Peach Doughnuts Recipes

PEACH 'DOUGHNUTS'

Steps:

• To make raspberry sauce, combine 1/3 cup water and the sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Turn heat to medium low and simmer until sugar has dissolved. Stir in raspberries and cassis liqueur. Return to a simmer, cover and cook over low heat for 10 minutes.
• Place lime zest in a bowl and strain hot raspberry sauce into bowl. Press raspberry pulp through strainer; discard seeds. Whisk to blend pulp and syrup, and return to saucepan.
• To skin peaches, bring a medium pot of water to a boil and add peaches. Blanch for 30 seconds and transfer to a bowl of ice water; drain. Cut peaches laterally around pit and gently twist apart. If peaches do not twist apart easily, insert knife tip and cut around the pit, then gently ease it out and separate the peach halves. Remove skin.
• Place almonds and sugar in a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process until mixture is finely ground. Transfer to a wide bowl. Gently dip each peach half into the mixture to coat both sides, and place on a plate.
• Shortly before serving, heat sauce and spoon a few tablespoons onto dessert plates.
• Heat a large, heavy, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter and when it has stopped foaming, add a batch of peach halves; do not crowd the pan. Sear for about 1 minute, until almond coating has browned, and flip over. Sear for another 30 seconds to a minute and remove to dessert plates, placing two halves on each plate, cut side up. Add more butter to pan if necessary and finish searing peaches. If desired, serve peaches with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and, for garnish, additional raspberries.

PEACH PUFF PASTRY DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Make the doughnuts: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Unfold one puff pastry sheet on a work surface and brush off the excess flour. Brush all over with the beaten egg. Unfold the second puff pastry sheet on top of the first one and press to seal. Cut out eight rounds using a 3-inch cookie cutter. Cut out the middles with a 1-inch cookie cutter. Cut out more 1-inch rounds from the scraps, if desired. Arrange on the prepared baking sheet and bake until browned and crisp, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Microwave the peach preserves until melted, about 30 seconds. Brush on the doughnuts and doughnut holes while still hot. Let cool completely on the baking sheet.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Combine the peaches, peach nectar and salt in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the peaches are soft and most of the liquid has evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth. Refrigerate until thick and cold, at least 2 hours.
• Make the glaze: Whisk the confectioners' sugar, 1 tablespoon peach nectar, the lemon juice and vanilla in a small bowl until smooth; add up to 1 more tablespoon peach nectar if needed.
• Using a sharp knife, cut each doughnut horizontally into 3 rings. Spread some of the peach filling on the bottom rings and top with a second ring, then spread with more peach filling and add the top ring. (You will not use all the filling.) Drizzle the glaze over the doughnuts. Sprinkle with the freeze-dried strawberries. Let the glaze set, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve at room temperature or chilled with the remaining peach filling for dipping.