Nonna'S Ciambella (Nonna-Approved)

• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening, room temperature, or vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large lemon, zested
• 3 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 cup milk
• 1 dash sprinkles (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350u0b0 F. Set an oven rack to the one above the middle.
2. Grease and flour a 9 x 13 inch baking pan, or two 8 1/2 inch round cake pans. If you are planning on removing the cake(s) to a serving platter, line pans with greased parchment paper. It will ease cake removal.
3. Cream shortening (or oil), sugar, vanilla and lemon zest. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Continue beating until mixture is lighter in color and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
4. Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
5. With mixer on low speed, mix in half of the milk. Mix in 3/4 of the flour mixture. Mix in the rest of the milk. Mix in the last of the flour.
6. Gently spread batter into pan(s). Add some festive sprinkles, or not.
7. Bake for about 35 minutes for the oblong pan, about 30 minutes for the round pans, and until nicely golden and a skewer comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool completely.

vegetable shortening, sugar, vanilla, lemon, allpurpose unbleached flour, baking powder, kosher salt, eggs, milk, sprinkles

Taken from food52.com/recipes/19292-nonna-s-ciambella-nonna-approved (may not work)