. However, if you have leftovers, you could also store them in an airtight container at room temperature where they should stay fresh for 2 to 3 days.

How to Make Carnival Roll Fritters

Whisk the warm milk with the sugar and yeast in a bowl. Whisk in the eggs, butter, and rum.

Add the flour and knead until a smooth elastic dough forms. Set it aside in a covered bowl and allow it to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Stir the orange zest and sugar together for the filling ingredients.

Roll the dough into a rectangle and sprinkle it with the orange zest mixture.

Roll it up and slice it into rounds. Fry the fritters in a pan of hot oil until golden on both sides.

Serve the fritters on a platter.