Jam Doughnuts

Jam Doughnuts

Jam doughnuts aren’t difficult to make but are a little bit fiddly and time consuming.  However, each stage is quick and you can get on with other things whilst you are waiting!

Put all the dough ingredients in a large mixing bowl; 500g strong white bread flour, 50g caster sugar, 10g salt, 14g fast action yeast (2 sachets), 50g soft unsalted butter, 2 eggs, 150ml warm milk and 100ml warm water.

Mix together to form a smooth dough, I do this using the dough hook and my stand mixer.  Once the dough is smooth and not too sticky I tend to finish kneading by hand.

Knead for 5-10 minutes more, on a lightly floured work surface, until the dough is smooth, soft and elastic but not sticky.

Place in a greased bowl, cover with cling film and leave to double in size.  This usually takes about an hour but can take a bit longer if your kitchen is cold.

When doubled in size divide into 10 equal pieces (which gives you really big doughnuts but you can make them smaller if you want).  Roll each piece into a smooth ball.  Place an a greased baking tray well spaced apart, and cover lightly with cling film.

Leave for another hour until doubled in size again.  When they are nearly ready start heating so vegetable oil in a large pan for deep frying to 180C.

Put the doughnuts carefully into the hot oil a few at a time.  Cook on each side for about 5 minutes.

Turn over and cook for a further 5 minutes.  Try to keep the oil at about 180C throughout – to cool and the oil will soak in and they will still be doughy, too hot and they will get too brown on the outside before they are cooked through. (The little one was for me to eat as I couldn’t wait for a big one!)

As soon as you take them out of the oil toss in some caster sugar then place on wire rack to cool.

Once completely cool poke a hole into each doughnut with a thin sharp knife then using a icing bag with a plain wide nozzle pipe some seedless jam into each one; poke the nozzle as far as you can into the doughnut to try and get the jam into the middle.  I think this would probably be easier and less messy with a squeezy bottle or icing syringe but I haven’t got either.

Try not to eat them all at once!