Pinza Bolognese

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Pastries doughnuts Medium

Pinza bolognese is a soft sweet dough rolled around a sticky jam filling with raisins, nuts and lemon, then shaped into a ring. This is our home version using plum or apricot jam in place of the traditional mostarda. Makes 1 ring in about 3 hr 55 min.

Prep 190 min

Cook 45 min

Total 3 hr 55 min

Servings 10

Ingredients

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servings

3 ¼ cups (400 g)all-purpose flour
⅓ cup (60 g)granulated sugar
¼ oz (5 g)instant yeast
½ tsp (3 g)fine salt
⅔ cup (150 ml)whole milk, lukewarm
1 (50 g)egg
¼ cup (60 g)unsalted butter, softened, for the dough
1 ½ tsp (3 g)lemon zest, for the dough
1 cup (300 g)plum or apricot jam
7 tbsp (60 g)raisins
2 tbsp (30 ml)dark rum, for soaking the raisins
7 tbsp (50 g)chopped almonds, toasted
¼ cup (30 g)chopped hazelnuts, toasted
2 tbsp (10 g)unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ½ tbsp (20 g)unsalted butter, melted, for the filling
1 ½ tsp (3 g)lemon zest, for the filling
1 (18 g)egg yolk, beaten with 1 teaspoon milk

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Instructions

Mix the flour, sugar, yeast, salt and lemon zest. Add the lukewarm milk, egg and soft butter and knead 8 minutes until smooth and slightly tacky.
Cover and let rise in a warm place 1 to 1.5 hours until doubled.
Soak the raisins in the rum and 2 tablespoons warm water for 20 minutes, drain, and stir them into the jam with the almonds, hazelnuts, cocoa, melted butter and lemon zest.
Roll the dough on a floured surface to a rectangle about 10 x 16 inches. Spread the filling over it, leaving a 1-inch border on one long edge.
Roll up tightly from the other long side, pinch the seam, then curve the log into a ring and pinch the ends together. Set it seam side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Cover and rise 45 to 60 minutes until puffy. Heat the oven to 350 F (175 C).
Brush with the yolk wash and bake 40 to 45 minutes, until deep golden. Cool completely before slicing.

Tips

Use a thick jam so it does not leak.
Seal the seam firmly and bake seam side down.
The flavor deepens a day after baking.
Good with caffe latte.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make pinza bolognese?

Plan on 190 minutes of prep and 45 minutes of cooking. The recipe makes 1 ring (10 servings).

How should I store pinza bolognese?

Wrap and keep at room temperature up to 5 days.

Can I make pinza bolognese ahead?

It is at its best the day it is made; prepare it a few hours before serving.

Pinza bolognese is a traditional pastry from Bologna, a sweet dough rolled around a filling of jam, raisins and nuts, long eaten around Christmas. Serve it with caffe latte.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 10 servings this recipe makes.

408 Calories / serving

12.9g Fat

65.4g Carbs

7.7g Protein

25.8g Sugar

Whole recipe (10 servings): ~4080 cal · 129g fat · 654g carbs · 77g protein · 258g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.