Donuts OR Doughnuts

A doughnut or donut (the latter spelling is often seen in American English and Canadian English) (IPA: /doʊnət/) is a type of fried dough confection or dessert food. Is it even possible to define what makes good doughnuts given all the varieties and flavor preferences out there? There are glazed people and raised doughnuts people. But besides all of that, I think truly great doughnuts will have a few all-encompassing traits.

First, it should have a sweet aroma and nice, yeasty flavor — with or without the frosting. It shouldn’t rely on frosting or glaze to make or break it.

These donuts bring smiles :) Very tasty! My kids told me, "Mama, these are the best'. You're the best cook in the whole wide world!" After a comment like that, I will make it again and again.

The two most common types are the ring doughnut and the filled doughnut(which is injected with fruit preserves, cream, custard, or other sweet fillings). A small spherical piece of dough that you get when you shape the dough into a ring, maybe cooked as a doughnut hole.

Once doughnuts have been fried, they may be glazed with a sugar icing, spread with icing or chocolate, or topped with powdered sugar or sprinkles or fruit.

I have made donuts using this recipe so many times, that I can practically sleep make them. Give it a try!!

You will need...

2 1/2cups + more( for rolling) All Purpose Flour / Maida/ bread flour

1/2 tsp Salt 4 TBSP Milk Powder  1 cup + 1/4 cup Warm Milk *(some flours need a little more milk) 8 TBSP powdered Sugar 50 gms Soft Unsalted Butter

2 tsp Active Dry Yeast

1 TBSP Sugar

1 tsp Vanilla Essence Oil/ Ghee for deep frying

For Toppings/ Filling Variations:

Custard

Whipped cream filling

Fruit preserve

For Toppings Variations:

Chocolate Galanche

Desiccated Coconut

Chopped Almonds

Coloured Sprinkles

Silver Balls

Method:

Take 1 cup warm milk, 1 TBSP sugar in a bowl, add yeast and let it activate for 5 mins till it gets frothy.

Add in vanilla and mix well.

Take flour, milk powder, powdered sugar, salt in a bowl. Now add in the yeast milk mixture and use a spoon to mix the whole thing. Now add the additional 1/4 cup of warm milk, a little at a time to make a sticky dough. You might not need the entire 1/4 cup, so when you reach a sticky consistency don't add any more milk.

Now add in soft butter(not melted) and mix that well.

Cover with a damp towel and let it rise for an hour or till it is doubled in size.

Punch the air down and add flour to your work surface and knead to a soft dough.

Now roll this dough to a 1/2" thick sheet and cut into a donut shape.

 Arrange the shaped donuts on the butter paper and let them rise for 30 mins.

Heat the Ghee for frying. Check the temperature by putting in a little piece of dough, if the dough springs up immediately, the ghee is ready. Fry the donuts till golden on both sides.

Drain onto a paper towel and set aside. You can now fill the donuts with custard/ fruit preserve/ whipped cream or simply dip the donuts in glaze and top it with your fav toppings.

Say a little prayer and enjoy!