Zeppole vs Sfince: The Sweet Traditions of St. Joseph’s Day

Zeppole vs Sfince: The Sweet Traditions of St. Joseph’s Day

From Uncovering Authentic Italian Food by Robert Campana

March 13, 2026 · 7 min · Episode 79

About this episode

This episode explores the differences between Zeppole and Sfince, traditional pastries associated with St. Joseph’s Day in Italy.

On March 19th, Italians celebrate St. Joseph’s Day—and the feast comes with iconic pastries. But depending on where you are in Italy, the traditional dessert can look very different. In this episode, we explore the difference between Zeppole di San Giuseppe from Naples and Sfince di San Giuseppe from Sicily. From choux pastry filled with crema and topped with amarena cherries to ricotta-covered fried dough decorated with pistachios and candied fruit, these sweets reveal how regional traditions shape Italian cuisine.

People in this episode

Host: Robert Campana

Topics covered

  • Italian cuisine
  • St. Joseph’s Day
  • regional desserts
  • Zeppole
  • Sfince
  • cultural traditions
  • pastry

Keywords

  • Zeppole
  • Sfince
  • St. Joseph’s Day
  • Italian pastries
  • regional traditions
  • cuisine
  • desserts

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Zeppole di San Giuseppe, Sfince di San Giuseppe, crema, amarena cherries, ricotta, fried dough, pistachios, candied fruit

Places: Italy, Naples, Sicily

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