Doughnut Peach Tree Food

YEAST DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Place the milk in a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat just until warm enough to melt the shortening. Place the shortening in a bowl and pour warmed milk over. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the warm water and let dissolve for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, pour the yeast mixture into the large bowl of a stand mixer and add the milk and shortening mixture, first making sure the milk and shortening mixture has cooled to lukewarm. Add the eggs, sugar, salt, nutmeg, and half of the flour. Using the paddle attachment, combine the ingredients on low speed until flour is incorporated and then turn the speed up to medium and beat until well combined. Add the remaining flour, combining on low speed at first, and then increase the speed to medium and beat well. Change to the dough hook attachment of the mixer and beat on medium speed until the dough pulls away from the bowl and becomes smooth, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a well-oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
• On a well-floured surface, roll out dough to 3/8-inch thick. Cut out dough using a 2 1/2-inch doughnut cutter or pastry ring and using a 7/8-inch ring for the center whole. Set on floured baking sheet, cover lightly with a tea towel, and let rise for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oil in a deep fryer or Dutch oven to 365 degrees F. Gently place the doughnuts into the oil, 3 to 4 at a time. Cook for 1 minute per side. Transfer to a cooling rack placed in baking pan. Allow to cool for 15 to 20 minutes prior to glazing, if desired.

BIRTHDAY CAKE DOUGHNUT

Steps:

• For the doughnuts: Trace twelve 3-inch circles on a piece of parchment paper, flip the paper over and line a baking sheet. Lightly spray with cooking spray. Fit a pastry bag with a 1/2-inch-round pastry tip.
• Whisk together the flour, confetti sprinkles, baking powder and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl.
• Combine the granulated sugar and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or in a large bowl if using a handheld electric mixer). Beat on medium-high speed until well combined, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla and continue to beat until incorporated and pale, about 2 minutes. Adjust the speed to medium-low and add the flour mixture and milk in batches, beginning and ending with the flour. Continue to mix until smooth and well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Transfer the batter to the prepared pastry bag.
• Pipe the dough over the circle patterns on the parchment paper. Refrigerate while the oil heats up.
• Fill a medium Dutch oven or pot with about 2 inches of oil and bring to 340 degrees F over medium heat. Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Cut the parchment paper around each doughnut, leaving a border. Use the paper border to carefully place 2 doughnuts at a time into the oil face first, then carefully remove the paper with tongs. Fry the doughnuts until golden, turning, 1 1/2 minutes per side. Remove the doughnuts with a slotted spoon to the paper towels. Repeat with the remaining doughnuts. Cool completely. Store at room temperature in an airtight container up to a day in advance.
• For the chocolate frosting. Combine the cocoa powder, butter, vanilla and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or in a large bowl if using a handheld electric mixer). Mix on low speed until combined. Add the confectioners' sugar and milk, and continue to mix on low speed. Once the mixture is mostly combined, increase the speed to medium-high and mix until smooth. Use immediately, or refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3 days. Allow to come to room temperature and mix on medium-high until smooth.
• For the malted vanilla frosting. Combine the malted milk powder, butter, vanilla and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or in a large bowl if using a handheld electric mixer). Mix on low speed until combined. Add the confectioners' sugar and milk, and continue to mix on low speed. Once the mixture is mostly combined, increase the speed to medium-high and mix until smooth. Use immediately, or refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3 days. Allow to come to room temperature and mix on medium-high until smooth.
• Frost the doughnuts with your favorite icing, or a combination, sprinkle with confetti sprinkles and decorate with candles if using.

BASIC DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• In a large, deep heavy pot or an electric fryer heat the oil to 375 degrees.
• In a large bowl, beat together the egg and sugar. Stir in the milk and the shortening. Sift together all of the dry ingredients. Stir the dry ingredients into the egg mixture and stir to combine. Chill the dough for 30 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, flatten the dough to 1/2 inch thickness with your fingertips or a rolling pin. Cut out the doughnuts using a doughnut cutter or two sizes of round cookie cutters. Transfer doughnuts to wax paper and allow to dry for 10 minutes. Using a spatula dipped in the hot oil, carefully transfer the doughnuts to the hot oil. Cook 2 - 3 doughnuts at a time, flipping them when they brown on a side. Remove to paper towels to drain. Dust with confectioners' sugar or cinnamon sugar mixture. Serve warm.
• Doughnut holes: Add dough to hot oil by the spoonful and fry until golden.
• Variations: Chocolate doughnuts: Combine the melted shortening with 1 ounce of melted chocolate before adding to batter.
• Glazed doughnuts: Combine 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar with 2 teaspoons hot milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Drizzle over cooled doughnuts.
• Jelly doughnuts: Stir 1/2 cup jelly of choice until smooth. Transfer jelly to a plastic baggie and snip off one corner to squeeze out jelly. Poke doughnut round with a chopstick And squirt in jelly.

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.