Date Sugar Donuts Recipes

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.

BAKED CINNAMON SUGAR DONUTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray 9 cavities of a 12-cavity doughnut pan with cooking spray.
• Combine sugar, butter, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl; beat with an electric mixer until well combined. Add egg and mix until incorporated.
• Combine flour and baking powder in a small bowl. Add flour mixture to butter mixture in batches, alternating with milk, beating batter briefly after each addition. Pour batter into a large resealable plastic bag. Snip off one corner of the bag and pipe batter into the 9 prepared cavities of the doughnut pan, filling each halfway.
• Bake doughnuts in the preheated oven until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean, 7 to 9 minutes.
• While the doughnuts are baking, place melted butter for topping in a shallow bowl. Mix together 2/3 cup sugar and cinnamon in another shallow bowl. Roll warm doughnuts in melted butter and then in cinnamon sugar to coat.

SUNNY'S EASY OG SUGAR DONUTS

Steps:

• Mix the wet. In a 2-cup liquid measuring cup, add the milk and whisk in the granulated sugar to dissolve. Sprinkle the yeast over the top and let rest until it dissolves and puffs up, about 5 minutes. Add the butter, egg and vanilla paste and whisk to combine.
• Mix the dry. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the flour and a pinch of salt and mix to combine.
• Make the dough. Starting on low speed, slowly add the wet mixture to the dry. Once all of the liquid is incorporated, remove the paddle and replace it with the dough hook. Turn the speed up and watch as the dough comes together; it will eventually release from the sides of the bowl. Let the mixer knead the dough until it looks smooth and is slightly sticky, about 5 minutes. Stop and let the dough relax for about 5 minutes.
• Let the dough rise. Coat the bottom and sides of a large mixing bowl with oil or cooking spray. Remove the dough and gently shape into a ball. Place the dough in the prepared bowl and turn the dough over to fully coat with the oil. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let rest at room temperature until it rises by more than double, about 1 hour.
• Shape the donuts and rest. Cut parchment paper into 5- or 6-inch squares and arrange in a single layer on a sheet pan. Gently push your fist into the center of the dough to release the air. Pick up the dough and place it on a lightly floured surface. (I've even used parchment with no flour!) Cut the dough into 10 to 12 even parts and gently roll each piece into a ball. Use your hand to press down on the dough to flatten each ball into a circle about 4 inches in diameter. Punch out a hole in the center of each circle using a bottle cap (from your oil bottle, a condiment jar, etc.). Place the donuts and donut holes on the parchment squares and cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap sprayed with cooking spray. Set the donuts aside to let rise at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Fry the donuts and prepare the toppings. Pour at least 4 inches of oil into a large Dutch oven. Heat the oil to 325 degrees F. Meanwhile, fit a baking sheet with a wire rack and set aside.
• If making sugar donuts, add granulated or cinnamon sugar to a large bowl and set aside. If glazing the donuts, have the glazes prepared in bowls.
• Fry the donuts in small batches, starting with the donut holes to gauge the oil temperature. The donut holes should fry to a golden color, flip on their own and float in about 2 minutes. For the whole donuts, working with one donut at a time, gently invert the donut into the oil so the parchment paper side is up. Gently peel the parchment paper away from the dough. Repeat with the remaining donuts, adding only a few donuts to the oil at a time. Once the donuts float and the bottoms are golden, flip and cook until the other side is golden, 2 to 4 minutes. Allow the oil to come up to room temperature between batches.
• For sugar donuts, remove the donuts from the oil with a slotted spoon, then allow the oil to drip off, and put directly into the bowl of sugar. Roll to coat, or use a clean spoon to spoon sugar onto the donut and a fork to gently flip the donut so the other side can be coated in sugar. Remove and let cool slightly on the wire rack. Serve warm.
• For glazed donuts, remove the donuts from the oil with a slotted spoon, then allow the oil to drip off and place on the wire rack to let cool enough to handle. Drizzle the glaze over the donuts on the wire rack or, working with one donut at a time, gently dip one side into the glaze, then turn right side up and return to the rack. For the Maple-Bacon glazed donuts, sprinkle bacon bits over the top right after coating and before the glaze sets.
• In a medium bowl, add the confectioners' sugar, salt, vanilla and milk and whisk until smooth. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, add the confectioners' sugar, salt, strawberry powder, vanilla and milk and whisk until smooth. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, add the confectioners' sugar, salt, maple extract and milk and whisk until smooth. Set aside. Save the chopped bacon as a garnish after glazing.

HOT SUGARED DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Put the flour, yeast, sugar and 1⁄2 tsp salt into a large bowl, mix, then make a well in the middle. Beat the egg yolks, milk and melted butter together, tip into the well, then bring together with a cutlery knife. The dough will seem wet and rough. Leave to stand for 10 mins, after which it will have firmed a little.
• Oil the work surface and your hands, then tip out the dough and knead for about 5 mins until it looks smoother and feels springy. Keep oiling your hands if the dough sticks. Let it rise in an oiled, covered bowl in a warm place for about 2 hrs or until doubled in size.
• Give the dough another quick knead, then shape into walnut-size balls and place on baking sheets, well spaced. Cover again, then leave to rise for 30 mins-1 hr until risen and the dough no longer springs back when you prod it. Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5.
• Bake for 12-15 mins until risen and dark golden. Can be frozen at this stage for up to 1 month. Defrost, then reheat for few mins in the oven. Melt 50g butter in a pan and put 50g sugar into a large bowl. Let the doughnuts cool for a few mins, then brush with butter and roll in sugar. Spoon a few tbsp jam into a piping bag with a 5mm nozzle. Poke a hole in each doughnut, then push in the nozzle and squeeze in a little jam. Best served warm.