As any resident can tell you, a good day in the Crescent City starts with  hot beignets and strong coffee, even if you do have to brush a whole lot of  powdered sugar off your shirtfront afterwards. And while a plain, freshly made beignet is perfection in itself, many pastry chefs are now gilding the lily, dressing up their beignets recipe and calling them dessert.

Makes 12 beignets

Ingredients
1 package active dry yeast
2 tablespoons warm water
4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup whole milk
4 tablespoons butter
1 egg, beaten
Vegetable oil for frying
Powdered sugar for serving

Directions
1. In a small bowl, sprinkle yeast over warm water. Set aside for 5 minutes, then stir briefly to dissolve the yeast.

2. Sift flour, sugar, and salt into a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment.

3. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, heat milk and butter until butter melts and milk is just beginning to steam. Pour hot milk mixture into flour and beat briskly. If using stand mixer, beat on medium-low speed until just mixed. Add beaten egg and yeast mixture and beat vigorously until smooth.

4. In a cast-iron Dutch oven or other heavy,  deep pot over medium-high heat, heat two to three inches of oil to 365°F. Line a baking sheet with a grid rack or two layers of paper towels.

5. While oil is heating, lightly flour a counter or work surface. Sprinkle flour over a baking sheet. Pat dough out into a 1/2-inch thick rectangle. Using a sharp knife, cut rectangle into 12 squares, each approximately 2 inches square. Arrange squares on floured baking sheet.

6. Using a slotted spoon or skimmer, drop beignets into oil, frying in batches to avoid crowding the pan. Fry for 1 minute, then flip to brown other side. Using a slotted spoon, skimmer, or tongs, remove beignets from oil. Let drain on rack or paper towels. Repeat with remaining beignets.

7. Sift powdered sugar over beignets and serve warm.

Need something a little lighter? Try a fauxnut recipe instead.

This recipes courtesy of  World of Doughnuts (Egg & Dart Press, June 2013)

The post Crescent City Beignets Recipe appeared first on EcoSalon.

Inspired by strawberry shortcake, this summertime treat, yeasted doughnuts are split open and filled with sweetened fresh strawberries and freshly whipped cream. Give this homemade strawberry and cream doughnuts recipe a try.

Makes 16 doughnuts

Strawberry and Cream Doughnuts Recipe

Ingredients

Dough for Yeast–Raised Doughnuts made through the first rise (see below)
1 pint Driscoll’s Organic strawberries (or fresh from your favorite farmer’s market), hulled and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons granulated sugar, plus 1 teaspoon
1 cup heavy cream
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Powdered sugar for dusting

 Directions

1. Gently punch the dough down. Lightly flour a work surface and a baking sheet. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a ½-inch-thick round. Using a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter dipped in flour, cut out rounds of dough, dipping the cutter in flour before each cut to prevent sticking.

2. Transfer the doughnuts to a lightly floured baking sheet, cover with a dry clean kitchen towel, and let rise in a warm place for 45 minutes.

3. Heat the oil in a cast-iron Dutch oven or skillet over medium-high heat to 375°F on a candy or deep-fat thermometer.

Place a grid-patterned wire rack on a baking sheet or line the pan with two layers of paper towels.

4. Using a slotted spoon or a skimmer, drop the doughnuts into the hot oil in batches, being careful not to crowd the pan. Fry for 1 to 2 minutes, then flip and fry for another 1 to 2 minutes, or until the doughnuts are puffed, golden brown, and cooked through. Break open a “test doughnut” from the first batch to make sure the doughnuts are cooking correctly; adjust the heat level of the oil as needed.

5. Using a slotted spoon or a skimmer, transfer the doughnuts to the wire rack or paper towels to drain. Let cool.

6. In a medium bowl, toss the strawberries with the 2 tablespoons sugar and let stand for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. until the sugar is dissolved.

7. In a deep medium bowl, using a whisk or a hand-held electric mixer, beat the cream until thickened. Add the 1 teaspoon sugar and the vanilla extract and continue beating until soft peaks form. Spoon into a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch star tip.

8. Slice each doughnut horizontally, cutting about three-quarters of the way through. Gently pry open the doughnut and tuck in a layer of strawberries. Pipe in a thick ribbon of whipped cream. Repeat with the remaining doughnuts.

Dust the doughnuts with powdered sugar and serve immediately.

Yeast-Raised Dough Ingredients

¾ cup warm milk (110° to 115°F)
1 package (2 ¼ teaspoons)
active dry yeast
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 to 3 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
½ cup sugar
½ teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
Vegetable oil for deep-frying

 Directions

1. Pour the warm milk into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Sprinkle the yeast over the milk and let stand for 5 minutes, then stir to dissolve the yeast.

2. Add the eggs and vanilla to the yeast mixture and beat on low speed for 1 minute.

3. In a medium bowl, combine 3 cups of the flour, the sugar, and salt. Stir with a whisk to blend. Add to the yeast mixture gradually and mix on low speed for 4 minutes, or until the dough begins to clear the sides of the mixer and form a ropy ball of dough around the hook.

4. With the machine running, add the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, letting each piece be absorbed by the dough before adding the next.

Continue mixing for 3 to 4 more minutes, adding the remaining ½ cup flour a little at a time as needed to make a soft dough.

5. Lightly oil a large bowl. Place the dough in the bowl and turn the dough to oil it. Cover with a damp clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm place for 1 ½ to 2 hours, or until doubled in bulk.

This recipes courtesy of  World of Doughnuts (Egg & Dart Press, June 2013)

The post Strawberry and Cream Doughnuts Recipe appeared first on EcoSalon.