Ciambellone..... Italian coffee cake

Family favorite!
UPDATED

In our house it's not Christmas unless you make Ciambellone.

I loved making this and I know this will be a well received...Yummy, light and just the right cake to top off a meal..Coffee or tea anyone? 11/29/11

 Bringing out the Italian in me...Love this Italian Coffee cake and I think you will too!!!

The holidays bring to mind lots of favorites ..An old favorite that I remember eating at my Aunt Anna's was Ciambalone . It was the favorite Italian coffee cake.. Ciambalone and Biscotti were two of her best recipes..

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I looked and looked and couldn't find her recipe but I found one that seems to be very similar to hers.. It was in a very old cookbook from a Junior Women's club I belonged to..Lots of Italian ladies contributed to it so this is as close to Aunt Anna's that I can get.It's in the oven now!!!  Happy Baking!

Ps.  I’m somehow thinking hers may have had wine in the recipe or WINE WAS ON HER TABLE!

4 cups all purpose flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 + tsp. anise seed or anise or orange flavoring(I love anise)
1 cup sugar
5 eggs
5 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 cup milk
rind and juice of 1 large orange
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
**1/2 cup diced maraschino cherries ( I used a whole jar)

Note:  I felt that this recipe could use more cherries and a little coarser walnuts..Having said that my opinion is that this is a great cake to serve and it is not too sweet..Just perfect! A cup of Java by its side!!   Enjoy!

Note:  Don't Overmix
Beat softened butter (or vegetable shortening) at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, continuing to beat until light and fluffy. These steps are important because they whip air into the cake batter so it will rise during baking. Add eggs, one at a time, beating just until the yolk disappears. Overbeating the eggs may cause the batter to overflow the sides of the pan when baked or create a fragile crust that crumbles and separates from the cake as it cools.


Mix eggs, shortening, sugar,salt, rind of orange and its juice
Add dry ingredients alternating with milk
Fold in cherries and nuts and mix with a wooden spoon until blended
Pour into greased and floured 2 qt. tube pan( I used Bunt pan)
Bake 375 degrees for 1 hour..

Cool in pan for 20 minutes on cooling rack.  Turn over and cool completely before slicing.

I'm nut sensitive so it's More cherries and walnuts if you like.

New photo 8/14/2022

From my kitchen to yours,