Could Wait For St. Joseph's Day, But Why? Zeppoles Are Ready Now!

BRANFORD, CT — It wasn't quite a brake-slamming U-turn but close. The red and gold banner with 'Zeppoles' emblazoned on it stopped this reporter in her tracks.

Traditionally made on or close to the Feast of St. Joseph, which falls two days after St. Patrick's Day, at Cheri's Bakery in Branford, customers pleaded for a bigger window in which to enjoy the confections.

"People really started asking for them," Cheri Gargano said in her shop Thursday.

The Gargano's abide and began offering zeppoles beginning in January.

In business for 22 years, the panetteria on East Main Street, has dad Patrick Gargano and son Patrick Gargano Jr. baking. Patrick Sr., has been a baker for 40 years, taught by his mother Mary Gargano beginning when he was just 13.

In the bakery everything is made on the premises and made fresh daily. When Patch stopped by, Cheri's had a steady in-and-out of customers, one announcing she was "getting a lot of stuff." And by stuff is meant Italian pastry, pies, cookies, breads, rolls, cakes, coffee cakes, and ...zeppole. Done their way.

The zeppole Di San Giuseppe at Cheri's are from Mary Gargano's recipe. Often the dough is fried like a doughnut. But at Cheri's, father and son bakers bake their pastry, which makes them lighter and, as Cheri said, "not greasy or heavy." They're then filled with a rich, luscious cream, also made by the family and topped with a cherry. They have a zeppole with chocolate cream now, too.

Ellyn Santiago/Patch

Don't sleep on these zeppoles. They're only available until Palm Sunday, which this year is on April 5.

But don't let that stop you from visiting Cheri's often.

Bright, cheery, immaculate and stocked with sweets and breads, this bakery is doing something very right and how they have stayed in business for decades.

Yum.