Jam doughnuts

How to make jam doughnuts

Which yeast is best to make doughnuts?

Fast-action dried yeast is a superstrong strain that’s been freeze-dried. When mixed with the warmed milk it rehydrates and activates, feeding on the flour, sugar and milk, and creating carbon dioxide to create light, pillowy doughnuts.

What is enriched dough?

Doughnuts are made from an enriched dough, which is a normal flour dough that has been enriched with milk, eggs, sugar and butter. These provide extra food for the yeast, creating more rise in the dough. The eggs increase elasticity so the structure is stronger and can better hold the carbon dioxide bubbles.

How do you make light doughnuts?

Bread flour contains the gluten protein, which when mixed and kneaded aligns into long links within the dough. This is what provides the structure to capture those gases that are released from the yeast. It’s very important to mix the dough really well in the beginning and not rush it. With the addition of the eggs, sugar, milk and butter you’ll find it is a much stickier dough, but this will become smooth and elastic the more you mix it – and your doughnuts will be all the lighter for it.

Don’t rush the second prove. After knocking back the dough and shaping it, a lot of the lightness will have been knocked out of it. Wait until the balls have doubled in size and look really puffy and aerated – this will ensure the lightest donuts once fried. Don’t worry if the dough balls stick slightly to the baking paper – just ease them off with a palette knife.

How do you add richness to doughnuts?

Adding the butter gradually will help prevent the dough from splitting and getting greasy. The butter will add richness to the dough once baked, as well as a cake-like texture to the crumb.

How do you pipe the jam into doughnuts?

When piping, push the nozzle right into the doughnut, past the middle point – when you squeeze the jam in, the pressure of it filling will push the nozzle back out. It also means you’ll get maximum jam into the donut and a taste of it in every bite.

How do you fry doughnuts?

Fry the doughnuts until they are a deep caramel colour. You may worry they look overcooked, but as they cool the steam on the inside of the donuts will escape and soften them so they’re soft and pillowy but with a deep flavour.

Jam doughnut recipe

You will need a stand mixer for this recipe.