Southern Buttermilk Bourbon Praline Doughnuts Recipes

BROWN BUTTER AND BOURBON MAPLE-GLAZED DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• For the doughnuts: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup doughnut pan with nonstick spray.
• Put the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, swirling occasionally, until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Transfer the brown butter to a measuring cup and set aside.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar and eggs until smooth; then whisk in the buttermilk and vanilla until combined. Add the flour mixture and half of the brown butter (1/4 cup) to the egg mixture; mix until just combined -- DO NOT OVERMIX.
• Transfer the batter to a pastry bag and fill the doughnut pan about three-quarters full. Bake the doughnuts until light golden brown and just baked through, about 8 minutes; (They will be darker on the bottom, where the batter cooks against the pan, than on the top.) Set the pan on a baking rack and let cool for 10 minutes. Remove the doughnuts from the pan and place them directly on the baking rack. Set the rack over some parchment or foil before glazing.
• For the glaze: Bring the maple syrup and the remaining half of the brown butter (1/4 cup) to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the bourbon, cook for 1 minute, and then remove from the heat and whisk in the confectioners' sugar until smooth and slightly thick. Transfer the glaze to a shallow medium bowl and leave to thicken slightly. Drizzle the glaze over the doughnuts, sprinkle the pecans on top, and serve.

PLAIN DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Bring the milk to a simmer in a 1-quart heavy saucepan, then remove from the heat and stir in the sugar and salt. Pour into a large bowl and let cool slightly.
• While the milk is cooling, dissolve the yeast in 2 tablespoons warm water in a small bowl, stirring. Let stand for 5 minutes.
• Stir the yeast mixture into the milk mixture along with the oil, lemon zest and eggs. Stir in 2 1/2 cups of the flour with a wooden spoon to make a very soft dough. Spread 1 cup of the flour on a work surface and put the dough on top, scraping it from the bowl with a rubber spatula. Knead the dough for about 5 minutes, incorporating all of the flour from the work surface and adding just enough additional flour (if necessary); the dough should be slightly sticky. Transfer the dough to an oiled large bowl and sprinkle lightly with additional flour. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let the dough rise in a warm draft-free place until doubled in bulk, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and roll out with a floured rolling pin until 1 inch thick. Cut out rounds with a 2-inch cutter. To make ring shapes, cut out doughnut holes with a 1-inch cutter. Place on a baking sheet, cover the doughnuts with another kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.
• While the doughnuts rise, heat about 10 cups vegetable oil in a deep 4-quart pot until it registers 365 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer. Fry the doughnuts 2 at a time, turning once or twice, until puffed and golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per batch. Transfer to paper towels to drain.

BOURBON PRALINES

Steps:

• Line 2 baking pans with parchment paper; set aside. In a 4-quart saucepan, combine buttermilk, baking soda, and sugar. Over medium-high heat, bring to a rolling boil, stirring constantly. To prevent crystals from forming, brush sides of pan with cold water.
• Cook, stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer registers 240 degrees (soft-ball stage), about 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Add butter and bourbon; stir with a wooden spoon until butter has melted. Stir in pecans; beat with wooden spoon for 30 seconds. Immediately spoon 1 tablespoon of pecan mixture onto prepared baking pan, forming a 2-inch patty. Repeat with remaining mixture. If mixture begins to harden, return to heat for 1 minute, scraping down sides and stirring. Let patties stand until set, about 1 hour. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

BUTTERMILK PRALINES

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, buttermilk and baking soda. Cook and stir over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 210°. , Stir in butter and pecans; cook until thermometer reads 230°. Remove from the heat; add vanilla. Beat with a wooden spoon until mixture loses its gloss and begins to set, about 8 minutes. Quickly drop by teaspoonfuls onto foil-lined baking sheets. Cool.