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Donal Skehan
Blackberry & Custard Doughnuts | DonalSkehan.com, These doughnuts will change your life!
  • desserts-baking

Blackberry & Custard Doughnuts

October 07

Picking blackberries always brings back fond memories for me and although I am extremely fond of a good old apple and blackberry pie, every year I try and come up with new recipes. This year it’s all about the doughnuts; the perfect tender and warm vessel to guzzle sticky blackberry jam! Just in case they weren’t indulgent enough already, I’ve added a sweet vanilla custard to make them completely irresistible!

 

 

  • serves Serves 12
  • time 90 mins

Method

  1. 1. To make the doughnuts, place the flour, caster sugar and yeast in a large mixing bowl and make a well in the centre. Add the milk, eggs and butter to the bowl together with 100ml of water and, using your hands or a wooden spoon, combine the ingredients until you have a dough.

  2. TOP TIP

    It is a little sticky to work with, but resist adding too much extra flour.
  3. 3. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and knead for 8–10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. Form the dough into a smooth ball and place it back in the bowl. Cover with cling film and leave in a warm, dark place to rise for about 50 minutes until the dough has doubled in size.
  4. 4. When the dough has risen, punch it down and divide into 12 equal pieces and shape into balls. Transfer them to a baking tray dusted with a little flour, cover with a damp cloth and leave to rise again for 30 minutes.
  5. 5. Meanwhile, prepare the custard filling. Place the milk in a saucepan and gently heat until it just boiling, then remove from the heat. Whisk the caster sugar and egg yolks in a bowl until they are pale and then mix through the cornflour. Slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture, whisking until it is all incorporated.
  6. 6. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and simmer over a low heat, whisking until thickened. Remove from the heat and rub the top with a little butter to prevent a skin forming, allow to cool and cover with cling film. Firm up in the fridge.
  7. 7. Cook the doughnuts in batches in a deep-fat fryer or a large saucepan filled with sunflower oil at 180°C/356°F for 2–3 minutes on either side or until golden brown. Drain on a plate lined with kitchen paper and allow to cool.
  8. 8. Transfer the custard to a piping bag fitted with a plain 5mm nozzle and inject it into the side of each doughnut. Repeat this process with the blackberry jam. The doughnuts are best eaten straight away!

Ingredients

Makes 12 doughnuts:

550g plain flour, plus extra for dusting

50g caster sugar

2 x 7g sachets of easy blend dried yeast

125ml milk

2 large eggs

50g butter, melted

Sunflower oil, for frying

For the filling:

175ml milk

50g caster sugar

3 large egg yolks

1 tbsp cornflour

1 tbsp butter

1 tsp of vanilla extract

Blackberry jam, strained through a sieve

 

You'll Need

Mixing bowl

Baking tray

Saucepan

Deep-fat fryer or a large saucepan filled with sunflower oil

Piping bag and 5mm nozzle

 

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