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09/14/2011 National Cream Filled Donut Day Vanilla Cream Filled Doughnuts

Source of Recipe

Franish Nonspeaker


Recipe Introduction

National Cream Filled Donut Day is a sugary, sweet day. Dontcha just love special days like today!? Sure, you were watching your weight. Then, along comes a special day that is just packed with calorie and carbs. And, that special day encourages you to eat one of your favorite breakfast treats.... cream filled donuts. There is not a shortage of food related "special days". We are certainly glad that someone chose to create a day just for cream filled donuts. It truly is a special treat. The most popular cream filled donuts are chocolate cream and vanilla cream. This author's favorite is banana cream. But, they are hard to find. Whatever flavor is your favorite, just make sure the day does not go by, without having one or more cream filled donuts.

List of Ingredients

HOME COOKIN’ 09/14/2011 National Cream Filled Donut Day Vanilla Cream Filled Doughnuts



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Vanilla Cream Filled Doughnuts

Dough

1 package (2 1/2 t) active dry yeast, or 2/3 oz (18 g) fresh cake yeast
2/3 c (160 g) milk, at room temperature
3 ½ cups (490 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/3 c (270 g) sugar
2 t kosher salt
3 eggs
7 T (7/8 stick/100 g) butter, at room temperature, cut into 6 to 8 pieces
Canola oil for frying

Vanilla Cream Filling

6 T (90 grams) heavy cream
1 recipe Pastry Cream, chilled

Pastry Cream

1 ¼ c (300 g) milk
½ c (100 g) sugar
¼ c (30 g) cake flour
½ t kosher salt
4 egg yolks
1 t vanilla extract



Recipe



1. To make the dough, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the yeast and milk. Stir together briefly, then let sit for about 1 minute to dissolve the yeast.

2. Add the flour, 1/3 cup (70 grams) of the sugar, salt, and eggs and mix on low for about a minute, or until the dough comes together. While still on low, mix for another 2 to 3 minutes to develop the dough further. Begin to add the butter a few pieces at a time and continue to mix for 5 to 6 minutes or until the butter is fully incorporated. The dough should be soft and look cohesive.

3. Remove dough from the bowl, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours or overnight.

4. Lightly flour a baking sheet. On a well floured work surface roll out the dough into a 12-inch square approximately 1/2 inch thick. Using a 3 1/2 to 4-inch round biscuit or cookie cutter, cut out 9 doughnuts.

5. Arrange the doughnuts on the prepared baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and place in a warm spot to rise for 2 to 3 hours, until doubled in height. The doughnuts should look poufy and feel pillowy.

6. While the dough is rising, make the pastry cream. In a medium sauce pan, scald milk on medium high heat just until bubbles start to form around the edge of the pan. Do not allow the milk to boil.

7. In a small bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks until blended, and then slowly whisk in the flour mixture. The consistency will be thick and pasty.

8. Take the milk off the heat and slowly, a little at a time, pour it into the egg-flour mixture, while whisking constantly. When all of the milk has been incorporated, pour the mixture back into the sauce pan and place it over medium heat. Whisk constantly until the mixture thickens. As you begin to feel the mixture thicken, stopping whisking every few seconds to see if it has come to a boil. As soon as it boils, whisk for another 10 seconds and then remove from heat. Do not let the cream boil for too long or it will become grainy.

9. Pour the cream through a sieve into a small heat proof bowl and stir in vanilla. Press plastic wrap directly on the surface of the cream to prevent a skin from forming and put in the refrigerator to allow the cream to cool, at least 4 hours and up to 3 days.

10. Once the dough has risen and you are ready to fry the doughnuts, line a tray or baking sheet with paper towels. Pour about 3 inches of oil into a large, heavy bottomed sauce pan and heat on medium high until hot enough that a pinch of flour, when dropped in the oil, sizzles on contact. I recommend using a candy thermometer - the oil should be about 350 degrees Fahrenheit while frying. You may want to allow the oil to heat to 360 degrees before adding the initial batch of doughnuts (as well as in between batches) as the oil temperature will drop slightly when adding the dough.

11. Working in batches, place the doughnuts in the hot oil, being careful not to crowd them. Fry on the first side for 2 to 3 minutes until brown. Then gently flip them and fry for another 2 to 3 minutes until browned. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the doughnuts to the prepared tray and allow to cool for a few minutes before handling.

12. Place the remaining 1 cup (200 grams) sugar in a small bowl. One at a time, toss the warm doughnuts in the sugar to coat evenly. As each doughnut is coated, return to the tray to cool completely for approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

13. Make the vanilla cream filling while the doughnuts are cooling by whipping the heavy cream until it holds stiff peaks and folding it into the pastry cream.

14. When the doughnuts are completely cooled, poke a hole in the side of each. Using a pastry bag fitted with a small round tip, squirt about 1/3 cup filling into each doughnut. Serve immediately.