Doughnut or donut?
Donut seems a bit Americanised. Where do all those redundant letters go? There’s a whole ‘ugh’ that gets lost somewhere in our rush to get to the ‘nut. But all bets are off once you add the word hole, so for this recipe ‘Donut Holes’ it is.
My first attempt at making these mini donuts began with frying little balls of pretzel dough. They were very nice, but not quite spherical enough for me, plus they needed to be fluffier in the centre and smaller in the diameter.
These are made from a much softer dough and are of a size altogether more ladylike to stuff in your mouth in one go. Perfectly bite sized.
I remember eating something similar on holiday in Greece once where the chef cooked fresh batches of the little golden ‘loukoumades’ all evening. They served them with syrup and cinnamon. I put on half a stone that holiday. It was great.
As these have yeast in the mix you have to remember that they grow as they prove and cook, so I reckon a ½ tablespoon scoop gives you the requisite size. Don’t be scared by the yeast, or by the frying. If you use instant yeast, and a little pan for frying it’s a joy to watch them brown, then flip themselves over one by one as they puff up and cook.
I love a sugar-coated doughnut, and am even happier if a bit of cinnamon is involved, so I made sure I made a batch of cinnamon-sugar dusted balls.
Then I wanted to try something similar to a ‘Krispy Kreme’ glaze, so I made some with a vanilla glaze, some with chocolate orange and just look at the blood orange ones! Who’d have thought that a few spoonfuls of blood orange juice, and icing would make such a pretty pink ball of doughnut loveliness?
I was concerned about the vast quantity that I made and considered offering some to the neighbours; just a small batch of dough makes around 45 holes. I needn’t have worried. It seems that everyone who walks through the kitchen stuffs one into their mouths as they are passing and there are only a few left. Some even made their way into George’s pack-up.
I can imagine serving a tower of these for a kids party, but they are at their best hot from the pan.
Check out the whole range.
Things{we}make Donut Holes
300g Plain Flour
1 sachet (2 tsp) Instant Yeast
1 pinch of salt
70g melted butter
1 large egg
2 tablespoons (30g) of sugar
120ml warm milk
A small pan of sunflower oil for frying
- Measure the flour into a mixer bowl and stir in the salt and yeast.
- In a jug, warm the milk and stir in the sugar, whisk in the egg.
- Melt the butter and add this to the jug too.
- Gradually add the liquid to the flour whilst mixing.
- Knead for 8-10 mins – preferably in a mixer with a dough hook, it’s a soft, sticky dough.
- Cover with cling film and prove for 1-2 hours.
- Scoop ½ tablespoons (15g) of dough, roll into balls and place on a floured tray.
- Cover with clingfilm and prove for another hour if possible.
- Heat a small pan of sunflower oil – test it by dropping a cube of bread in, it should sizzle and brown in 20-seconds.
- Gently drop in 4-5 balls at a time, they may flip themselves, or flip them with a fork
- Scoop them out once they are a rich golden brown.
- Drain on paper or a rack.
Cinnamon Dusted
Mix a small bowl of sugar with some cinnamon. Roll the hot donut holes in the sugar to coat them, cool on a rack or stuff straight into your donut hole.
Vanilla Glaze
Mix a small bowl of icing sugar with a teaspoon of vanilla paste and a splash of milk. Dip the cooled balls in the glaze and drain on a rack.
Chocolate Orange Glaze
Mix a small bowl of icing sugar with a teaspoon of vanilla paste and a splash of orange juice and some orange zest and a tablespoon of cocoa. Dip the cooled balls in the glaze and drain on a rack.
Blood Orange Glaze
Mix a small bowl of icing sugar with a teaspoon of vanilla paste and some blood orange juice. Dip the cooled balls in the glaze and drain on a rack.
elamb
March 25, 2015
I’d much rather a doughnut [whole] too! Lovely recipes and beautiful photos.
RENÉE
March 25, 2015
would much rather write ‘doughnut’ rather than ‘donut’. Recipe sounds delicious! can’t wait to try it
Deboshree
March 26, 2015
My, my. What pretty pictures! You made my mouth water. 🙂
IshitaUnblogged
March 26, 2015
Delicious doughnuts… and they are so pretty! I would love to taste the blood orange flavoured ones. I missed your posts.
Michelle
March 27, 2015
So fun. And pretty, too.
atkokosplace
March 27, 2015
I’ve never made doughnuts before…you make it seem so simple. I might have to give this a go! Thank you for sharing 🙂
thefolia
March 31, 2015
Cheers to donut holes…can you believe it I just made and ate some before I read this post! We have a donut hole maker or popper maker since my son wanted one for Christmas a couple of years ago…I can’t wait to try your versions. I made mine like I would pancake batter and inserted a thumbnail size of banana in the middle. Happy Feasting!
Stina's Smag
March 31, 2015
Look so pretty! I could eat them all.
tangsiy
April 2, 2015
Wow, never thought doughnuts would so easy to make. Thanks for sharing, they look delicious.
Baking in Fashion
April 8, 2015
NOM NOM NOM! I want a whole box of these 🙂
Deanna
http://www.bakinginfashion.com
thingswemake.co.uk
April 16, 2015
Thanks for the lovely comments everyone! I hope some of you try these, they are fab!
hailhop22
August 8, 2015
Oh my! These look delicious, and I do love me some donuts! Yum! Your photos are gorgeous, too. 🙂
Sabrina Russo
October 21, 2015
Wow! I love these donut holes! The blood orange ones are soo pretty!
winesunder15dollars
December 7, 2015
those doughnut holes look delicious! the chocolate orange one sounds particularly good
Gabby Cox
February 11, 2016
These look so yummy!!