Donuts | Basics with Babish

Summary

In this episode of 'Basics with Babish,' viewers learn how to make both classic yeasted and sour cream donuts from scratch. The host begins by demonstrating the process of preparing the yeasted donut dough, creating a vanilla cream filling, and making a chocolate glaze. After frying the donuts to golden perfection, he shares tips for filling and glazing them. The episode also introduces sour cream donuts, emphasizing their crispy exterior and moist interior, and includes a simple glaze recipe. Throughout, the host encourages creativity in donut toppings and invites viewers to join him for a live cooking session.

Takeaways

• 🍩 Donuts are a delightful excuse to enjoy deep-fried cake for breakfast, with jelly and cream-filled variations being a popular choice.
• 👩‍🍳 The process of making standard yeasted donuts starts with blooming yeast in warm milk and sugar.
• 📏 Mixing dry ingredients includes all-purpose flour, sugar, and salt, which are whisked together before adding wet ingredients.
• 🥚 The dough is enriched with egg yolks and requires kneading for 8 minutes to develop a smooth texture.
• ⏳ Allow the dough to rise for about one hour until it doubles in size, providing the perfect opportunity to prepare fillings.
• 🍮 Vanilla cream filling is made by combining egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, and tempering with hot milk to avoid scrambling the eggs.
• 🔥 Donuts are fried in vegetable oil at 350°F, where they should float and cook for about 45 seconds on each side.
• 🍫 A chocolate glaze can be made by combining chopped chocolate with steaming milk and optional espresso powder.
• 🍓 Donuts can be filled with raspberry jam after glazing, enhancing their flavor and appeal.
• 🥯 Sour cream donuts offer a different texture, featuring a crispy exterior and moist interior, achieved by using cake flour and sour cream.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the episode?

The episode focuses on making two types of donuts: jelly and cream-filled donuts, and sour cream donuts.

How do you bloom yeast for the donut dough?

Bloom yeast by heating milk to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, then letting it cool to 110 degrees before adding sugar and active dry yeast.

What ingredients are needed for the standard yeasted donut dough?

You will need all-purpose flour, white sugar, table salt, egg yolks, and a milk and yeast mixture.

What is the purpose of tempering the eggs when making vanilla creme pat?

Tempering the eggs prevents them from scrambling when combined with the hot milk, ensuring a smooth and creamy mixture.

How long should the donut dough rise?

The donut dough should rise for about one hour, or until it has doubled in size.

What is the ideal temperature for frying the donuts?

The ideal temperature for frying donuts is 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

What distinguishes sour cream donuts from standard yeasted donuts?

Sour cream donuts have a crispy, crackled exterior and a moist, dense interior, while standard yeasted donuts are lighter and fluffier.

What is the main ingredient in the glaze for sour cream donuts?

The main ingredients for the glaze are powdered sugar, light corn syrup, and boiling water.

What creative variations can be made with sour cream donuts?

You can experiment by using maple syrup instead of water in the glaze, or by frosting, dipping, or sprinkling toppings on the donuts.

What does the host invite viewers to do at the end of the video?

The host invites viewers to join a bi-weekly livestream to make donuts live on YouTube and engage with him.