Ciambella

Ciambella is a traditional ring cake that is flavored with lemon zest, and sometimes a sweet, fruity liqueur. For holidays such as Christmas or Easter, ciambella is usually made from a firm dough that is braided and shaped into a ring, but there is also a smaller, doughnut version which is not prepared so often.

Regardless of its size, ciambella must be ring-shaped. It consists of flour, butter, sugar, eggs, milk, and baking soda in its basic variety. Light and airy, ciambella pairs well with warm milk, coffee, and dessert wines. Due to its popularity, there are numerous versions of ciambella throughout Italy, and at least one type of ciambella can be found in almost every Italian region.

Ciambella is so beloved in the country that there is even a proverb saying "not all ciambelle have a hole", a metaphor that means even when you do things correctly, you might not get perfect results.