Recipe:
For the topping, make a simple sugar glaze:
SUGAR GLAZE:
[ 1/2 to 3/4 cups icing sugar + 1 tablespoons water + splash of vanilla extract ]
Mix all ingredients together until smooth.
Dip the tops of the doughnuts into the glaze and set down on a baking sheet, glaze side up.
Place a half teaspoon of sugar over the top of each doughnut. Using a kitchen torch, torch the top of the doughnut and melt the sugar until caramelized (about three minutes). Enjoy doughnuts immediately.
YEAST-RAISED DOUGHNUTS (yields 24 doughnuts, I made half the recipe):
[ 3/4 cup scalded milk + 1/3 cup granulated sugar + 1/4 teaspoon salt + 1 (.25 ounce) envelope active dry yeast + 1/4 cup warm water + 4 cups sifted all-purpose flour + 1/3 cup butter or margarine + 2 eggs, beaten ] OPTIONAL: 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water and leave to sit for 5 minutes.
- In another bowl, pour the milk over the butter. The heat of the scalded milk should be hot enough to melt the butter.
- Pour the yeast mixture into the large bowl of a stand mixer and add the milk-butter mixture, first making sure the milk-butter mixture has cooled to lukewarm. Add the eggs, sugar and salt, nutmeg (if using) and half of the flour.
- Using the paddle attachment, combine the ingredients on low speed until flour is incorporated and then turn the speed up to medium and beat until well combined.
- Add the remaining flour, combining on low speed at first, and then increase the speed to medium and beat well.
- Change to the dough hook attachment of the mixer and beat on medium speed until the dough pulls away from the bowl and becomes smooth, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
- Transfer to a well-oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
While you wait, make the custard filling:
VANILLA CUSTARD FILLING:
[ 2 1/2 cups of milk + 3 eggs + 6 tablespoon of sugar + 4 tablespoon of cornflour + 6 drops of vanilla extract + 1/2 teaspoon salt ]
- Put 2 cups of milk in a saucepan and heat until just boiling.
- Beat the eggs and sugar in a mixing bowl and add the salt and vanilla essence.
- Dissolve the cornflour in the 1/2 cup of milk and mix this into the egg mixture. Whisk until combined.
- Slowly add the hot milk into the egg-milk-cornflour mixture while whisking.
- Return to the saucepan and cook over low heat until the mixture turns thick. Make sure to keep whisking so that the custard wont turn lumpy.
- Put in a bowl and cover the surface with cling film and chill in the fridge until it is firm.
ASSEMBLY:
- Knock the dough back then split into 10-12 equal sized balls.
- Flatten out each ball until it is a disk approximately 9cm in diameter.
- Place 1 teaspoon of custard in the centre then fold over the edges of the dough to encase the custard. Use a small amount of water to help seal the dough.
- Place well spaced on a lined baking tray. Cover and allow to rise again for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oil in a dutch oven to 365 degrees F. Gently place the doughnuts into the oil, 3 to 4 at a time. Cook for 1 minute per side. Transfer to a cooling rack placed in baking pan. .
For the topping, make a simple sugar glaze:
SUGAR GLAZE:
[ 1/2 to 3/4 cups icing sugar + 1 tablespoons water + splash of vanilla extract ]
Mix all ingredients together until smooth.
Dip the tops of the doughnuts into the glaze and set down on a baking sheet, glaze side up.
Place a half teaspoon of sugar over the top of each doughnut. Using a kitchen torch, torch the top of the doughnut until caramelized and brown (about 3 minutes). Enjoy doughnuts immediately.