Who can resist a doughnut? Like Homer Simpson we certainly can’t! They’re the perfect cure for a sweet tooth, satisfying that need for sugar and cake all in one – and in Doughnut Week there’s even more excuse for eating one, or three!
But doughnuts are getting creative and us chefs like to play with the norm – seeing what we can achieve by bringing different techniques and styles, flavours and textures all together. Sometimes it goes wrong, and sometimes you create perfection.
In the US, people have been talking about the “cronut”, a tasty combination of croissant and donut. There have literally been queues around the block for these.
So we decided to see what the fuss was about, and we can totally see why New Yorkers have been fighting in the streets to get their hands on these light, delicious sweet treats.
If you fancy trying them for yourself, here’s the recipe for a cronut with vanilla cream made famous by Master Baker Dominique Ansel . You’ll have to make plenty though, because friends and family will keep coming back for more!
Ingredients:
For the cronut
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tbsp softened butter
1 cup water
1/2 cup milk
1 tbsp dry active yeast
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
5 cups grapeseed oil
For the vanilla cream
1 1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
4 egg yolks
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
For assembly
1 cup sugar
2 tbsp ground cinnamon
1 cup vanilla cream
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 tbsp water
Method:
For the vanilla cream
Heat the milk and 1/2 of the sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat, being careful not to burn the milk. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, other 1/2 of the sugar, flour, and salt. Remove the milk from the heat and slowly whisk it into the egg-flour mixture. When all of the milk has been incorporated, add the mixture back into the saucepan and cook, whisking constantly and vigorously, until the mixture is boiling and thick. Stir in the vanilla extract and strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Place plastic wrap directly on the service of the cream so a skin does not form. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to use.
For the cronut
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the flour, sugar, salt, and softened butter. In a separate bowl, combine the milk and water and heat to just above body temperature. Whisk in the yeast with the warm milk and water and let stand for 5 minutes until foamy. Add the yeast mixture to the dry ingredients and mix just until combined, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again for 1 minute until there are no dry spots. Form the dough into a ball and place in a greased bowl. Cover with a damp cloth and place in a warm spot. Let rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes. Once the dough has risen, punch down dough and chill for 1 hour.
Meanwhile, place the butter in between 2 pieces of parchment paper and using a rolling pin, flatten and shape into an 8-by-8-inch square.
Once butter block is ready, roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface into a 12-by-12-inch square. Place the butter square on top of the dough square so that the corners of the butter block are pointing to the sides of the dough square. Gently fold the corners of the dough over the butter block to meet in the middle. Pinch together the dough at the seams so the butter block is completely sealed. Using a rolling pin, pound the dough slightly to make it easier to roll out. Roll dough out into a 20-by-8-inch rectangle. Brush off any excess flour and fold the dough into thirds, like a letter. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour. Repeat the folding and chilling process 2 more times.
Once dough is chilled after its final fold, roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a 6-by-18-inch rectangle. Cut into 6-by-6-inch squares and stack the squares on top of each other. Roll the dough into a 6-by-8-inch rectangle. Using ring cutters, cut 12 donut shapes out of the dough and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover the donuts with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until the dough does not spring back when lightly pressed, about 30 minutes.
Place the oil in a large pot and heat to 350 degrees. Fry donuts for about 1½ minutes, rotating them in the oil halfway through, until they are golden brown all over. Place on a paper towel lined plate to cool.
For assembly
In a bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Fill a piping bag fitted with a long narrow tip with vanilla cream. In a separate bowl, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar and water. Add more water if necessary, but make sure glaze is not too watery.
Inject the cronut with vanilla cream, roll in sugar, and drip glaze over the top.
About Neil Shaefer
Marketing & Communications Executive of SK Foods.
Your food. Our Passion.
