Oliebollen Dutch Ball Donuts Recipes

OLIEBOLLEN (DUTCH DOUGHNUTS)

Steps:

• Break up the compressed yeast, and stir into the warm milk. Let stand for a few minutes to dissolve. Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Stir the yeast mixture and egg into the flour and mix into a smooth batter. Stir in the currants, raisins and apple. Cover the bowl, and leave the batter in a warm place to rise until double in size. This will take about 1 hour.
• Heat the oil in a deep-fryer, or heavy deep pan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Use 2 metal spoons to shape scoops of dough into balls, and drop them carefully into the hot oil.
• Fry the balls until golden brown, about 8 minutes. The doughnuts should be soft and not greasy. If the oil is not hot enough, the outside will be tough and the insides greasy. Drain finished doughnuts on paper towels and dust with confectioners' sugar. Serve them piled on a dish with more confectioners' sugar dusted over them. Eat them hot if possible.

OLD-FASHIONED DUTCH DOUGHNUTS (OLIEBOLLEN)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a small bowl, mix 1 teaspoon granulated sugar into the water. Sprinkle the yeast on top and allow to stand for 10 minutes (if the yeast doesn't bubble, discard and buy new yeast. The lack of bubbles means the yeast is no longer active).
• Mix together the flour and remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar in a large bowl, and make a well in the middle. Add the eggs and the yeast mixture to the well.
• Warm up the milk in the microwave just until it is lukewarm. Add half of the milk to the well in the flour, and mix until all the ingredients are combined. Add the rest of the milk, and mix until smooth.
• Cover the bowl with a damp dishtowel and allow to rise in a warm area for about 1 hour. Once the dough has doubled, stir in the salt and let sit while you heat the oil.
• Heat the oil to 350 F in a large, deep pan or in a deep fryer . To check whether the oil is at the right temperature, stand the handle of a wooden spoon in the oil. If little bubbles form around it, the oil is ready.
• Quickly dip 2 tablespoons into the oil and form small balls of the dough with the oiled tablespoons, carefully scraping and dropping the dough into the hot oil. The oliebollen will sink to the bottom of the pan and then pop right back up. You should be able to fry at least 6 at a time, but don't crowd the pan.
• Fry until golden brown on both sides, carefully flipping when required. Drain on a tray lined with paper towels.
• Sieve confectioners' sugar over the oliebollen as well as a dusting of ground cinnamon and serve warm.

OLIEBOLLEN (DUTCH BALL DONUTS)

Steps:

• 1. Steep the raisins in enough beer to cover them, for 1 hour.
• 2. Melt the butter in a large pan at very low heat (you need a large pan because the mixture will rise later ;-). Heat milk to lukewarm. Put butter in milk. Put egg in milk. Put yeast in milk. Add a pinch to half a teaspoon salt (to taste). Mix. Put in raisins (with beer and all).
• 3. Add the flour. Mix in the flour and stir until smooth and elastic. Don't use a mixer, it will be a royal mess. I use a large wooden spoon. It should be more like bread dough then pancake mix.
• 4. Cover the pan with a wet towel. Put in a warm place (near the heater or in the sun) to rise for 30-60 minutes. It should be about double the original amount now.
• 5. Use the fryer or pour oil in a frying pan. You need at least half an inch in the pan. Heat the oil at mid to high heat (180 Celsius max). Use an ice-cream scoop (squeezer type) or sauce spoon and dip it in the hot oil (then the dough does not stick to it). Take one scoop and lower it gently into the oil (careful, don't get oil splashes on you!). Some of the balls turn by themselves when one side is done, some need a little push. It takes about 2-6 minutes for the balls to puff up and make a golden brown crust. Take the balls out of the oil and let them drip out in a bowl lined with kitchen paper to absorb any excess oil. Sprinkle with icing sugar. Enjoy!