Sometimes plain is the best – especially when it comes to these Glazed Doughnuts! A yeast raised doughnut is covered in the perfect doughnut glaze.
Doughnuts, donuts – I’m not quite sure which is the proper spelling, but either way – they are delicious!!
I’ve been really bad about participating in all of the food events lately, but when I saw Helen at Tartelette and Peabody at Culinary Concoctions by Peabody announce a doughnut event, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get into the kitchen and get the deep fryer out!
I am a huge doughnut fan. When I was in high school, my parents owned a sporting goods store, and right next door was a Dunkin Donuts. My metabolism was definitely better back then, because donuts were a regular occurrence. There was another donut shop in the town I grew up in called Spudnuts (which unfortunately is gone now) that sold doughnuts made with a potato dough. They were my absolute favorite – especially the ones with cherry frosting. I have never seen another doughnut shop that sells cherry frosted doughnuts. I miss those days!! These days, I don’t get many doughnuts. We do have a Krispy Kreme – and I love those – but my husband doesn’t like them. And supermarket doughnuts just don’t make the cut! So this was a perfect opportunity to test out my doughnut making skills.
I actually had a tasty sounding ricotta doughnut recipe all chosen out, but when I told my husband, he got a really disappointed look on his face. And then he asked me if I could make him some regular, yeast doughnuts. I couldn’t resist him, so my plan was to make a half batch of each. But after this first batch, we had so many doughnuts that I knew we wouldn’t be able to eat them all plus another kind as well! So the ricotta doughnuts will have to wait for another day, which is fine – because I could eat doughnuts every day!
I ended up choosing out a recipe from one of my cookbooks that sounded good. It is a little different from the normal yeast doughnuts, as it is made with buttermilk and there are no eggs in them. I found a double heart cookie cutter in my drawer, and thought it would be the perfect doughnut – a Valentine’s Day doughnut!! Unfortunately, only one of the heart shaped doughnuts turned out. While these doughnuts were delicious (and we both ate way too many of them!), the dough was very difficult to work with. It was really sticky and I had a hard time keeping the shapes. They were some very deformed looking doughnuts!! But I was able to salvage a few of them for pictures luckily. The only change I made to the recipe was that I used lime zest instead of lemon zest. While I’m sure I could have left the zest out completely, I really liked what it added. It was enough flavor for you to notice something was there, but not enough to make the doughnut seem flavored. The glaze I used was an Alton Brown recipe that I found online – and it was perfect!! It tasted just like any doughnut glaze you would find at a bakery.
I have a feeling that this is going to be one of the tastiest round ups in food blogging history – so make sure to check out Helen and Peabody’s blogs on the 15th!
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Glazed Doughnuts
Description
Sometimes plain is the best – especially when it comes to these Glazed Doughnuts! A yeast raised doughnut is covered in the perfect doughnut glaze.
Ingredients
Doughnuts:
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 cup milk, heated to lukewarm
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup buttermilk, heated to lukewarm
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 2 ounces (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon-sized pieces, softened
- Vegetable or peanut oil for frying
Glaze:
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
Doughnuts:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the yeast and 1/2 cup of the lukewarm milk. Let stand for 5 minutes, then stir in 1 tablespoon of the sugar and 1/2 cup of the flour. Cover with plastic wrap and let it stand at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes, until bubbles form.
- Reheat the remaining 1/2 cup milk to lukewarm. Stir in the milk, buttermilk, nutmeg, zest, and remaining 1/2 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar. Place the remaining flour and the salt on top of the sponge. Put the bowl on the stand mixer, and using the paddle attachment, mix on low speed for 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and change to the dough hook. Increase the speed to medium and knead the dough for 5 minutes. The dough should be tacky.
- Turn the speed to medium-low and add the butter, one tablespoon at a time. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Mix for 5 minutes, or until the dough is smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl again and cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise at room temperature until doubled – 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
- When the dough has doubled, turn it out onto a slightly floured surface. Roll into a 10-inch square and wrap with plastic wrap. Place it in the freezer for 20 minutes.
- Take out of the freezer, and using doughnut cutter, cut out the doughnuts. Dip the cutter in flour each time to make cutting easier. Place the doughnuts on a sheet pan covered with parchment paper. Cover with lightly sprayed plastic wrap and let rise for 30 minutes.
- In a deep heavy skillet or deep saucepan fitted with a deep-fry thermometer (or a deep fryer) heat oil to 350F. Cut the parchment that the doughnuts are sitting on into squares, each square holding a doughnut or a doughnut hole. Carefully slide 4 doughnuts off their parchment into the oil. After 30 seconds, turn the doughnuts over, cook for 1 minute, then flip it back over a cook for an additional 30 seconds. Remove from oil and let them drain on paper towels. Once they are cool enough to handle, dip them in the prepared glaze (recipe below). Repeat with the remaining doughnuts and doughnut holes.
Glaze:
- Combine milk and vanilla in a medium saucepan and heat over low heat until warm.
- Sift confectioners’ sugar into milk mixture. Whisk slowly, until well combined.
- Remove the glaze from the heat and set over a bowl of warm water.
- Dip doughnuts into the glaze, 1 at a time, and set on a draining rack placed in a half sheet pan for 5 minutes before serving.
Recipe Notes:
doughnut recipe from Desserts by the Yard
Sue Lowe says
Wow…That takes me down memory lane for sure. I think we grew up in the same town. My father, a German immigrant, was the baker at the Allen’s Super Save Market back in the day. It was located on State and University across from where the Mall is now. His donuts were to die for and I ate way too many. My most favorite donuts after my father retired was the donuts at the SpudNut on Center Street. The crunchy topping of whatever it was that had the taste of cornflakes,coconut and walnuts was to die for.
Have you ever found a recipe that works for Spudnuts? I would love to have you try to make the spudnut with the cherry glaze. I believe they used some of the shake flavoring from Lyons that you can get from Orson Gygi. It has the maraschino cherries chopped up in it. I don’t live in the states right now or I would go get some and give it a try. Do you know of a spudnut shop in our State of Beehives? I will be coming for my daughters wedding in June and that would be awesome to serve those at the breakfast. Thanks for the fabulous site and simply amazing recipes. I am loving them.
Deborah says
I have never tried making spudnuts, but they are definitely on the list of recipes I want to make!! And I’m going to have to look for that shake flavoring next time I’m at Orson Gygi! The only spudnut shop that I’ve come across here was in Logan. I wish they were more common!!
Thomas says
Peanut Oil is a horrible oil to fry doughnuts. Absolutely disgusting.
Spend a few extra pennies an ounce to buy rice bran oil if you insist on a vegetable oil.
You won't have that horrible peanut oil after taste in your mouth for hours.
The best oil for doughnuts is the original frying oils from antiquity — lard and beef tallow.
Not the crap lard sold in supermarkets, get yourself some pork fat/beef fat and low temperature render it. Butchers will often give it to you free, my supermarkets charges 15 cents per pound for nice beef fat trimmings.
I will guarantee you'll be ruined for life — you'll never fry a doughnut in vegetable oil again.
I know, I know, it's like asking you to fry your doughnuts in an agent orange and nuclear waste combination.
Do yourself a favor and read up on the subject.
Animal fats have been condemned by Crisco type manufacturers for over 100 years, it now being proven it was all a big lie. Proctor and Gamble even sold their flagship Crisco product because of litigation over all the heart disease the trans fats caused.
Jim says
The heart shape is really clever… I'm definitely going to have to try these out! Thanks for the post!
Cheryl says
Oh the glaze on them, oh the glaze. I just love the glaze.
Miri says
Those look so adorable, their beautiful glow makes me wanna bite right into one of them!
Cakelaw says
These are really cute donuts, and the glaze really sets them off.
Vineela says
Hi,
Love your glaze on doughnuts.
Vineela
Pixie says
Such cute heart doughuts! yummy
Annina says
They look soo delicious! Do you have this recipe with gramms instead cups?! I think I will try my first doughnuts next week…omg.. delicous!!
Tracy says
Those look yummy! Actually, kind of like heart shaped Krispy Kremes! I think your husband is all wet — KKs are yummy. Actually, I’ve never met a donut I didn’t like…
stacielk says
Love the heart donut, so cute! Even though you had problems with the dough, I’m sure it was all worth it!
Jerri says
wow. those donuts look just like krispy kremes. and i love the heart shapes.
kellypea says
Talk about metabolism. Feh. Me, too. I remember being able to eat all kinds of things without an expanding waistline. Your doughnuts look wonderful! I tried to glaze a few of mine, and they just didn’t look classic like yours. YUM.
Kristen says
Oh my… those looks so good my teeth hurt!
PheMom says
These look great! How did they keep the next day? The Good Eats recipe was good on day one, but they were starting to get kind of stale today – still good though.
eatme_delicious says
Mmm they look delicious! Too bad the dough was sticky and a bit difficult to work with, but I’m sure the doughnuts were delicious whatever shape they turned out!
Dhanggit says
im a donut monster like you too 🙂 i specially love dunkin donut, too bad they dont have one here in france 🙁 your entry looks really lovely..and the heart-shape its very timely..
Patricia Scarpin says
Heart shaped doughnuts?? These are wonderful, Deb!
MyKitchenInHalfCups says
Deborah that is a fantastic doughnut any way you spell it. How smart to do the hearts!
KJ says
I’m in awe. I have only made donuts once and they weren’t that great. Yours look terrific.
Jenny says
Oh man, I’m such a sucker for a warm sweet donut! Yours look beautiful. I’m drooling looking at eveyone’s yummy donuts!
Shandy says
WoW! Absolutely beautiful! That has to be the prettiest heart shaped doughnut I have ever seen and the glossiness is perfect! You did a fantastic job =D
Shandy
Make and Takes says
Love these. I never thought that a donut could be any other shape but round, or roundish.
White On Rice Couple says
Oh how sweet and romantic! My sweetie would love these. Actually, he should make me these! I’m gonna show it to him!
Madam Chow says
I’m really enjoying looking at the doughnuts that everyone has made, and I can hardly wait for the roundup. I’m glad that at least one of them came out heart-shaped, because it looks great!
Mary says
Your donuts look great! I was far too chicken to try yeast donuts. Brava! (and glazed yeast donuts are my favorite!)
Veron says
luv the heart shape doughnuts…it’s so appropriate for the season of love!
sher says
Those are delightful–so much fun to look at. I imagine they taste even better!
Chez Denise et Laudalino says
This is adorable! Happy Valentines to you as well!
Bellini Valli says
I agree wholeheartedly that this will be one of tastiest roundups ever:D
Abby says
He doesn’t like Krispy Kreme? You know, I live in the hometown of KK! I’ve made them homemade a few times, but man it’s easier to drive over to KK – or Dunkin Donuts for lil’ holes – my fave are the chocolate!
The Baker & The Curry Maker says
Oh yum! I had to stay out of this contest as my butt is toooo big from the last time I made them (ie, chocolate stuffed ones). Well done Deb, they look store-worthy!
The Baker & The Curry Maker says
Oh yum! I had to stay out of this contest as my butt is toooo big from the last time I made them (ie, chocolate stuffed ones). Well done Deb, they look store-worthy!
Anj says
We had a Spudnuts where I grew up! Loved those cherry doughnuts too. We have Shipley doughnuts and they make a cherry one, but it is not as good. Love those hearts!
Kevin says
Nice heart shaped doughnut! I like the use of the lemon/lime zest in the doughnuts. The ricotta doughnuts sound pretty interesting.
Brilynn says
You’re absolutely right about this being one of the tastiest round ups, it’s going to be awesome!
April says
Oh, they look wonderful!
Susan from Food Blogga says
I love the glossy sheen on those donuts, Deborah. And heart-shaped to boot? Too fun.
Astra Libris says
Your doughnuts sound and look amazing! The heart doughnut is too perfect! Your addition of lime zest is brillent – I can taste the wonder from all the way over here…
Maryann says
These are just the cutest donuts I’ve seen! Good job and Happy Valentines Day. The girls hostessing this event are going to love these 🙂
Peabody says
So festive and so yummy! I love it.
linda says
Cute doughnut hearts! Pity you didn’t make the ricotta ones, I’m curious about them…
Emiline says
You too! We both made doughnuts!
These look so good. I love the heart shape. I think traditional glazed is the way to go.
My sister wanted me to make custard filled doughnuts, but it seemed like way too much work.
my food affair says
wow what a pretty donut!! they look so delicious too..mmmm -kk
glamah16 says
Love the heart shapes. Im glad your husband pressed for the yeast, but the Ricoota sounded good. I get excited when my guy actually makes a request and supports my food blogging efforts.:-)
slush says
They look adorable, so shiny! YUM!
Elly says
These look delicious, not to mention incredibly cute!
Joy the Baker says
Those look seriously fantastic! Great job!
Katie B. says
Glorious, glossy donuts! I love their heart shape!!