Bombini Doughnuts Recipes

BAKED MINI DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease miniature muffin cups or line with paper liners.
• Whisk flour, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt together in a bowl. Stir milk and vanilla extract together in a separate bowl. Beat butter and 1/3 cup white sugar together in a third bowl using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy; beat in egg.
• Stir flour mixture, alternating with milk mixture, into butter mixture until batter is smooth. Spoon batter into a piping bag and pipe into muffin cups, about 2/3-full.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Mix 1/3 cup white sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl; add warm doughnuts and gently toss with hands until coated.

BOMBOLONI

Steps:

• Dissolve the yeast in a small bowl with the cold water. Place the flour, eggs, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until the ingredients are dispersed, about 5 seconds. Add the dissolved yeast and beat for about 2 minutes on medium-high speed, until the dough is well combined and holds together. Add the cubed butter and mix for another 5 to 7 minutes, until the dough no longer sticks to the side of the mixing bowl. If the dough is overly sticky, you may need to add about 1 tablespoon of flour. It is usually necessary to scrape down the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula to encourage the dough to form a ball and come away from the side. Remove the paddle and pat the dough into a ball at the bottom of the bowl. Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest at room temperature for about 20 minutes. The dough will rise slightly.
• Remove the dough from the mixing bowl and punch it down to remove the air. Spread it onto a lightly floured baking sheet with your fingers and flatten the dough until it is about 3/4-inch thick. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for a minimum of 2 hours or overnight. It will slightly proof.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator and place on a lightly floured work surface. Flatten it slightly with your hands. Cut the dough into circles with a 1 1/2-inch diameter cutter, keeping the cuts as close together as possible. Pat any leftover dough into a rectangle and cut more circles out of it. (At this stage, the Bombolini can be frozen for up to 1 week if well wrapped in plastic wrap. Allow the Bombolini to defrost in the refrigerator before proofing.)
• Place the Bomboloni on a parchment covered baking sheet lightly sprayed with vegetable cooking spray. Space them 2 inches apart. Loosely cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap. Allow the Bomboloni to proof at room temperature for about 2 hours, until they have doubled in size and appear light and full of air.
• Heat the oil about 15 minutes in an electric fryer or in a 4-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat to 320 degrees F. If using a saucepan, check the temperature with a candy thermometer. Fry 5 to 7 Bomboloni at one time, any more than that and the oil temperature will dip down too much and they will not fry evenly. Fry for a total of 3 to 5 minutes, until they are golden brown. Turn to evenly fry each side. As they fry, they will increase in size. Remove the Bomboloni with a large slotted spoon and set on a paper towel to drain the excess oil.
• While the Bomboloni are still warm, roll them in a bowl filled with granulated sugar until evenly coated. If desired, fill the Bomboloni with a jam-filled pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch plain tip. Use a sharp paring knife to make a small hole on the bottom of each Bomboloni. Place the tip of the pastry bag in the hole and squeeze until the Bomboloni feels heavy. It is best to fill the Bomboloni while they are still warm and the dough soft and pliable. Serve immediately.

STRAWBERRY-LIME GLAZED DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• For the doughnuts: Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Use a 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter or glass to trace 16 circles on the parchment, leaving equal space between each. Flip the parchment over and lightly coat with cooking spray. Fit a large pastry bag with a 1/2-inch round tip or snip a 1/2-inch hole in one corner of a large resealable plastic bag.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Pulverize the sugar and freeze-dried strawberries in a blender or food processor until no large pieces remain, then transfer to a large bowl. Add the butter and beat until combined (it will be crumbly). Beat in the whole egg and yolk until well combined and the mixture turns pale yellow, 4 to 5 minutes, scraping down the bowl as needed. Beat in the buttermilk, vanilla extract and strawberry extract until smooth.
• Add half of the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and fold in with a rubber spatula until almost combined. Add the remaining flour mixture and fold in until just combined (do not overmix). Transfer the batter to the prepared pastry bag.
• Using the circles as a guide, pipe the batter into 2 1/2-inch rings. (If you have any leftover batter, pipe 1-inch round doughnut holes on a second sheet of parchment sprayed with nonstick spray.) Refrigerate while you heat up the shortening or oil.
• Heat the shortening or oil in a large pot over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 340 degrees F. (You want to have at least 1 inch of liquid once the shortening melts; about 6 cups.) Set a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet.
• Cut the parchment around each doughnut with kitchen shears, leaving a narrow border if possible. Carefully invert 4 of the doughnuts into the oil and peel off the parchment with tongs. Fry until golden brown and cooked through, about 2 minutes total, flipping the doughnuts every 30 seconds to ensure even cooking. (Fry any doughnut holes for about 1 minute.) Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on the wire rack. Bring the shortening back to 340 degrees F and repeat with the remaining doughnuts. Let the doughnuts cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, make the glaze: Combine the confectioners' sugar, strawberry preserves, lime zest and lime juice in a medium bowl. Whisk until smooth and the consistency is like thick glue.
• While the doughnuts are still warm, dip one at a time into the glaze, swirling as needed to coat the top. Return to the wire rack. Toss any doughnut holes in the glaze to coat completely and return to the wire rack. Let the glaze set, about 15 minutes.