JAM DOUGHNUTS

Making doughnuts at home is double rewarding I can promise you that. Not only do they taste much better than the commercial variety, you are guaranteed of a freshly made batch every time! I have ever bought doughnuts from a large supermarket and I regretted wasting my money. The doughnut was not only dry but it tasted stale! And the way I had been craving a doughnut, and what made me buy was how fluffy it looked yet it was awful to say the least. Anyway, moving on from bad doughnut memories. This is my third recipe as I have done plain eggless doughnuts and peanut glazed ones, amazing! I still look forward to making even more. Homemade doughnuts give you a wonderful aroma that invades the house in such a beautiful way you won't want to have doughnuts in any other way! I love how yeast smells especially when the dough is rising, almost intoxicating! Fresh yeast can be frozen. Wrap small pieces in cling film, then pack in a polythene bag and store up to 6 months. Leave yeast dough to rise in a warm place. If you don't have a warm place or its one of those cold seasons like it still is right now, you can warm the grill compartment of the cooker but make sure that it is not too hot or the dough will dry out on top and begin to cook instead of rise. These jam doughnuts are incredibly delicious, fluffy and have a lovely surprise on the inside! Perfect for comfort food.

INGREDIENTS

450g All Purpose Flour
Pinch salt
50g Butter
15g Instant Active Yeast
50g Sugar
300 ml Warm Milk
2 Eggs
2-3 Tablespoon Jam
Oil for Deep Frying

METHOD

Heat milk and butter until it melts, let cool a few minutes 

In a bowl sift flour, salt and add Yeast and sugar. Whisk to combine well 

Add beaten eggs

Pour in the milk and butter mixture

Use a spoon to mix and start forming a dough

Mix the dough and once it has come together, use your hands to knead into a soft but pliable dough

Oil the dough plus the bowl and cover with damp kitchen cloth then place in a warm place to rise for 1 hour

After one hour the dough will have doubled in size

Punch down the dough to let air out

Divide the dough into 16 pieces

Shape the dough pieces into round balls

Repeat for all the other pieces making the round balls

Place a small teaspoon of jam in the center of the round ball

Draw up the edges to form a ball, pinching the dough together to seal

Repeat the process for all the round balls

Take the dough in your hand and smoothen the ball so that it is round

Finish with all the balls, stuffing with jam and rolling into perfectly rounded balls. Cover with tea towel and leave in a warm place to prove for 20-30 minutes  

Heat oil in deep bottomed pan with oil. Once hot enough add a few of the doughnuts in the hot oil

Immediately they float to the top turn them as they continue to fry

Allow the first side to cook until starting to turn golden brown

Use a metal or wooden spatula to flip the doughnuts to give the second side a chance to turn golden brown

Flip the doughnuts a few seconds more then remove, place on a kitchen absorbent paper, cover to keep warm as you finish the rest 

Once done, sprinkle generously with icing sugar

Serve with black or white tea, coffee or even juice

Better still you can bite into these fluffy soft jam doughnuts as a quick snack for the day

JAM DOUGHNUTS

Recipe by Mulunga Alukwe

Prep time: 1hr 30mins
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 1hr 50mins
Yield: 16 doughnuts
Ingredients

• 450g All Purpose Flour
• Pinch Salt
• 50g Butter
• 15g Instant Active Yeast
• 50g Sugar
• 300ml Warm Milk
• 2 Eggs
• 3 Tablespoons Jam
• 3 Cups Vegetable Oil

Cooking Directions

1. Heat milk and butter until it melts, let cool a few minutes
2. In a bowl sift flour, salt and add Yeast and sugar. Whisk to combine well, add beaten eggs, pour in the milk butter mixture
3. Mix the dough and once it has come together, use your hands to knead into a soft but pliable dough
4. Oil the dough plus the bowl and cover with damp kitchen cloth then place in a warm place to rise for 1 hour
5. Divide the dough into 16 pieces. Shape the dough pieces into round balls. Place a small teaspoon of jam in the center of the round ball. Draw up the edges to form a ball, pinching the dough together to seal
6. Finish with all the balls, stuffing with jam and rolling into perfectly rounded balls. Cover with tea towel and leave in a warm place to prove for 20-30 minutes
7. Heat oil in deep bottomed pan with oil. Once hot enough add a few of the doughnuts in the hot oil. Use a metal or wooden spatula to flip the doughnuts to give the second side a chance to turn golden brown
8. Sprinkle generously with icing sugar