Ginger Doughnuts Food

DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Heat the milk until it is warm but not hot, about 90 degrees. In a large bowl, combine it with the yeast. Stir lightly, and let sit until the mixture is foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Using an electric mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, beat the eggs, butter, sugar and salt into the yeast mixture. Add half of the flour (2 cups plus 2 tablespoons), and mix until combined, then mix in the rest of the flour until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Add more flour, about 2 tablespoons at a time, if the dough is too wet. If you're using an electric mixer, the dough will probably become too thick to beat; when it does, transfer it to a floured surface, and gently knead it until smooth. Grease a large bowl with a little oil. Transfer the dough to the bowl, and cover. Let rise at room temperature until it doubles in size, about 1 hour.
• Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface, and roll it to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut out the doughnuts with a doughnut cutter, concentric cookie cutters or a drinking glass and a shot glass (the larger one should be about 3 inches in diameter), flouring the cutters as you go. Reserve the doughnut holes. If you're making filled doughnuts, don't cut out the middle. Knead any scraps together, being careful not to overwork, and let rest for a few minutes before repeating the process.
• Put the doughnuts on two floured baking sheets so that there is plenty of room between each one. Cover with a kitchen towel, and let rise in a warm place until they are slightly puffed up and delicate, about 45 minutes. If your kitchen isn't warm, heat the oven to 200 at the beginning of this step, then turn off the heat, put the baking sheets in the oven and leave the door ajar.
• About 15 minutes before the doughnuts are done rising, put the oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, and heat it to 375. Meanwhile, line cooling racks, baking sheets or plates with paper towels.
• Carefully add the doughnuts to the oil, a few at a time. If they're too delicate to pick up with your fingers (they may be this way only if you rose them in the oven), use a metal spatula to pick them up and slide them into the oil. It's O.K. if they deflate a bit; they'll puff back up as they fry. When the bottoms are deep golden, after 45 seconds to a minute, use a slotted spoon to flip; cook until they're deep golden all over. Doughnut holes cook faster. Transfer the doughnuts to the prepared plates or racks, and repeat with the rest of the dough, adjusting the heat as needed to keep the oil at 375. Glaze or fill as follows, and serve as soon as possible.

DOUGHNUT DOUGH

Steps:

• Put 150g water and all the dough ingredients, apart from the butter, into the bowl of a mixer with a beater paddle. Mix on a medium speed for 8 mins or until the dough starts coming away from the sides and forms a ball. Turn off the mixer and let the dough rest for 1 min.
• Start the mixer up again on a medium speed and slowly add the butter to the dough - about 25g at a time. Once it is all incorporated, mix on high speed for 5 mins until the dough is glossy, smooth and very elastic when pulled.
• Cover the bowl with cling film or a clean tea towel and leave to prove until it has doubled in size. Knock back the dough in the bowl briefly, then re-cover and put in the fridge to chill overnight.
• The next day, take the dough out of the fridge and cut it into 50g pieces (you should get about 20).
• Roll the dough pieces into smooth, tight buns and place them on a floured baking tray, leaving plenty of room between them, as you don't want them to stick together while they prove.
• Cover loosely with cling film and leave for 4 hrs or until doubled in size. Fill your deep-fat fryer or heavy-based saucepan halfway with oil. Heat the oil to 180C.
• When the oil is heated, carefully slide the doughnuts from the tray using a floured pastry scraper. Taking care not to deflate them, put them into the oil. Do 2-3 per batch, depending on the size of your fryer or pan.
• Fry for 2 mins each side until golden brown - they puff up and float, so you may need to gently push them down after about 1 min to help them colour evenly.
• Remove the doughnuts from the fryer and place them on kitchen paper.
• Toss the doughnuts in a bowl of caster sugar while still warm. Repeat the steps until all the doughnuts are fried, but keep checking the oil temperature is correct - if it is too high, they will burn and be raw in the middle; if it is too low, the oil will be absorbed into the doughnuts and they will become greasy. Set aside to cool before filling.
• To fill the doughnuts, make a hole with a small knife in the crease of each one, anywhere around the white line between the fried top and bottom.
• Fill a piping bag with your filling and pipe into the doughnut until nicely swollen - 20-50g is the optimum quantity, depending on the filling; cream will be less, because it is more aerated. After filling, the doughnuts are best eaten straight away, but will keep in an airtight tin.
• FillingsCustard filling: Try out Justin's custard filling and, if you like, add different flavours to the custard as follows...Brown sugar: Replace the caster sugar with half soft dark brown sugar and half light brown sugar. You can add chopped stem ginger to the finished custard, or some hazelnut praline. Finish with half the quantity of cream.Chocolate: Whisk 150g dark (70%) chocolate into the milk. Finish with half the cream.Coffee: Add 4 tbsp of freshly ground strong coffee to the milk.Malt & vanilla: Mix 2 tbsp of powdered malt into the sugar, and 2 tbsp of liquid malt into the milk.Saffron: Add a good pinch of saffron to the milk. Finish with half the quantity of cream.Violet custard: Add 3 tsp of violet extract and 3 tbsp of violet liqueur to the finished custard. Sprinkle sugared violets and crushed Parma Violet sweets over the top of the filled doughnuts.

GINGER DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• For doughnuts:
• Whisk first 4 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Stir in crystallized ginger and lemon peel.
• Whisk sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract in large bowl to blend well. Stir in cream and melted butter. Add dry ingredients and stir to blend well (dough will be sticky). Cover bowl with plastic wrap; chill at least 1 hour. (Dough can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• For topping:
• Mix sugar and ground ginger in medium bowl to blend.
• Line large baking sheet with plastic wrap. Roll out dough on generously floured surface to 3/4-inch thickness. Using floured 2 1/4-inch cookie cutter, cut out dough rounds. Using floured 1 1/4-inch cookie cutter, cut out hole in center of each large dough round, forming doughnuts. Gather dough scraps and reroll on floured surface. Repeat process, cutting out more doughnuts until all dough is used up. Place doughnuts on prepared baking sheet.
• Line another large baking sheet with several layers of paper towels. Combine vegetable oil and shortening in heavy large pot. Attach deep-fry thermometer inside pot. Heat oil mixture over medium heat until thermometer registers 350°F. Adjust heat as necessary to maintain temperature. Using slotted spoon, carefully lower 4 doughnuts into oil. Cook until bottoms of doughnuts are deep golden brown, about 2 minutes. Turn doughnuts over and cook until bottoms are brown, about 2 minutes longer. Using slotted spoon, transfer doughnuts to paper-towel-lined baking sheet to drain. Cool slightly. While doughnuts are still warm, turn to coat in sugar topping. Repeat process with remaining doughnuts. Serve warm or at room temperature. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cool completely. Wrap in plastic wrap and store at room temperature.)

CLASSIC GLAZED DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of the yeast with 3/4 cup of the warm milk and stir to dissolve the yeast. Add 3/4 cup of the flour and stir to create a smooth paste. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the flour mixture rest in a warm place for 30 minutes.
• Once 30 minutes have passed, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the remaining 1 teaspoon yeast with the remaining 1/4 cup milk (the milk will be room temperature at this point). Add the rested flour mixture along with the vanilla and egg yolks and mix on low until the ingredients are incorporated and the dough is smooth, about 30 seconds. Turn off the mixer and add 1 cup of flour, along with the sugar and salt. Mix on medium until the dough starts to come together, about 30 seconds. Add the butter and mix on medium until it's incorporated, about 30 seconds.
• Remove the paddle attachment from the mixer, and switch to the dough hook. Start adding the remaining flour, 1/4 cup at a time (turning the mixer off for each addition) and knead the dough on medium until it completely pulls away from the side of the bowl and is smooth and not too sticky, about 1 minute. The dough will be very soft and moist but not so sticky that you can't roll it out. (For this step, you may only need to use as little as 1/4 cup flour, so there may be flour leftover.) Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest in a warm place for 30 minutes.
• Once 30 minutes have passed, gently press down on the dough to remove any gas bubbles then chill, covered, for at least 1 hour and up to 12 hours.
• When ready to roll out the dough, line a baking sheet with a lightly floured non-terry towel. Lightly flour a work surface and roll out the dough to a 1/2-inch thickness. Using doughnut or cookie cutters, cut out 3-inch-diameter rounds with 1-inch-diameter holes. (For filled doughnuts, don't cut out the holes.) Arrange the doughnuts on the prepared baking sheet, leaving at least 1 inch between doughnuts. Cover the doughnuts loosely with plastic wrap and let them proof in a warm place until almost doubled in size, 30 to 40 minutes. Check to see if the doughnuts are ready every 5 to 10 minutes. To test, use a fingertip to lightly touch one of the doughnuts. If the dough springs back immediately, it needs more time; if it springs back slowly, it's ready; and if the dough doesn't spring back at all, it's over-proofed. You can punch down and reroll over-proofed dough once.
• While the doughnuts are proofing, line a baking sheet with 2 layers of paper towels and place a wire rack on top of the towels. In a heavy-bottomed large pot or deep fryer, heat at least 2 inches of oil until a deep-fry thermometer registers 360°F. Working in batches, use a slotted metal spoon or spatula to carefully place the doughnuts in the hot oil. Fry, flipping once, until light golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer as done to the wire rack and return the oil to 360°F between batches. Let the doughnuts cool slightly before glazing with the Basic Sugar Glaze or Chocolate Glaze .

SUPER EASY DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Stir the vinegar into the milk, and let stand for a few minutes until thick.
• In a medium bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla until well blended. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the sugar mixture alternating with the vinegar and milk. Roll dough out on a floured surface to 1/3 inch thickness. Cut into doughnuts using a donut cutter. Let stand for about 10 minutes.
• Heat the oil in a large deep skillet to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Fry doughnuts in the hot oil until golden, turning over once. Drain on paper towels. Dust with confectioners' sugar while they are still warm, and serve immediately.

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.

DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• One cup sugar, one cup milk, 2 eggs beaten fine as silk, salt and nutmeg (lemon will do), of baking powder teaspoons two.
• Lightly stir the flour in, roll on pieboard not too thin.
• Cut in diamonds, twists, or rings; drop with care the doughy things - into fat that briskly swells, evenly the spongy cells.
• Watch with care the time for turning, fry them brown just short of burning.
• Roll in sugar, serve when cool, price a quarter for this rule.

DEVIL'S FOOD DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Place potatoes and 3 1/4 cups water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Cook until potatoes are fork tender, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat; drain, reserving liquid. Return potatoes to saucepan. Using a whisk, mash potatoes over medium-high heat until dry, about 1 minute. Set 1 cup potatoes aside; reserve remainder for another use.
• Place yeast in bowl of an electric mixer; pour 3/4 cup reserved potato liquid over yeast. Sprinkle granulated sugar over yeast; let dissolve, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1/2 cup all-purpose flour and 1/2 cup cake flour; stir with a wooden spoon until combined. Cover with plastic wrap; set aside in a warm place until surface is covered with bubbles, about 30 minutes.
• Place chocolate in a heat-proof bowl or the top of a double boiler, and set over a pan of simmering water. Heat, stirring with a rubber spatula, until melted and smooth.
• Place 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon reserved potato liquid in a small saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Remove from heat, and stir in the baking soda and cocoa powder until combined. Add the melted chocolate, the reserved cup mashed potato, confectioners sugar, and salt; stir to combine.
• Add potato mixture, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, and remaining 1/2 cup cake flour to yeast mixture. Using paddle attachment, mix on low speed until flour has been moistened, about 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium high; mix until thoroughly combined, 1 minute. Add the remaining 1/2 cup all-purpose flour; mix on low speed 30 seconds. Increase speed to high; mix another 30 seconds; the dough will be very sticky.
• Lightly oil a large bowl; set aside. Sift an even layer of all-purpose flour over a clean work surface. Turn dough out onto floured surface, and gather into a ball. Transfer dough to oiled bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm place to rise until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Turn out dough onto floured surface, and fold in half, deflating dough. Return dough to oiled bowl, re-cover, and set aside to rise until doubled in size again, about 30 minutes.
• Heat oil in a low-sided six-quart saucepan over medium-high heat until a deep-frying thermometer registers 375 degrees. Lightly dust a baking pan with flour, and line a second one with paper towels; set both aside.
• Sift a light coat of flour onto a clean work surface. Turn out dough. Sift another layer of flour over dough. Roll into a 12-by-14-inch rectangle, about 1/2 inch thick. Using a 2 3/4-inch doughnut cutter, cut out doughnuts as close together as possible, dipping the cutter in flour before each cut. Transfer the doughnuts to the floured baking pan, and set aside 10 minutes, but not more.
• Gently pull on sides of the doughnuts, slightly enlarging holes. Working in batches of four, transfer doughnuts to oil, and cook until tops have expanded and cracked slightly, about 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, turn doughnuts over, and cook 1 minute more. Transfer doughnuts to lined baking pan, and set aside until cool enough to handle. Repeat with remaining doughnuts.
• Gather remaining dough scraps into a ball. Let rest 10 minutes; pat into a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle. Cut, let rest 10 minutes, and cook.
• While still warm, coat doughnuts with chocolate glaze, and sprinkle with chopped pistachios or coconut, if desired. Transfer to a wire rack to set, and serve.

JELLY DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Melt the milk and the butter together in a small bowl. Set aside to cool slightly (110°F).
• 2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, sugar, yeast and salt. Add the milk mixture, the eggs and egg yolks and mix on low just until combined. Switch to the dough hook and knead the dough on low speed until smooth and elastic, about 6 minutes. The dough should be workable but still somewhat sticky. Add a few more tablespoons of flour if necessary but resist the urge to add too much.
• Transfer the dough to a buttered bowl, cover with plasitc wrap, and set it in a warm place to double, 60 to 90 minutes.
• Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it once or twice to expel the air. Roll the dough into a 91/2 by 12 1/2 inch rectangle. It should be about 1/2 inch thick. Using a 3 inch round cookie cutter, cut out 12 dough rounds and set them on two floured rimmed baking sheets. Lightly cover the sheets with plastic wrap and set in a warm place until almost doubled, 60 to 90 minutes.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with a few layers of paper towels. Add the oil to a medium, heavy-bottomed pot. Attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pot and heat the oil to 350°F. Carefully add 2 to 3 doughnuts to the oil and fry them until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the doughnuts to the paper towels. Repeat with the remaining dough.
• Toss the warm doughnuts in the powdered sugar. Use a chopstick to poke a hole into one side of each doughnut. Twist the chopstick around to make some room in the center of the doughnut. Be careful not to poke through the other side. Transfer the jam to a pastry bag fitted with a small round tip. For each doughnut, insert the tip of the pastry bag into the hole and gently squeeze to fill.
• Alternatively, instead of powdered sugar, make a glaze by whisking the powdered sugar together with the cream and some food coloring. Top each filled doughnut with some glaze and top with sprinkles. Let the glazed doughnuts stand at room temperature for a few minutes to set.

SFENJ: MOROCCAN DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in 1/4 cup of the warm water and set aside to proof for 10 or 15 minutes.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour with the salt and the remaining 1 cup warm water. Add the yeast mixture and stir vigorously with your hand or a heavy wooden spoon until smooth. The dough should be too sticky to knead or shape, almost like a thick batter.
• Cover the bowl with a towel and leave the dough to rise for 3 to 4 hours, until double or triple in bulk.
• In a wide, deep pot, heat 2 to 3 inches of vegetable oil over medium heat until hot.
• Set out a bowl of water. Dip your hands in the water, then pull off a piece of dough about the size of a small plum. Use your fingers to make a hole in the ball of dough, stretch the hole wide to make a ring, and place the dough in the hot oil.
• Repeat with additional portions of dough until you've added as many sfenj as will fit comfortably in your pot; do not overcrowd. Wet your hands as necessary to keep the dough from sticking as you work with it.
• Fry the sfenj until golden brown, turning once or twice. Remove the cooked sfenj to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.
• Repeat shaping and frying until you've used up all the dough.
• If desired, finish the hot sfenj by dipping in granulated sugar or by dusting with powdered sugar.
• Serve the sfenj hot or warm; they lose their texture and appeal when cold.
• Enjoy.