Experience the joy of making your own gourmet baked doughnuts, filled with luscious pastry cream and topped with a rich caramel glaze. These doughnuts combine the warmth of freshly baked pastries with the decadence of a sweet, sticky caramel topping. Baking instead of frying creates a lighter, fluffier doughnut, allowing the flavors of the cream and caramel to shine through. Perfect for a special brunch or as a treat to brighten any day, these doughnuts are sure to impress with their delicious taste and professional appearance.
Why You’ll Love This: These doughnuts are a delightful twist on traditional fried doughnuts, offering a less greasy alternative that doesn’t compromise on taste or texture. The process of baking, filling, and glazing allows you to enjoy the art of pastry making right in your kitchen. The combination of soft dough, creamy filling, and the crisp caramel glaze provides a satisfying variety of textures. Each bite is a perfect balance of fluffy pastry, creamy sweetness, and a hint of caramelized sugar.
Perfect Occasion: These doughnuts are ideal for any occasion where you want to serve something special and homemade. They’re perfect for holiday mornings, family gatherings, or as a sophisticated treat for a brunch party. Present them at a bake sale or bring them to an office meeting to elevate the usual coffee break. They also make a thoughtful homemade gift that shows your culinary skills and creativity.
Decoration Tips:
- For an extra touch of elegance, sprinkle a little sea salt over the caramel while it’s still warm to add a salted caramel twist.
- Garnish the doughnuts with edible gold dust or colorful sprinkles before the caramel sets for a festive look.
- Arrange the doughnuts on a beautiful cake stand or a vintage platter to make them even more inviting.
- If you’re serving these at a party, consider pairing them with a DIY toppings bar where guests can add their favorite toppings like chocolate chips, coconut flakes, or crushed nuts.
- Ingredients:
- Doughnuts:
- 480ml dairy-free milk
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 420g self-raising flour
- 30g cocoa powder
- 350g caster sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tablespoon coffee granules dissolved in 1/2 tablespoon hot water
- 120ml sunflower oil
- Filling and Coating:
- Pastry cream for filling
- Sugar and water for caramel glaze
- Doughnuts:
- Instructions:
- Prepare Dough: Mix dairy-free milk and vinegar; let sit to curdle. Combine dry ingredients; add coffee and oil to ‘buttermilk’ and mix. Divide into doughnut pans, tap out air bubbles, and bake at 180°C for 8-10 minutes.
- Filling: Fill a piping bag with pastry cream. Once doughnuts are cool, inject each with cream.
- Caramel Glaze: Heat sugar and water until golden. Carefully dip each doughnut into the caramel, let excess drip off, and set aside to harden.
- Serve: Once set, enjoy your homemade gourmet doughnuts.
Tuck in and enjoy these baked delights, perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth while impressing guests with your baking prowess!
