Tortelli di Carnevale alla Milanese

These fritters are called Tortelli di Carnevale alla Milanese, though they also go by other names. They are, essentially, fried choux pastry (cream puff dough).

The dough is sticky and dense—really a cross between dough and batter—made by heating water and butter, mixing in flour all at once, and then vigorously whisking in eggs. Piped or dolloped onto a…