We are baking doughnuts as part of the “We Knead To Bake” series this month. The first time I even heard about doughnuts were only after coming to the US and I did not care much for them because they were too sweet for me. Don’t look at me like that, I compensate by giving extra love to savory stuff . Since everyone else at home adores doughnuts, I was excited to make the same.There was great demand for these doughnut holes too .

All through the process the little voices at home were asking me when they will be done and when it was finally time to eat, I lost track of how many they ate. They had quite a few requests for frosting, but due to the lack of time I stuck with the cinnamon sugar for the most part. All I know was that it tasted great and it was hard to believe that they were baked. Off to the recipe. Recipe adapted from here.

My Notes
1. I used 2.5 cups of all purpose flour and 1 cup of cake flour.
2. If you do not have a doughnut cutter, use biscuit cutters or anything else on hand. Place the big circle on the parchment lined baking sheet and then cut the small circle out. This helps in retaining the shape.

1 year ago: Brussels Sprouts Paneer Salad
2 years ago: Broccoli and Tofu Bonda (Low Calorie)

PLEASE CLICK ON COLLAGES TO VIEW BIGGER IMAGES.

Pictorial
1. Mix sugar, yeast, salt, vanilla extract and milk in a bowl.2. Add cake flour and 1 cup of all purpose flour to it and mix with a spatula. Add more flour until you obtain a thick dough.3. To the dough add butter 1 tbsp at a time and knead. The dough will start to get sticky. Add flour as needed to get a soft pliable dough. (I used all the remaining flour.)

Turn the dough on a floured surface and knead until the dough no longer sticks to your hands.

Place the dough in a greased bowl and allow to rise. Keep the bowl covered. It took about an hour to rise and double in volume.4. Punch down the dough and roll out to a thickness of 1/2 inch. Cut out doughnuts that are 3 inches in diameter with 1 inch holes using a doughnut cutter or whatever you have on hand. I used biscuit cutters.

Transfer the big circle to the parchment lined or greased baking sheet and then cut the hole out. This helps the doughnuts to retain their shape. Keep the doughnuts covered and allow them to rise until almost double in size. (About 20 - 30 minutes)
5. Place the holes also on a parchment lined or greased baking sheet and allow to rise.6. Meanwhile take powdered sugar and cinnamon in a bowl for the topping.7. Mix and keep aside.8. Doughnuts have risen. Bake in a preheated 400F oven for 5 - 10 minutes until the tops are golden brown. Bake the holes similarly.9. Out of the oven.10. If topping with cinnamon sugar, immediately brush the doughnuts with butter and dip them in cinnamon sugar.11. If using a glaze, take sifted sugar and vanilla in a bowl. Add milk little by little until you have the required consistency for glaze.12. Glaze ready. Dip one side of the doughnuts in glaze and allow to set. Top with sprinkles if needed.13. Coated with glaze and sprinkles.
This is reminding me of a cinnamon roll .
Enjoy!
Linking to Bake Fest #19 hosted by My Home Mantra, Yeastspotting and We Knead to Bake.