I have some exciting news to share…
…wait for it, wait for it…
…still waiting?
I made my own doughnuts!
Wait, that isn’t what you expected to read? Did you somehow interpret the title of this post to mean that I am newly engaged?
Because if you did, you’re right. On December 27th, sometime after 7:30, I said yes. It was a complete surprise. In fact, my boyfriend (err, fiancé — how will I ever get used to that term?) was so bent on ensuring that I was completely clueless, he got me an iPad for Christmas and pretended that it was the reason he had been so secretive this holiday season. It worked, because I was beyond shocked when he pulled me aside to say he forgot to give me one small Christmas present.
I unwrapped a thin book, emblazoned with two comic book versions of us and the words, “The Adventures of Nate and Cando” across the top. In it, the book detailed how we met, and was filled with photos of the past four and a half years of our relationship. The book closed by explaining that Nate had only one question in mind as he began planning our next great adventure: Will she say yes? I looked down, and there he was on one knee, hands rattling as he fumbled with a small jewelry box.
He got me good.
Naturally, now I’ve retold that story at least 26,341 times, so I’ve learned how to tailor it to different audiences. Case in point: most girls probably read every word of this, whereas guys started scrolling to the doughnut recipe as soon as they read I said yes. There was one question I wasn’t prepared for, though: “how did you celebrate?”
Umm, other than jumping up and down and squealing?
I made doughnuts. Since the engagement ring is being made (the aforementioned jewelry box held his great grandfather’s Masonic ring, the diamond of which we’re using), I felt I needed some circular token to tide me over, and what better variety than a pillowy, chocolate-ganache dipped confection?
With that in mind, I powered up my brand-new doughnut maker (5 miniature delights in 6 minutes — thanks, Carson!), Since this was its maiden voyage, I stuck to the recipe that came with the machine. By round 3 (how can you have just one edible ring?), I experimented with a Krispy-Kreme-esque sugar glaze and chocolate ganache topping, before deciding to stir melted chocolate into the batter for cocoa-swirled treats.
The plain doughnut left something to be desired — it had the cheap, refined sugar taste of gas station, generic-brand pastries. However, once married (yes, I went there) with a blend of semisweet chocolate, it carried that rich, fresh-from-the-bakery heft you’d expect from a cake doughnut.
Needless to say, my makeshift engagement rings didn’t last long before they were devoured. Since I’ll need a ring until my real one is made (at least that’s the lie I feed myself), I’d love a few suggestions for my next batch of doughnuts. Which flavors would you like me to tackle?
Kitchen gadgets needed: doughnut maker, mixing bowl, microwave-safe bowl, spoonula, fork (for pulling out doughnuts), timer, cooking spray, measuring cups
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 egg, beaten
- 3/4 cup milk
- 10 tablespoons butter, sliced
- 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Time commitment: 10-12 minutes total; 5-6 to prepare, 6 to cook
Steps:
1.) Turn on the doughnut maker and spritz the doughnut molds with cooking spray.
2.) Combine the flour, sugar and baking powder in the large mixing bowl, before whisking in 8 tablespoons of butter, as well as the milk and egg. Stir everything until it forms a smooth batter.
3.) Then, pour the chocolate chips into the microwave-safe bowl, topping it with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Place it in the microwave for 30 seconds, then stir it thoroughly. If the chocolate is still a little lumpy, microwave for another 30 seconds before stirring again. It’s ready when the chocolate is glossy and smooth.
Warning: Don’t heat the chocolate for more than 30-second intervals or you’ll risk burning it, and there’s no going back from there.
4.) Let the melted chocolate cool for a minute or two before pouring two-thirds of it into the plain batter, stirring it just enough to swirl the flavors together.
5.) Carefully pour the batter into the molds until it fills the doughnut half, then let it cook for six minutes. Let the doughnuts cool for a few minutes before dipping them in the remaining melted chocolate.