Sweet Fritters With Cinnamon Orange Syrup Food

MAPLE CINNAMON SPIDER WEB FRITTERS

Steps:

• Pour enough oil into a large skillet so it's about 1 inch deep. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers between 280 to 300 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and add the milk, egg and 1 tablespoon of the maple syrup. Whisk the dry and wet ingredients together until smooth.
• Transfer the batter to a large pastry bag fitted with a #3 or 4 open tip. Working in batches and making a few at a time, carefully squeeze the batter into the oil in a circular pattern and then back and forth, to make a free-form spider web-like design, 3 to 4 inches in diameter. Cook until the bottoms are golden, about 2 minutes. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, turn the fritters over and cook until golden on the other side, about 1 minute more. Transfer the fritters to paper towels to drain briefly. Repeat with the remaining batter.
• Brush the webs lightly with maple syrup and dust with confectioners' sugar. Serve warm or at room temperature garnished with jelly spiders or nonpareils if using.

BUNUELOS WITH ANISE SYRUP

Steps:

• For syrup:
• Combine all ingredients in heavy large saucepan. Stir over medium heat until piloncillo cones dissolve, about 5 minutes. Increase heat and boil until syrup thickens enough to coat spoon thinly, about 20 minutes. Strain syrup into bowl. (Syrup can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm before using.)
• For buñuelos:
• Combine 3/4 cup water, 3/4 cup juice, 1 egg, 3 tablespoons sugar, 3 tablespoons lard, 1 tablespoon rum, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in large bowl; whisk to blend well. Gradually add 5 cups flour, stirring until soft, slightly sticky dough forms. Add more flour by tablespoonfuls if dough is very sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rest 1 hour.
• Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Divide dough in half. Divide each half into 8 equal pieces. Shape each piece into round ball. Roll out each piece to 6-inch round. Let dough rounds rest 15 minutes.
• Pour enough vegetable oil into heavy large pot to reach depth of 1 inch. Attach deep-fry thermometer and heat oil to 365°F to 370°F. Fry dough rounds, 2 at a time, until golden and puffed, turning rounds occasionally with tongs, about 2 minutes. Transfer buñuelos to paper towels to drain. Arrange buñuelos on platter. Drizzle generously with warm syrup. Serve, passing remaining syrup separately.
• *Mexican raw sugar shaped into hard cones. Smaller chunks are sometimes labled panocha. If neither is available, substitute an equal weight of packed dark brown sugar.