Wednesday 27 October 2010

Daring Bakers' Challenge - October 2010


This month's Daring Bakers' Challenge was hosted by Lori of Butter Me Up and the theme was doughnuts! I was a bit intimidated when I read what I had ahead of me, not because it seemed like a very difficult challenge, but because I'm actually quite frightened of deep frying. It is a cooking method that rarely features in my home, which is great for health reasons, but I often find myself skipping across good sweet recipes that require the technique. But that's what being part of the Daring Bakers' Club is all about - challenging yourself, and getting out of your comfort zone.

And I'm so glad I did. It was a little scary, but I did it! I used a small saucepan to fry the doughnuts in the oil, and there was no spitting oil or burning - unexpectedly and pleasantly drama free! I am proud to say I have conquered my fear and now embrace the world of deep frying. Well perhaps not embrace, I do have to think of my health after all...
We had four simple doughnut recipes to choose from, but I decided on the Kate Neumann recipe for Raspberry Jam Bombolini. Bombolini are small, bite-size fried doughnuts usually filled with raspberry conserve. Mmmm... little fluffy doughnut clouds with oozy raspberry interiors. I also made some plain (i.e. without filling) and rolled them in the caster sugar along with a little cinnamon.You can get creative with these too by following the basic recipe and filling them with whatever takes your heart's desire. A little warmed Nutella perhaps? Phwoarrr!


Raspberry Jam Bombolini
Adapted recipe from Kate Neumann

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon lukewarm water
1 1/2 envelopes active dry yeast (3 1/4 teaspoons)
1 1/2 tablespoons honey
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
3 tablespoons milk
6 large egg yolks
1/3 cup caster sugar, plus more for rolling
2 teaspoons sea salt flakes
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3 cups canola/vegetable oil, for frying
3/4 cup seedless raspberry jam, slightly warmed
icing sugar, for dusting (optional)

1. In the bowl of a standing electric mixer, mix the water, yeast, honey and 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of the flour. (Alternatively, whisk the ingredients by hand.) Cover with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature until foamy, about 1 hour.


2. Return the bowl to the mixer, fitted with a dough hook. Add the remaining 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons of flour, along with the milk, egg yolks, 1/3 cup of caster sugar and the salt. Mix at low speed until blended, then add the butter and knead at medium speed until silky but sticky, about 5 minutes; the dough will not pull away from the side of the bowl. Using an oiled spatula, scrape the dough into an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight.

The dough once mixed...


and after resting in the fridge overnight


3. In a large saucepan, heat the oil to 360° (I used a candy thermometer to check on this whilst cooking). Line a rack with paper towels. Fill a shallow bowl with 1/2 inch of caster sugar. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough a scant 1/2 inch thick. Using a 3.5 cm round cutter, stamp out rounds; do not reroll the dough.


4. Fry the rounds a few at a time, until they are browned, about 4 minutes. Be sure to keep the oil between 360° and 375°. Drain the bomboloni on paper towels, then roll them in the granulated sugar. Continue frying and rolling the remaining bomboloni.
5.Fit a pastry bag with a plain donut tip (or a 1/4-inch tip) and fill with the preserves (you can also use a squeeze bottle). Poke the tip three-fourths of the way into the bomboloni and squeeze in the preserves, pulling the tip out slightly as you squeeze to fill them as much as possible. Dust the bomboloni with confectioners' sugar and serve warm.


It's challenges like these that make me really glad to be part of the Daring Bakers' Club. If you've yet to jump on the bandwagon, I urge you to jump aboard! It's a lot of fun and you're sure to learn a thing or two, and even conquer some of you baking fears!


Till next time...

Ladybird x

19 comments:

  1. Yes! I'm so glad someone made the jam bombolini. My aversion to the deep fryer scared me off these, but you've inspired me to give it a go. They look way too good to miss out!

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  2. I only hate you because you live 1000kms away from me. I love you because I'd probably need another heart with all that I would consume... I hope your husband appreciates you!

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  3. They look absolutely delicious! They kinda remind me of a naughtier version of ebelskivers.

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  4. Beautiful job! I love the bitten bombolini picture - it looks somehow like the doughnut is licking its lips!

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  5. These look so good! I've been thinking about making my sister some form of homemade donuts for her birthday that's coming up soon - and you've made it look easy (weelll easIER than I thought :P)

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  6. Yours look fabulous! I too made the bomboloni :)

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  7. oh my goodness - these look like little balls of heaven!

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  8. ohh you brave woman!! you deep fried... they look soooo good!!!

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  9. Bravo! That's just gorgeous - your bombolonis look so authentic. I'd like to try them and fill them with a custard - yum!

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  10. I am so utterly terrified of deep-frying, but these look absolutely brilliant enough to *almost* make me face my fears. I think, though, that I'll instead go swoon over your peanut butter cheesecake again...

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  11. I'm not a huge fan of doughnuts but your peanut butter cheesecake made me really hungry. Time for an early dinner!

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  12. These look so good!! I've only fried something once, and like you, I did it in a small saucepan and it was completely drama free! =) Will we be seeing more fried goodies on this blog soon??

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  13. Now your talking..., these look amazing. I really should know better than to read my fave bloggers posts a bit hungry shouldn't it. Now, all I can think of is a doughnut & yours are filled with jam. Must have.

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  14. Well, these bombolini are looking gorgeous! They are worth overcoming the fear of deep-frying, I would say! :-)

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  15. Congratulations on overcoming your fear! I am pretty terrified of deep frying, but now you inspiring me to try it one of these days.

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  16. Yum!! Wish I had tried these ones...think I'll just have to :)

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  17. They look delicious Anna! My mum used to make similar doughnuts once a year for a Spring festival. I was always looking forward to them!

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  18. This looks fabulous! So wanna try them now :)

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  19. Yum these look delicious - I missed last months due to a number of reasons but I wish I hadn't. Wonder if all the great bakers making their own donuts had anything to do with the Krispy Kreme situation....

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