🇮🇹 Italian · Dessert
🍩 Torcolo di San Costanzo
Torcolo
Perugia's traditional ring-shaped cake, studded with candied fruit, raisins, and pine nuts, baked each year to honor the city's patron saint on January 29th.
Torcolo takes its name from its twisted ring shape, and though it is now available year-round in Perugia's bakeries, its deepest ties remain to the annual feast of San Costanzo, when the cake is traditionally shared among family and friends.
Ingredients
Equipment: Ring-shaped baking pan, Mixing bowl
- 500 g (4 cups) bread flour
- 10 g (3 tsp) active dry yeast
- 150 ml (⅔ cup) warm milk
- 100 g (½ cup) granulated sugar
- 100 g (7 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 eggs
- Zest of 1 orange and 1 lemon
- 80 g (½ cup) candied fruit, chopped
- 60 g (⅓ cup) raisins, soaked
- 40 g (⅓ cup) pine nuts
- Pearl sugar or coarse sugar, for topping
Method
- Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk with a pinch of sugar and let sit for 5 minutes.
- Combine the flour, remaining sugar, eggs, and citrus zest, then add the yeast mixture, kneading into a smooth dough.
- Gradually work in the softened butter until fully incorporated.
- Let rise, covered, in a warm place for about 2 hours, until doubled.
- Fold in the candied fruit, drained raisins, and pine nuts.
- Shape the dough into a ring and place in a well-oiled ring-shaped pan.
- Let rise again for 30–40 minutes.
- Scatter with pearl sugar before baking.
- Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 25–30 minutes until deeply golden.
- Cool before slicing.
Chef Tips
- A ring-shaped pan gives the traditional torcolo shape, though it can also be shaped freehand into a ring on a baking sheet.
- Work the butter in gradually for the smoothest, most elastic dough.
- This cake is traditionally shared each January 29th for the feast of Perugia's patron saint.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Underproofing the dough, resulting in a denser cake rather than the traditional light, airy crumb.
- Overloading with candied fruit, which can weigh down the delicate dough.
- Skipping the pearl sugar topping, which is a traditional decorative and textural element.
Nutrition (per serving)
Health Benefits
- A source of protein from the eggs, best enjoyed as an occasional festive treat.
Cultural Note
Torcolo di San Costanzo is deeply tied to Perugia's annual celebration of its patron saint each January 29th, though the cake has since become a year-round favorite in local bakeries.
Storage & Serving
Storage: Store wrapped at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Reheating: Not applicable; served at room temperature.
Serve with: Espresso