Doughnuts/Donuts

Ingredients:

• 4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup (2 fluid ounces) lukewarm water
• 1 cup (8 fluid ounces) lukewarm milk
• 3 tablespoons caster (superfine) sugar
• 100 g (3 1/2 ounces) butter, melted
• 4 1/4 cups plain (all-purpose) flour
• 3 eggs
• vegetable oil for deep-frying

Method:

1. Place the yeast, water, milk and 1 tablespoon of the sugar in a bowl and set aside for 10 minutes. The mixture will start to foam, indicating that the yeast is active.
2. Add the butter, flour, eggs and remaining sugar to the yeast mixture and mix with a butter knife until a sticky dough forms.
3. Bring the dough together by kneading on a lightly floured surface.
4. Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover with a tea towel and set aside in a warm place for 45 minutes or until doubled in size.
5. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 5 minutes or until it feels smooth and elastic when pressed.
6. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface until 1 cm (1 1/2 inches) thick. Cut 8 cm (3 1/4 inch) rounds with a cutter.  Cut a 3.5 cm (1 1/4 inch) hole in the middle of the rounds.*
7. Place on a tray lined with non-stick baking paper, cover with a tea towel and set aside in a warm place for 30 minutes or until risen.
8. Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat.  Cook the doughnuts a few at a time for 1 minute each side or until golden.
9. Drain briefly on paper towels.

Chocolate Doughnut/Donut Glaze

(from The Food Network, Good Eats – Alton Brown)

• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup whole milk, warmed
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Method:

1. Using a fine-mesh sieve, sift icing sugar into a small bowl; set aside.
2. Combine butter, milk, corn syrup, and vanilla in a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat until butter is melted.
3. Decrease the heat to low, add the chocolate, and whisk until melted.
4. Turn off heat, add the confectioners’ sugar, and whisk until smooth.

Assembling Chocolate Glazed Doughnuts/Donuts

Place the chocolate glaze over a bowl of warm water.

Dip the doughnuts immediately.

Place on wire racks to cool completely and to allow the glaze to set for 30 minutes before serving.

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