Sfogliatelle means many leaves or layers and this crisp pastryโ€™s texture resembles leaves stacked onย each other. Sfogliatelle look like seashells when baked.


Some people also call them โ€˜lobster tailsโ€™ for their resemblance to the same.
The characteristic ridges form as the layers of dough separate during baking. The pastries are filled with a ricotta cream, semolina, and cinnamon mixture.
Lemon zest or candied orange bits are also sometimes added. This is a recipe for sfogliatelle pastry dough but you can substitute purchased puff pastry dough.The recipe also calls for using lard, which gives a flakier consistency, but you may wish to use margarine in its place. Making sfogliatelle is a time-consuming process. If you are up for a challenge this is the recipe to try.