Enjoy this classic Italian cake for breakfast, brunch, tea time, or dessert.

During college, I befriended a woman from the suburbs of Turin, Italy.

She invited a couple of us to visit her and stay at her familys home.

ciambellone on a platter with some of it cut into slices, and next to the platter, a slice on a plate

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

When we arrived, her mother had made a beautifully simple cake and served it as a welcome treat.

The giant ring of cake was velvety, buttery, and lightly scented with lemon.

It was simply served, just dusted with powdered sugar, and that was all it needed.

powdered sugar dusted onto ciambellone on a platter at a table setting with mugs, stack of plates, and table napkins

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Each morning before heading out, we had a slice of ciambellone for breakfast with a caffe latte.

I also like it as an afternoon snack with hot coffee or an iced espresso.

It was just as soft and velvety on the last day of our trip as the first.

slice of ciambellone on a plate with a fork, and in the background, a cup of coffee, more cake on a platter, and table napkins

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

What Is Ciambellone?

Youll see ciambellone and ciambella, and there isnt always a practical distinction between the two.

Ciambellone, or big doughnut, tends to specifically refer to a large ring-shaped cake.

bundt cake pan covered in butter and flour for ciambellone recipe

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

There are many variations of ciambellone.

Truth be told, ciambellone is almost as generic a term asBundt cake.

This recipe is the version I had at my friends house and seems to be the most common.

sugar, butter, and lemon zest in a bowl for ciambellone recipe

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

you’ve got the option to warm milk in the microwave in 10-second bursts.

Even with room-temperature ingredients, the batter may separate when you add the eggs and milk.

The emulsion breaks because too much liquid was added too quickly.

butter-sugar mixture after whisked together for ciambellone recipe

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Many people will tell you this is bad and you should panic.

What Does the Cornstarch Do?

Many Italian cakes traditionally use a blend of 00 flour (finely ground wheat flour) and potato starch.

eggs added to butter-sugar mixture for ciambellone recipe

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

I approximated this with all-purpose flour and cornstarch.

It also makes the cake tender and velvety.

You could substitute the flour and cornstarch for 2 1/2 cups cake flour.

butter-sugar mixture after whisking in the eggs for ciambellone recipe

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Dust with flour and tap out the excess.

Alternatively, use a nonstick baking spray.

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well between each addition, about 1 minute.

milk added to butter-sugar-egg mixture (alternating between wet and dry ingredients) for ciambellone recipe

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Pause a couple of times to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl with a spatula.

Add the cornstarch and half of the flour and beat on low speed just until combined.

Pour in the milk and vanilla extract and mix until incorporated and stop the mixer.

dry ingredients added to butter-sugar-egg mixture (alternating between wet and dry ingredients) for ciambellone recipe

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Add the rest of the flour and the baking powder.

Switch to a spatula and fold the batter until it is smooth and no lumps of dry flour remain.

The batter will be thick.

ciambellone batter in a bowl

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan.

Use the spatula to spread the batter into an even layer and smooth the top.

Set the pan on a wire rack and let cool for 15 minutes.

ciambellone batter added to the bundt pan

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Place the wire rack upside down on top of the bundt pan.

Flip the cake and the wire rack over so the cake pan is upside down on the rack.

Carefully remove the pan from the cake.

offset spatula run along the side of the ciambellone in the bundt pan

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Let the cake cool completely before serving.

Place the cake on a platter and dust it with powdered sugar.

Store leftover cake covered at room temperature for up to 4 days.

bundt pan flipped upside-down on a wire rack to cool ciambellone

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

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ciambellone (out of the bundt pan) resting on a cooling rack

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

ciambellone on a platter with some of it cut into slices, and in the background, a slice on a plate

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm