Introduction
Deep-fried pastry
RosetteSugared rosettes from a bakeryTypeFritterCourseSnack, dessertMain ingredientsBatter (wheat flour, milk, sugar, salt, eggs)VariationsTimbale, Kembang goyang, Kokis, Achappam  Media: Rosette Rosette irons Rosettes are thin, cookie-like fritters made with iron molds that are found in many cultures. They are crispy and characterized by their lacy pattern.
Preparation
[edit] The batter is a blend of wheat, flour, eggs, sugar, and whole milk. Rosette cookies are formed with a rosette iron. This specialized tool has a long handle and with a metal shape, commonly stars, flowers, snowflakes or Christmas trees. In Kerala, India, Rosette cookies known as Achappam are made using rice flour. The metal is heated in hot oil before it is dipped in batter. Returning the iron to the oil, the batter is detached from the mold when it is partially cooked and gently flipped to finish cooking. They are usually topped with sugar or honey, or the edges of rosettes are dipped into frosting. The process was recorded in the 19th century Ottoman cookbook Aşçı başı. Swedish timbale can be made with rosette batter using a timbale mold instead of an iron. These can be made with savory fillings like creamed chicken and mushrooms.
Geographic distribution
[edit] Achappam rosette cookies from India Versions of this cookie exist in places such as northern Europe, Iran, Turkey, and Sri Lanka. This type of fritter exists in Nordic countries known as:
Denmark: rosetbakkelse Finland: rosetti Norway: rosettbakkels; rosetter Swedish: struvor Rosette recipes are popular in the United States among families with Scandinavian ancestry. In Alentejo (Portugal), they are known as filhós de forma (lit. 'formed donuts') or filhós de floreta (lit. 'flower donuts') are popular at Christmas. The batter is flavored with port and orange juice.
Spain: flores manchegas (lit. 'La Mancha flowers') Mexico: buñuelos de viento (lit. 'wind fritters') In the Middle East and western Asia:
Afghanistan: kulcha-e-panjerei (lit. 'window biscuits') Iran: shirini panjerei (شیرینی پنجرهای) Turkey: demir tatlisi Tunisia: chebbak el-janna They are typical of Anglo-Indian cuisine and a favourite among Indian Christians during the Christmas season. They are called rose cookies or rose biscuits in Indian-English. In India, they are made from flour, sugar, eggs and coconut milk:[citation needed]
Bangla: fuljhuri pitha, fulkuchi pitha Malayalam: achappam Odia: mahughara khaja Tamil: acchu murukku Sinhala and Sri Lankan Tamil dialects: kokis Telugu: gulabi puvvulu In Cantonese they are known as tong wan. It was introduced to Hawaii, where they are known as Chinese pretzels. In Malaysia, they are known as kuih Loyang.
Related reading
[edit] Astrid Karlsen Scott (2000) Authentic Norwegian Cooking (Nordic Adventures). ISBN 978-0963433978. Jan Hedh (2012) Swedish Cookies, Tarts, and Pies (Skyhorse). ISBN 978-1616088262. vteDoughnuts, fritters, and other fried-dough foodsSweetAfrica and Asia Asia Adhirasam Binangkal Boortsog Buñuelo Chak-chak Cascaron Chirote Churro Gorgoria Gosh-e fil Gulab jamun Gwaramari Imarti Jalebi (zoolbia, pani walalu) Kevum Kumukunsi Lokma (awameh, zalabya) Lokot-lokot Maejap-gwa Mahua Maruya Mochi donuts Panyalam Pilipit Pinakufu Qottab Sata andagi Sel roti Shakoy Shankarpali Shuangbaotai Sufganiyah Sweet shells Tamriyeh Tulumba (bamiyeh) Zalabiyeh Africa Bambalouni Chin chin Koe'sister/Koeksister Puff-puff Sfenj Sfinz Shebakia Vetkoek Americas Bear claw Bolinho de chuva Boston cream Brown Bobby Buñuelo Churro Cider doughnut Coconut doughnut Cronut Cruller Dutchie Fried Coke Funnel cake Jelly doughnut Long John Maple bacon donut Maple bar Old-fashioned doughnut Persian Picarones Potato doughnut Sopaipilla Sour cream doughnut Tiger tail donut Timbits Touton Wonut Europe Angel wings Beignet Berliner Bombolone Buñuelo Churro Diples Fánk Fartura Fasnacht Fazuelos Filhós Fritule Fudge doughnut Klenät Knieküchle Krofne Malassada Mekitsa Oliebol Pączki Papanași Pastisset Pestiños Prusurate Pyshka (ponchik) Rosette Schenkele Smultring Uštipci Zeppole DoughnutSavoryAfrica and Asia Balep korkun Bhaji Bhatoora Burmese fritters Ham chim peng Javanese doughnut Khuushuur Luchi Mee Siput Muar Mücver Murukku Okoy Ox-tongue pastry Pakora Papri chaat Pişi Puri Qutab Samosa Sangza Sha phaley Shelpek Vada Vetkoek Youtiao Europe and the Americas Chebureki Fleischkuekle Fritelli Frybread Funnel cake Haliva Lángos Lihapiirakka Lörtsy Pampushka Panzerotti Pastel Pasztecik szczeciński Peremech Pirozhki Companies BeaverTails Dunkin' Donuts Krispy Kreme Mister Donut Shipley Do-Nuts Tim Hortons Lists List of doughnut varieties List of fried dough foods List of deep fried foods List of doughnut shops See also National Doughnut Day Coffee and doughnuts Superior Donuts play TV series
 Category: Doughnuts
vte Pastries list Types Chinese flaky pastry Choux pastry Filo Flaky pastry Hot water crust pastry Pan dulce Puff pastry Shortcrust pastry Choux pastry Beignet Bossche bol Chouquette Croquembouche Éclair Gougère Karpatka Lady's navel Moorkop Nun's puffs Paris–Brest Pommes dauphine Profiterole Religieuse St. Honoré cake Puff pastry Beef Wellington Cheese straw Croline Croissant Galette des rois Jambon Miguelitos Mille-feuille Palmier Pastel de nata Pithivier Sausage roll Steak and kidney pie Strudel Tarte conversation Tarte Tatin Cream tubes Turnovers Poppy seed Chatti pathiri Flódni Hamantash Kifli Kolach Kūčiukai Međimurska gibanica Nunt Nut roll Poppy seed roll Prekmurska gibanica Rugelach St. Martin's croissant Other Alexandertorte Allerheiligenstriezel Apple strudel Azerbaijani pakhlava Bakewell pudding Banket Baklava Bánh pía Banitsa Bear claw Belokranjska povitica Bethmännchen Bierock Bizcocho Boyoz Bruttiboni Bulemas Bundevara Chorley cake Coca Coulibiac Cream horn Cream tubes Cremeschnitte Croline Cronut Cruller Cuban pastry Curry beef turnover Curry puff Dabby-Doughs Dutch letter Eccles cake Empanada Ensaïmada Fa gao Fazuelos Fig roll Fish patty Fish-shaped pastry Flaó Flia Franzbrötchen Fruit slice Gâteau Basque Gibanica Gözleme Gundain Gustavus Adolphus pastry Haddekuche Haitian patty Hellimli Heong Peng Huff paste Hwangnam-ppang Jachnun Khachapuri Knafeh Kitchener bun Klobásník Knieküchle Kolach Kroštule Kürtőskalács Lattice Leipziger Lerche London Cheesecake Lukhmi Ma'amoul Mandelkubb Mantecada Marillenknödel Mekitsa Miguelitos Milhojas Milk-cream strudel Mille-feuille Moorkop Napoleonka Nokul Öçpoçmaq Pain à la grecque Pan dulce Pastel Pastizz Pastry heart Pasty Pâté chaud Peremech Pirog Pirozhki Plăcintă Pop-Tarts Prekmurska gibanica Profiterole Punsch-roll Punschkrapfen Quesito Remonce Roscón Roti tissue Roze koek Runeberg torte Runza Sad cake Schaumrolle Schnecken Schneeball Schuxen Şöbiyet Sou Spritzkuchen Streusel Strudel Stutenkerl Sweetheart cake Tahini roll Toast'em Pop Ups Toaster pastry Toaster Strudel Tompouce Tortita negra Tu Turnover Uštipci Vatrushka Veka Vetkoek Yurla Zeeuwse bolus Žemlovka By countryArmenian Gata Mikado Nazook Chinese Chasan Jiucai hezi Masan Sachima Filipino Biscocho Buko pie Caycay Daral (food) Dinamita Egg pie Empanada (Pastil) Ensaïmada Hopia Lumpia Napoleones Ngohiong Ohaldre Otap Piaya Pilipit Shakoy Turon French Angel wings Beignet Bichon au citron Biscuit rose de Reims Broyé poitevin Canelé Chouquette Choux pastry Conversation tart Coussin de Lyon Croissant Croquembouche Croustade Éclair Financier Gougère Jésuite Ladyfinger Macaron Madeleine Nun's puffs Pain au chocolat Pain aux raisins Palmier Paris–Brest Puits d'amour Religieuse St. Honoré cake Tuile Viennoiserie Vol-au-vent Greek Amygdalopita Bougatsa Fanouropita Filo Galaktoboureko Karydopita Koulourakia Moustalevria Pastafrola Indonesian Bahulu Bakpia Bakpia pathok Curry puff Makmur Milk pie Pie tee Roti john Roti tissue Iranian Gosh-e fil Kolompeh Koloocheh Komaj sehen Qottab Sohan asali Italian Baicoli Biscotti Biscotti di San Martino Biscotti regina Bocconotto Bombolone Cannoli Ciarduna Cornetto Crocetta di Caltanissetta Frittole Iris Ladyfinger Ossa di morto Pandoro Pasticciotto Pevarini Pignolata Pignolo Pizzelle Raviola di ricotta nissena Rollò Sfogliatella Spina Santa Struffoli Torta caprese Zeppola Zippula Maghrebi Makroudh Malsouka Mouna Briouat Romanian Cornulețe Gogoși Papanași Plăcintă Sfințișori Scandinavian Butterkaka Danish pastry Joulutorttu Klenät Kringle Rosettes Semla Swiss Birnbrot Blue cake Bündner Nusstorte Carac Cholera Schenkele Spanisch Brötli Taiwanese Belly button pastry Communist bandit pastries Egg yolk pastry Lek-tau-phong Pineapple cake Naiyou subing Suncake Taro pastry Turkish Bülbül yuvası Güllaç Kalburabastı Lady's navel Qurabiya Saray helva Şekerpare Sütlü Nuriye Cream tubes Related topics Confectionery Crust Custard Doughnut Konditorei Kuo Yuan Ye Museum of Cake and Pastry List of cakes List of choux pastry dishes List of desserts List of fried dough foods List of pies, tarts and flans List of poppy seed pastries and dishes Pastry bag Pastry blender Pastry brush Pastry chef Pastry fork Pâtisserie World Pastry Cup
Why rosettes belong on the festive table
Rosettes bring a delicate crunch that cuts through the richness of Christmas spreads like mince pies and brandy butter. Their feather‑light texture makes them perfect for nibbling between courses, and the intricate lacework looks especially charming when dusted with a light sprinkling of powdered sugar. Because they’re fried rather than baked, they stay crisp longer, which suits the tradition of setting out a variety of treats for guests who linger. Their modest sweetness also balances the stronger flavours of mulled wine or whisky, making them a subtle backdrop rather than a competing star. In many households they are the quiet hero of the snack board, offering a tactile contrast that feels both nostalgic and festive.
Buying guide: picking the perfect rosette iron
When you shop for a rosette iron, focus on material and pattern depth. Cast iron models retain heat evenly, giving a uniform colour and avoiding soggy spots, while an aluminium core heats up faster if you’re short on time. Look for a handle that stays cool; a wooden or insulated grip lets you work safely without burning fingers. The pattern should be fine enough to create the signature lacy edge but sturdy enough to release the dough cleanly. A removable hinge makes cleaning simpler, and many modern irons come with a built‑in oil reservoir to prevent sticking. Pair the iron with a batter that has the right consistency – thick enough to cling, thin enough to flow – and you’ll get flawless rosettes every time.
How to achieve perfect rosettes at home
Start by heating the iron in hot oil that’s just shy of smoking – around 180°C (350°F) is ideal. Test the temperature with a tiny drop of batter; it should sizzle and rise instantly. Dip the iron briefly, ensuring the batter coats the pattern evenly, then submerge it back into the oil for a few seconds. Watch for a golden‑brown colour and a crisp snap before lifting. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with icing sugar while still warm for a glossy finish. For added flavour, try a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg in the batter, or glaze with a thin citrus icing after cooling. Practice a few batches and you’ll learn the exact timing for that perfect, lace‑like edge.