The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Jelly and other Doughnuts

Marni's picture
Marni

Jelly and other Doughnuts

I'd like to try making Jelly and other doughnuts.  They are traditional at Hanukkah time.  I've never made any type of doughnut and don't fry foods ever, so any advice and ideas would be welcome.  I have a couple recipes, but thought some expert bakers here might have a tried and true recommendation.  Thanks!

Marni

Mini Oven's picture
Mini Oven

from the 11 of Nov (St. Martin's Day) until the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday (or the start of Lent)  ...in other words    IT'S CARNIVAL FOOD!!!!

How many do you want to make?   I've got recipes from just 10 to more.  Filled before frying or after.

...That reminds me...I got a whole plate of apricot and vianilla pudding filled donuts on the porch....   see ya...

Mini

Marni's picture
Marni

I'm sure to need more than ten, at least a couple dozen.  Which is easier, filling before or after?  I have some lemon curd here - I could probably use that. 

Thanks,

Marni

ema2two's picture
ema2two

I tried cake donuts last year, baked in the oven, for the first time.  They were mediocre.  I'd like to try fried donuts this year.  I'll want a small recipe for the family (and to test my abilities) and I'd either double it, or try a larger recipe for my sister-in-law's chanukah party for the extended family and friends.

Please share some of your recipes!

Mini Oven's picture
Mini Oven

These are straight recipes.  Glory to the detail!   Basically mix up the dry (crumbling in the butter and cake yeast) and add the mixed up wet.  Let rest 20-30 min.  Knead to a smooth uniform dough (the baby behind thing) and let bulk rise.  Inflate, roll out.  Now the thicknes depends on if they are filled before or after baking in hot oil. 

For the filled, roll to about 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick  (1 cm)  and cut out with a floured drinking glass (or tin can or anything that will do) cutting two circles for each krapfen.  Place a glob of jelly (there is only one kind in my book; apricot) into the center and carefully cover with another circle.  Then find another drinking glass slightly smaller than the one just used and weld the dough circles together by pressing all the way through both of them cutting a very thin dough ring as scrap -- left overs to join the scrap pile for the last irregular donut.  Let rise on a floured cloth and cover.  After they have risen, they will go into the hot oil tops down.  Very important - tops down.  When browned, flip over to brown other side.   The hot fat does not have to be deep, maybe an inch, because they are all swimming and it looks good to have a nice white band going around the jelly donut.    I have no temperatures listed but it should not be too hot  and also no details so checking with other recipes will certainly prove useful.  Remove with a slotted spoon and let rest on paper towel.  Let cool on a rack.  Dust with pwd sugar (snow) and serve.

For the not filled try rolling out thicker just enough to cut out the right number of donuts.  Heck make them square if you want!  Forget the drinking glass search and look for a pastry tube.  One with a long narrow end.

Makes 16:

  • 500g flour
  • 30g sugar
  • yeast (one cube or 2 teaspoons dry instant)
  • 50 g butter
  • lemon extract
  • 1/4 tsp salt  (optional)
  • 5 egg yolks
  • 125ml  mixture of light cream, milk
  • 2 Tablespoon rum
  • apricot jam
  • oil
  • paper towels
  • powdered sugar

 

Makes 10:

  • 350g flour
  • 40g soft butter or Margerine
  • 1/2 cub fresh yeast  (or 1 1/2 teaspoon dry instant)
  • 4 Tablespoons sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 125ml milk
  • 2 egg yolks
  • apricot jam
  • oil
  • papertowels
  • powdered sugar

 

If they are filled after frying they tend to get more filling, also put pudding in after they are cooled or it will just run out again.  Use a pastry tube to fill.   I like to put home made snow flakes on top of the donuts before dusting with powdered sugar to mark the jelly ones from the vanilla ones.   Have Fun!  (Also check under Faschingskrapfen in searching for recipes!  lots there!)

Mini

pmccool's picture
pmccool

My favorite filling is cherry jam.  My mom would fry them first, then fill them, then drizzle a thin glaze over them.  Hoo, boy!  Instead of jelly doughnuts, we knew them as bismarks or ponskis (ponczkis?).

 

Paul

PaddyL's picture
PaddyL

My mouth waters at the thought of jelly doughnuts.  When I make them, I fill them before frying; cut out your circle of dough, dab on a bit of jelly or jam, top with another round, then cut down with another, smaller cutter, sealing the edges firmly.  We had an order for these some years ago, and wound up making so many, we lost count; the house smelled of cooking oil for weeks afterward and I wouldn't go near a doughnut for ages.  But oh my, they are good, all sugary on the outside, light as feathers on the inside, with that lovely pocket of jam.  Yum!

Marni's picture
Marni

Thansk you Mini for the recipes!  I want to go try them right now, but will need to wait until next week.  What happens if I forget to put then in tops down?  Just wondering.

PaddyL, thanks for the tips and enthusiasm!  I'm not a big doughnut eater, but my family loves them.  You make it sound fun.

Marni

Mini Oven's picture
Mini Oven

One side will be bigger than the other. 

Oh, and the oil can be one finger thick deep.  A fry pan works good, just keep the little ones away from the stove. :)

You're Welcome,  Mini

 

nbicomputers's picture
nbicomputers

actualy  the more oil the better because the more oil the less of a temp drop when you fry

the colder the oil the more the dough will absorbe making a greesy product.  the friers i used held 100 pounds of shortening.  oh by the way use shortening not oil a fat that gets solid when cold will make the doughnuts mush less greasy and can be reused many times.

proth5's picture
proth5

I understand the reasoning behind shortening as a frying medium, but with all the concern about trans fats, do you have any expereince with the newer trans fat free shortenings?

How about leaf lard?  I tend to have a lot of that on hand this time of year and hear tell it is great for deep frying...

Also, how many times would you re-use shortening/lard?  I'm told only 3 or 4 times with oil as it degrades...

Happy as always to get your insight...

nbicomputers's picture
nbicomputers

even though there are trans fats in the shortening if the frying temp is right there is very litttle absorbedion so it realy is not to much of a problem unless your going to eat a dozen or 2 a day. only about 1 ounce till be absorbed in 12 dozen or or so

but the new trans fat free shortenings work very well remember they are trans fat free NOT FAT FREE

if you clean the fat by running it through a cheese cloth or other filter using it every day it should last about 24 to 28 days

but since you will not be using it every day cleaned and filtered and place in the fridg between uses you should get about 14 or more fries out of it.

the only thing wrong with lard whatever the type is that it has a taste that will be transfered to the food.  if you like that it is great for frying

shortening has no flavor but will slowly pick up the taste of what is cooked in it but that would take using it 8 or 9 times for the same thing and if your only using it for doughnuts or french crulers it makes no diference

proth5's picture
proth5

Good insight and thanks for the tips.

The leaf lard I have is a very clean tasting lard.  I use it in several old family recipes and do enjoy the savory note it gives to cookies and pies.  I'm going to have to try it for deep frying...

Marni's picture
Marni

I've never heard of leaf lard.  What is it?

Marni

Marni's picture
Marni

I found this recipe today. 

www.cookeatsharecom/recipes/sourdough-donuts-or-maple-bars-5218

 It looks interesting to me, I might try it next week. 

Marni

 

Mini Oven's picture
Mini Oven

when the new year's rung in and carnival is swinging... ball season!