Tag: fried donuts

Blueberry Donut Holes with Homemade Blueberry Sugar

Posted on by Mari Vasseur
Blueberry Donut Holes with Homemade Blueberry Sugar

If you landed here from one of my social media accounts, welcome! I’m really glad you’re here. I love to create fun, pretty and sweet treats like these delicious blueberry donut holes! The thing that really makes these special is the homemade blueberry sugar, which adds a burst of blueberry flavor. Freeze dried blueberries are combined with sugar to create a beautiful, flavorful sugar that you can use for many other things. It can also be used in tea, lattes, lemonade, cocktails or sprinkled on cookies or scones. Keep in mind that freeze dried blueberries are not the same as dried blueberries. Dried blueberries still contain some moisture, so they won’t work for this purpose.

The donut hole batter comes together quickly and easily. The most challenging part for me is frying them. I found that using a thermometer and testing one donut hole first, helps you determine the perfect oil temperature. Using a small portion scoop helps you get uniform donut holes. Make sure the outside of the scoop is clean between each donut to help them keep the round shape and avoid pointy tails.

Blueberry Donut Holes with Homemade Blueberry Sugar

Print Recipe
Course Breakfast, Dessert
Servings 24 donut holes

Ingredients
  

Blueberry Sugar

  • ¾ cup (3/4 oz or 21g)) freeze-dried blueberries*
  • ½ cup (3 1/2 oz or 100g) granulated sugar

Blueberry Donut Holes

  • 2 cups (9 oz or 255g) all purpose flour, sifted
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ½ cup (3 1/2 oz or 100g) granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons (1 oz or 28g)) unsalted butter, melted
  • ½ cup (4 oz or 118ml) whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 ¼ cups chopped fresh blueberries
  • oil for frying
  • ½ cup (3 1/2 oz or 100g) blueberry sugar

Instructions
 

Blueberry Sugar

  • Process freeze dried blueberries and sugar in a food processor or a clean spice grinder until finely ground. Be careful not to over process or you may end up with powdered sugar.

Blueberry Donut Holes

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, nutmeg and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, beat sugar, eggs, melted butter, milk and vanilla extract until well combined.
  • Add flour mixture and mix just until combined. Do not over mix. A few lumps are okay.
  • Fold in chopped blueberries.
  • In a heavy saucepan, heat 1 1/2 inches of oil to 340ºF.
  • Drop tablespoon size portions of batter into hot oil. I used a #60 portion scoop.** Don't overcrowd the pan.
  • Cook donut holes until golden brown on all sides, about 2-4 minutes, flipping halfway through. If donut holes cook too quickly on the outside, turn heat down.
  • Briefly drain donut holes on paper towels, then toss warm donut holes in blueberry sugar. Serve immediately.

Notes

Success tips: Use a small ice cream scoop sprayed with nonstick spray to drop donut holes into oil. Make sure the outside of scoop is clean between each donut hole to keep the round shape and avoid tails on your donut holes.
*To find freeze dried blueberries, click here.
**To find the portion scoop I used, click here.

Orange Vanilla Bean Donut Holes

Posted on by Mari Vasseur
Orange Vanilla Bean Donut Holes

During citrus season, in the heart of winter, my backyard orange tree is brimming over with fresh oranges. So I love bringing some fresh-picked sunshine to my family with these fluffy Orange Vanilla Bean Donut Holes from my childhood. When I was a child, my parents used to love taking our family to a smorgasbord. The owner would always come out from the kitchen and say hello to my parents. He made delicious fried donut holes that my brother and I looked forward to at the end of our meal. At home we duplicated the donut holes using a recipe from an old cookbook. Unfortunately the cookbook is lost, but this recipe is pretty close to the original. Tossing the little donuts in vanilla sugar makes them even more fragrant and delicious. The vanilla sugar can be used immediately, but for the best flavor, make it in advance.

The original recipe had vanilla and nutmeg in it, which are classic cake donut flavors. The addition of fresh orange zest and juice makes them vibrant and flavorful. I love making different flavors of these donut holes. To view Blueberry Donut Holes, click here.

 

Orange Vanilla Bean Donut Holes

by Mari Vasseur
Orange & vanilla donut holes, fluffy & fragrant on the inside, crisp & sugary on the outside
Print Recipe
Course Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
Servings 24 donut holes

Ingredients
  

Donut Holes

  • 2 cups (255g) all purpose flour, sifted
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup (100g) sugar
  • Zest of 1 large orange
  • 2 tablespoons (28g) melted butter
  • ½ cup (118ml) orange juice
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla bean paste
  • ½ cup (100g) vanilla sugar Recipe below
  • Oil for frying

Vanilla Sugar

  • ½ split vanilla bean
  • ½ cup (100g) sugar

Instructions
 

Donut Holes

  • In a large, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt until well blended.
  • In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, orange zest, melted butter, orange juice and vanilla bean paste until creamy and well combined. Add this mixture to the flour mixture and mix just until combined. Do not over mix. A few small lumps are okay.
  • In a heavy saucepan, heat 1 1/2 inches of oil to 340ºF (170ºC). Place the vanilla sugar in a medium-sized bowl.
  • Drop tablespoon-sized portions of batter into the hot oil. (I used a #60 portion scoop**) Don't over crowd the pan.
  • Fry the donut holes until golden brown on all sides, about 2-4 minutes, flipping halfway through. If the donut holes cook too quickly on the outside, turn heat down a bit.
  • Briefly drain the donut holes on paper towels, then toss them in vanilla sugar. Serve warm.

Vanilla Sugar

  • With the dull side of a knife, scrape the seeds out of the vanilla bean.
  • In a small bowl, whisk the vanilla seeds together with sugar, breaking up any clumps. Use immediately or make in advance and let the flavor develop 1-2 weeks in a covered container.

Notes

**To find vanilla beans, click here.
*To find the scoop I used, click here.
 
Keyword donuts, orange vanilla