Classic Cake Donut Food

CLASSIC CAKE DONUT RECIPE

Steps:

• In the bowl of your stand mixer with the paddle or the whisk attachment, cream the softened butter and the sugar on medium high speed until the mixture is light in color and fluffy.
• While mixing on low, add in one egg, let it mix in and then add in the second egg and mix on medium speed until everything is smooth and combined
• Add in the buttermilk and the vanilla and mix until combined
• While mixing on low, add in the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and nutmeg and mix until the dough is combined. Do not over-mix. The dough will be sticky.
• Lightly flour your work surface and transfer the sticky dough to the floured surface.
• Press the dough down lightly until its about 1" thick.
• Fold the dough over onto itself 3-4 times until the dough is smooth.
• Flatten the dough down to about 1/2" or use a rolling pin. Let the dough rest for 5-10 minutes while your oil is heating up.
• Turn on your FryDaddy or begin heating your oil to 360ºF-375ºF (182ºC -190ºC). Set up a draining station for the donuts by placing a cooling rack over a sheet pan to catch the oil.
• Use a donut cutter or ring cutter to cut out the donuts. You can press together the scraps and roll them out again to get as many donuts as you can. Just keep in mind the more you work the dough, the tougher the donuts will get.
• Add the donut to the hot oil using your slotted spoon to lower it gently. Fry the donut for 2 minutes then flip it over and fry it for 1 more minute.
• Fry your donut holes for about 1 minute, stirring and pushing them down with your spoon until golden brown on the outsides.
• Transfer the dough to a cooling rack over a sheet pan to let the oil drain away from the donut
• Once your donuts are cooked you can roll them in powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, glaze them with donut glaze or chocolate glaze!
• Store donuts in a paper bag at room temperature for up to two days. They are best eaten fresh! Do not refrigerate.
• Sift the powdered sugar into a bowl and add the milk (or water). Whisk together to combine, add more powdered sugar to make it thicker or more milk to make it thinner.
• In a medium sized bowl, add the heavy cream, butter and corn syrup to the chocolate chips. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir together until the chocolate is melted. Microwave for another 15 seconds if needed.

GLAZED CAKE DONUTS

Steps:

• Basic Milk Glaze: Add a couple inches of water to a medium pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Into a large heatproof bowl, add confectioners' sugar, salt, and milk. Snugly fit the bowl on top of the pot to make a double boiler, making sure the bottom of the bowl isn't touching the water; whisk until glaze is combined and smooth, 3-5 minutes. Set aside. (Note: Basic Milk Glaze can be made in advance, cooled, and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 1 week. Reheat over double boiler when ready to use.)
• Make donut batter: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add egg yolks and sugar. Mix on medium speed just to combine, then increase speed to medium-high and beat until mixture is pale and fluffy and ribbons start to form, about 3 minutes. Reduce to medium speed, then slowly stream in the melted butter and buttermilk; mix until combined, about 5 seconds.
• Turn the mixer off. Add dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and baharat. Mix on low speed just to combine, about 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium and continue mixing until batter is smooth and starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl, 20 to 30 seconds.
• Prepare a work surface by taping a 12" x 16" sheet of parchment paper to your counter to keep it from slipping. Generously dust the parchment with flour. (Keep extra flour nearby to use as needed. You'll dust off excess flour before frying, so don't skimp.) Scrape down the paddle attachment and turn all the batter out onto the floured surface. The batter will be very sticky and loose. Dust the top of the batter with more flour, including the edges; flour your hands thoroughly. Place a second piece of parchment paper on top of the flour-dusted batter. Roll the batter between the parchment paper into a ½-inch thick rectangle, about 10" x 14". Using only the weight of the rolling pin itself, very gently ease it along the parchment paper-first from top to bottom, then from side to side-to evenly flatten the batter without rolling it too thin. Once you've achieved the right thickness, slide the dough (still sandwiched between parchment) onto an overturned baking sheet. Freeze for 30 minutes and up to overnight.
• Preheat the frying oil: In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add 2-3 inches of oil. Clip a deep fry thermometer onto the side of the pot and heat oil to 350 degrees F. After at least 30 minutes, remove dough from freezer. Generously dust your work surface with flour. Peel the top layer of parchment off the dough. (It's ok if some of it sticks-just be gentle and persistent!) Flip the baking sheet with dough onto the floured surface, so the bottom piece of parchment is now on top. Remove this layer of parchment and use a pastry brush to brush excess flour off dough.
• Cut donuts: Working quickly, use two sizes of ring cutters to make the donut shapes. Flouring the cutters well and often to prevent sticking, stamp out as many 2.75-inch circles as possible; then use the 1-inch cutter for the holes. The dough scraps can be gathered together, re-rolled and cut for more donuts.
• Fry the donuts: Carefully lift the dough rings with a spatula and slide them into the oil, about 4 at a time, depending on the size of your pot. After about 1 minute, the edges will begin to brown; flip the donuts and fry for another minute, then flip again and fry until golden brown and delightfully puffy, another 30 seconds. (Total frying time for each donut will be about 2½ minutes.) Transfer donuts to a rack set over a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain. Repeat with remaining donuts and donut holes. (Donut holes take 60 to 90 seconds and tend to flip themselves.)
• Glaze the donuts: Warm up the milk glaze in a double boiler and stir until smooth. Hold the bottom of the donut with your fingertips and submerge the top in warm glaze, a little more than halfway up the sides. Remove the donut from the glaze and, with a twist of the wrist, turn it right-side up, allowing the excess glaze to cascade down the sides. Place on a wire rack to cool completely, 10-15 minutes, before serving. After the donuts are cool, store in an airtight container for up to 24 hours.

CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together the flour, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, salt, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and nutmeg. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg, butter, and vanilla. Mix until well blended. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Heat oil in a deep heavy skillet or deep-fryer to 370 degrees F (185 degrees C). On a floured board, roll chilled dough out to 1/2 inch thickness. Use a 3 inch round cutter to cut out doughnuts. Use a smaller cutter to cut holes from center. If you do not have a small cutter, use the mouth of a bottle.
• Fry doughnuts in hot oil until golden brown, turning once. Remove from oil to drain on paper plates. Combine the remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 cup sugar in a large resealable bag. Place a few warm donuts into the bag at a time, seal and shake to coat.

CLASSIC JELLY DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Microwave the milk in a small bowl until 105 degrees F to 110 degrees F. Stir in the yeast and 3 tablespoons sugar; let stand until foamy, 3 to 5 minutes. Whisk the flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook.
• Add the yeast mixture, eggs and vanilla to the flour. Mix on medium speed until the dough comes together, 1 to 2 minutes. Mix in the butter 1 piece at a time. Continue mixing, scraping the bowl occasionally with a rubber spatula, until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 6 minutes (it will be a little sticky). Lightly coat a large bowl with cooking spray. Scrape the dough into the bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; dust with flour.
• Turn out the dough onto a well-floured surface and gently pat until 1/2 inch thick. Using a 3-inch round cutter, cut out 12 to 14 rounds as close together as possible. Place the rounds 1 1/2 inches apart on the prepared pans. Lightly coat the tops of the rounds with cooking spray. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until puffy, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil in a heavy pot until a deep-fry thermometer registers 350 degrees F. Cut the parchment paper around each dough round so they can be picked up separately. Working in batches of 3 or 4, use the parchment to carefully slide the dough rounds into the hot oil. Fry the doughnuts, flipping occasionally, until golden brown, 2 1/2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the doughnuts to a paper towel?lined baking sheet to drain. Return the oil temperature to 350 degrees F between batches.
• Put the remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a medium bowl. While the doughnuts are still warm, toss them in the sugar to coat, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• Using a chopstick or skewer, poke a hole in the side of each doughnut, wiggling the stick around to form a pocket. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a small round tip with the jelly and squeeze about 2 tablespoons into each doughnut.
• Blueberry-Lemon Poppy Seed
• Skip the sugar coating in Step 5. Fill the doughnuts with blueberry jam. Top with lemon glaze (whisk 1 cup confectioners? sugar with the zest of 1 lemon, 2 tablespoons lemon juice and a pinch of salt). Sprinkle with poppy seeds.
• Apple-Cinnamon
• In Step 5, coat the doughnuts with cinnamon sugar (whisk 3/4 cup sugar with 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon). Fill the doughnuts with apple butter.
• Learn how to make a Hanukkah favorite: jelly doughnuts!
• Lemon-Raspberry
• In Step 5, coat the doughnuts with raspberry sugar (pulse 1/2 cup freeze-dried raspberries in a food processor or spice grinder until powdery; mix with 1/3 cup sugar). Fill the doughnuts with lemon cream (whisk 1/2 cup heavy cream to stiff peaks, then fold in 1 cup lemon curd).
• Strawberry-Chocolate
• Skip the sugar coating in Step 5. Fill the doughnuts with strawberry jam. Top with chocolate glaze (melt 6 ounces chopped semisweet chocolate with 1/3 cup heavy cream and a pinch of salt in the microwave, then stir until smooth).

OLD-TIME CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat butter and 1 cup sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition., Combine the flour, baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, salt and nutmeg; add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. , Turn onto a heavily floured surface; pat dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-1/2-in. doughnut cutter. In an electric skillet or deep fryer, heat oil to 375°., Fry doughnuts, a few at a time, until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels. , Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon; roll warm doughnuts in mixture. Freeze option: Wrap doughnuts in foil and transfer to a resealable freezer container. May be frozen for up to 3 months. To use, remove foil. Thaw at room temperature. Warm if desired. Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon; roll warm doughnuts in mixture.

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.