ZEPPOLE & CHOCOLATE DIPPER

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup of the sugar, 1 cup water, the butter, and salt and bring to a boil (BTB).
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the flour all at once, stirring vigorously with a wooden spoon. Cook until the mixture forms a ball, has a slightly sweaty sheen to it, and pulls away from the pan, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl and let cool for 3 to 4 minutes (the mixture does not have to be cold, just cool enough so it doesn't cook the eggs when added). Using an electric mixer or lots of good old-fashioned elbow grease, beat in the eggs one at a time; be sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next egg. Add the orange zest and beat for another few seconds to combine.
• Pour the peanut oil into a large saucepan over medium-high heat; the oil should come 1 1/2 to 2 inches up the sides of the pan. To see if the oil is hot enough, drop a little ball of batter into it. If it sizzles and floats quickly, you're good to go. If the batter burns or the oil begins to smoke, it's too hot, so reduce the heat.
• While the oil heats up, combine the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and the cinnamon in a medium mixing bowl.
• When the oil is hot, drop tablespoons of batter into the pan without overcrowding. Cook the zeppole until they rise and get very brown and puffy, 6 to 7 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to scoop the zeppole out of the oil. Shake off the excess oil, then toss them immediately into the bowl of cinnamon-sugar and roll them around. Transfer to a serving dish. Work in batches to finish the rest of the batter. If the zeppole begin to color too quickly, reduce the heat; if they aren't sizzling when they hit the oil, raise the heat.
• Fill a small saucepan with 1 inch of water and bring to a boil (BTB), then reduce to a simmer (RTS). Put the chocolate in a large heatproof bowl that will sit comfortably on the saucepan without touching the water (a double boiler setup). Bring the pan to medium heat and melt the chocolate. Add the heavy cream, butter, and corn syrup and stir until the chocolate has melted and everything is combined (this is a pretty quick process), then remove from the heat.
• Transfer the warm chocolate sauce to a serving dish and serve it with a platter of the sugar-coated zeppole.