Explore the delightful world of homemade Vanilla Donuts, a recipe that promises donuts so soft and airy, they resemble clouds with a rich vanilla essence. This step-by-step guide will take you through the process of creating these heavenly treats, filled with a luscious vanilla pastry cream and coated with a delicate vanilla sugar. Perfect for vanilla lovers, these donuts are an exquisite blend of textures and flavors, making them an irresistible treat for any time of the day.
Why You'll Love This: These Vanilla Donuts offer a perfect balance of softness and creamy richness, making each bite a luxurious experience. The vanilla-infused dough, paired with the smooth and velvety vanilla pastry cream, elevates the classic donut to new heights. It's a recipe that celebrates the simplicity of vanilla while delivering a complex and satisfying taste profile.
Perfect Occasion: These donuts are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or as a sweet snack to brighten up your day. They're ideal for sharing with family and friends during gatherings, celebrations, or as a special treat to accompany your morning coffee. Their elegant flavor and soft texture also make them a delightful dessert option for dinner parties.
Decoration Tips: For an extra touch of elegance, dust the donuts with powdered sugar mixed with vanilla bean seeds after they are filled. You can also drizzle them with a simple vanilla glaze or dip half of each donut into melted white chocolate for a visually appealing contrast and an added layer of vanilla flavor.
For the Dough (yields 15 donuts):
- 8.8 oz (250g) "00" flour
- 0.88 oz (25g) sugar
- 0.1 oz (3g) salt
- 0.18 oz (5g) instant yeast
- 0.18 oz (5g) natural vanilla
- 1 large egg (50g)
- 4.9 oz (140g) milk
- 0.88 oz (25g) butter
For the Vanilla Pastry Cream:
- 8.8 oz (250g) milk
- 3.9 oz (110g) heavy cream (35% fat)
- Half a vanilla bean
- 2 egg yolks (40g)
- 0.88 oz (25g) sugar
- 0.88 oz (25g) cornstarch
- 2.1 oz (60g) white chocolate
- 0.88 oz (25g) butter
- 0.88 oz (25g) gelatin mass (5g gelatin powder dissolved in 0.7 oz (20g) water)
Dough Preparation:
- In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, yeast, and vanilla. Add the egg, milk, and butter.
- Knead on low speed until ingredients are just combined, then rest for 30 minutes. Knead on high speed for 7-10 minutes until the dough is elastic and shiny.
- Refrigerate the dough overnight (12-24 hours) for a slow rise.
Vanilla Pastry Cream Preparation:
- Boil milk, cream, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch. Gradually pour the hot milk mixture into the egg mixture, then cook for 2 minutes until thick. Add white chocolate and butter, mix well, then incorporate the gelatin. Blend until smooth and shiny. Chill for at least 4 hours before using.
Final Steps:
- After refrigeration, release the air from the dough and form small balls (30-35g each). Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment, cover, and let rise until doubled in size (1.5-2 hours).
- Heat oil to 329°F (165°C) and fry each donut for 1.5-2 minutes per side.
- Roll in vanilla sugar, then fill with the vanilla pastry cream.
Enjoy these heavenly Vanilla Donuts, a treat that combines the soft embrace of donuts with the exquisite flavor of vanilla, guaranteed to delight and satisfy your sweet cravings.