Chocolate Old Fashioned Donuts Food

CHOCOLATE OLD-FASHIONED DONUTS

Steps:

• First, make the donuts: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, cornstarch, baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt and nutmeg until well combined.
• In a separate large bowl using an electric hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat granulated sugar and butter on medium speed just until mixture appears sandy, about 1 minute. Beat in egg yolks on medium speed until mixture is light and thickened, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add flour mixture in three additions, alternating with sour cream, beating after each addition until batter is well-combined.
• Cover bowl with plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 1 hour, up to 4 hours, until batter is slightly firm.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large pot or deep saucepan with a deep-fry thermometer attached. Heat oil to 325°F.* On a very well-floured surface using a well-floured rolling pin, roll dough out to 1/2-inch thickness. Use a well-floured donut cutter or two different-sized biscuit cutters to cut dough into approximately 16 to 18 donuts and donut holes (re-roll scraps once, if needed).
• Fry donuts in batches, about three at a time, 2 minutes each side or until puffed and cooked through. Use a slotted spoon or deep fry skimmer to transfer cooked donuts to a paper bag or paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain excess oil. Repeat with remaining donuts and donut holes.
• Next, make the glaze: In a small saucepan over low heat, heat milk to just below a simmer (when it begins to steam). Remove from heat; whisk in powdered sugar, pinch salt and vanilla until smooth. Use a fork to carefully dunk donuts one at a time into glaze, coating both sides. Lift to allow excess glaze to drip off donut, then transfer to a cooling rack with parchment or paper towel underneath to catch excess glaze. Allow donuts to sit until glaze is fully set, about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Donuts are best served the day they're made, but will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

HOMEMADE HOT CHOCOLATE WITH OLD-FASHIONED DOUGHNUT STICKS

Steps:

• Bring the milk, chocolate, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla extract to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Whisk until completely melted and smooth.
• Serve with the Old-Fashioned Doughnut Sticks.
• For the dougnuts: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray two 6-well eclair pans with nonstick spray.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt to combine. Add the milk, egg, vanilla and butter, and mix gently until combined.
• Fill the wells of the prepared eclair pans about halfway with the batter.
• Bake until the doughnuts spring back when touched and a toothpick comes out clean, 10 minutes. Transfer the pans to a rack set over a baking sheet; let cool for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the doughnuts from the pans and let cool completely on the rack.
• For the glaze: Whisk the confectioners' sugar and milk together until smooth.
• Dunk the doughnuts in the glaze to coat completely. Transfer to a rack and let set for 10 minutes before serving.

CHOCOLATE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine yeast, warm water and sugar to dissolve. Add 1/4 cup of the all-purpose flour and 1/4 cup of the cake flour. Stir and set in a warm place for 30 minutes to foam up. Combine cocoa powder and baking soda and add hot water to dissolve. Add the melted chocolate to the cocoa powder mixture then stir in the powdered sugar, salt, and potato. Add this to the foamed yeast along with another 1/4-cup of all-purpose flour and the remaining 1/4-cup of cake flour and mix on low to combine with a paddle.
• Mix on high speed for 30 seconds to combine. Add the remaining 1/4-cup of all-purpose flour and mix on high speed. Flour the work surface heavily and knead the dough gently (it may be sticky). Turn into a greased bowl and proof until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and punch down then proof for another 30 minutes.
• Flour work surface heavily and pat out dough to about 1/2-inch thick. Cut out doughnuts and holes, flouring the cutter each time, and set on a floured sheet pan. Heat oil to 375 degrees and drop in doughnuts and holes. Cook doughnuts for 45 to 60 seconds and the holes for 30 seconds, flipping once. Drain on a paper towel-lined sheet pan.
• Place the chopped chocolate in a bowl. Boil the cream and pour it over the chocolate and let sit, whisking to combine. Keep warm. Dip doughnuts in chocolate glaze when cooled.

THE BEST OLD-FASHIONED DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, 1 1/4 teaspoons of the salt and the nutmeg in a large bowl until completely combined. Whisk together 2/3 cup of the buttermilk, the sour cream, eggs, yolks, 1 tablespoon of the vanilla paste and the oil in a medium bowl until completely combined. Fold the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients just until a soft and sticky dough comes together (do not overwork).
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and liberally dust with flour (about 1/3 cup).
• Scrape the dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Dust your hands and the top of the dough with more flour, then gently pat the dough to 3/4-inch thick.
• Working on the baking sheet, punch out as many rounds as you can with a 3 1/4-inch cutter. Then use a 1 1/4-inch cutter to punch out the center of each round. Dip the cutters in flour before each cut to avoid sticking. Gather the dough scraps and gently re-roll without overworking the dough. Repeat cutting until all the dough has been used (you should have 8 doughnuts).
• Set a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet and line a second rimmed baking sheet with several layers of paper towels. Fit a large heavy pot with a deep-fry thermometer and pour in oil to a depth of 3 inches. Heat over medium-high until the thermometer registers 375 degrees F.
• Fry the doughnuts in batches until deep golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to the wire rack and let cool slightly. Fry the doughnut holes until deep golden brown, about 90 seconds per side. Transfer to the wire rack and let drain for 1 minute. Then transfer to the paper-towel lined baking sheet to cool for 10 minutes before glazing. (This two-step process gets a lot more oil out of the doughnuts than using only one method.) Repeat with the remaining dough, making sure the oil returns to temperature between batches.
• Whisk together the confectioners' sugar, the remaining 6 tablespoons buttermilk, the remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla paste and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl until the glaze is smooth and the consistency of honey; add more confectioners' sugar or buttermilk if necessary.
• Dip each doughnut into the glaze on one side (we like the craggy side, it has more texture for an appetizing appearance), letting the excess drip back into the bowl, then return it to the wire rack. Toss the doughnut holes in the glaze to coat completely and return to the wire rack. Let the glaze set for 10 minutes before serving.

OLD-FASHIONED CAKE DOUGHNUTS (DONUTS)

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix the sugar, baking powder, salt and nutmeg.
• Add eggs, milk and melted butter. Beat well.
• Add 3 cups of the flour, beating until blended. Add one more cup of flour and beat well. The dough should be soft and sticky but firm enough to handle. If you feel its necessary, add up to 1/2 cup more flour.
• Cover with plastic wrap and chill for *at* *least* one hour.
• Remove your dough from the fridge and begin heating about 1" of oil to 360F in a large metal skillet.
• Working half the dough at a time, roll it out on a floured surface to about 1/2" thickness. Cut out circles using a doughnut cutter or large biscuit or cookie cutter. For the center, I actually use the cap off my martini shaker ;) to cut the holes.
• Gently drop the doughnuts in batches into the hot oil. Flip them over as they puff and turn them a couple more times as they cook. They will take about 2-3 minutes in total and will be lovely and golden brown all over.
• Remove from the oil and set them on paper towels or brown paper bag (that removes all the fat, you know).
• Douse them with sugar and cinnamon, icing, chocolate dipped with sprinkles or whatever you like.