Cinnamon Sugar Donuts - Doughnuts - Raised Donuts - Step by Step Recipe - Donuts using KitchenAid Stand Mixer

Donuts or Doughnuts are basically Fried and Sweetened Bread or Cake enjoyed usually for Breakfast. It is made quite popular in US by chains like Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme. It is made of flour, sugar, egg, butter and milk mixed together to form a dough. The other important ingredient is the rising agent. The Raised Donuts are made with Yeast as the raising agent giving it a bread like texture. Cake Donuts are made with Baking Soda as the raising agent giving it a cake like texture. 



Today I have made a Raised Donut. I will post the recipe for Cake Donut some other time. I have simply coated the finished donut with Granulated Sugar and Cinnamon. You can also coat with Glazed Sugar, Chocolate, Sprinkles, Stawberry Glaze, Vanilla Galze. The options are endless.

I have followed the recipe from Joy of Baking (Video Recipe). It is am amazing resource and I am surprised how I never knew about it before.



Today I also present to you the first recipe I made with my KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer.. Yes, I am the proud owner!! An Advance Birthday gift from my husband!!!

Ingredients

All Purpose Flour 21/4 cup (295gm)

Active Dry Yeast 11/2 tsp

Butter at room temperature 3 tbsp (40gm)

Granulated White Sugar 3tbsp (35gm)

Salt 1/4 tsp

Warm Milk 1/2 cup (120ml)

Large Egg 1 beaten

For Topping

Sugar 1/2 cup (100gm)

Cinnamon 1/2 tsp (more for a stronger taste. this was very mild)

Method of Preparation

1. In a large bowl whisk together 2 1/4 cups (295 grams) flour and the yeast. (If using a Stand Mixer, add the flour and yeast and using a flat beater mix for minute.)

2. Add the butter and rub the butter into the flour mixture until you have coarse crumbs. 



3. Stir in the sugar and salt.

4. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the lukewarm milk and lightly beaten egg and stir until you have a ball of dough. Add more flour, a tablespoon at a time, if necessary.



5. Then transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead until the dough is no longer sticky and is smooth and elastic (about five minutes). If using a Stand Mixer, switch the flat beater to a dough hook and continue kneading till you have a smooth elastic dough.



6. Shape the dough into a ball and place in a large lightly greased bowl, turning once. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled (approximately 1 1/2 - 2 hours).

7. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface, and gently punch the dough to release the air. 

8. With a lightly floured rolling pin,roll the dough to a thickness of about 1/2 inch (1 cm). 



9. Cut the dough into about 2 1/2 - 3 inch (6-7 cm) circles, using a lightly floured doughnut cutter or cookie cutter (will need a smaller cookie cutter to cut out the center "hole"). 

10. Place the doughnuts on a lightly floured baking sheet, lined with parchment or wax paper. 

11. Gather up the scraps, roll, and cut out remaining doughnuts. You can keep the donut holes to fry separately, if you like. Loosely cover the doughnuts with plastic wrap (lightly butter or spray the plastic wrap with a non stick vegetable spray so the doughnuts won't stick) and let rise in a warm place until almost doubled (about 30-60 minutes).



12. Heat oil in a pan. The original recipe mentions 190C (375F). I do not have a Thermometer. So I just went by instincts!

13. Carefully place the doughnuts into the hot oil, about 2 to 3 at a time (do not over crowd). 

14. Fry each side until golden brown, about 45-60 seconds per side. The doughnut holes will only take about 30 seconds per side. Carefully remove the doughnuts from the hot fat with the end of a wooden spoon, tongs, slotted spoon, bamboo chopstick, or Chinese skimmer. 

15. Place on a baking sheet lined with clean paper towels. After a minute, roll the doughnuts in the sugar and cinnamon mix. These doughnuts are best freshly made.

I made about 12 - 3 inch doughnuts and 12 doughnut holes with the above recipe.