The Virgin Mary’s husband is honored each spring with elaborate altars, feasts of pasta and sardines, and even magical fava beans. However, for many, St. Joseph’s Day on March 19 is mostly associated with its amazing cream puff pastries, which are only available during the weeks around the holiday.
At Delite Bake Shop in Yonkers, owned by Vincent A. Soccodato, the St. Joseph’s pastries, sfingi and zeppole, are made with the same recipe the bakery has used for 70 years.
“Everything about them is special,” said manager Richard Viscome. “We have a unique mix for the shell and use a special Delite custard and cannoli cream.”
Both pastries are made of a cruller-type pastry shell, which is perfectly crisp, but also moist, generously packed with cream fillings. The zeppole is filled with custard and topped with a cherry and powdered sugar. The sfingi features a smooth and creamy cannoli cream with chocolate chips. Both pastries are sprinkled with powdered sugar. They go for $4.75 each, and are large enough to serve at least two people, but you might want to split between three or four, so everyone gets a chance to taste both.
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The massive sfingi, an Italian donut-like creation, filled with cannoli cream and chocolate chips.Delite used to sell the decadent treat from one week before the holiday until a few days after, but due to an overwhelming increase in demand, they now sell the pastries from the beginning of February until May. Each year they sell thousands the weekend of St. Joseph’s and about 8,500 total for the season. Customers have already been buying up the special holiday pastries, and Viscome expects to be very busy by St. Joseph’s, especially because it is just two days after St. Patrick’s Day, one day before Palm Sunday, and a week before Easter.
“We have four holidays in just ten days,” said Viscome.
If you are celebrating all four holidays, Delite has you covered. They have hot cross buns for $2.50 a piece, Irish Soda bread for $4.95, dozens of green cookies and goodies, and Easter Bread, available starting on Palm Sunday (price is not yet available).
