Brioche donuts are a delightful variation of traditional donuts that incorporate the rich and buttery flavor of brioche dough. Brioche is a French pastry dough that is enriched with eggs, butter, and sometimes sugar, resulting in a soft and fluffy texture.
To make brioche donuts, you can follow a basic brioche dough recipe and then shape and fry the dough into donut form. Here’s a simple recipe to get you started:
Ingredients:
For the brioche dough:
- 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup warm milk
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
For frying:
- Vegetable oil
For finishing:
- Powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar
Instructions:
- In a small bowl, combine the warm milk, sugar, and active dry yeast. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes, or until the mixture becomes frothy.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Make a well in the center and add the yeast mixture and eggs.
- Mix the ingredients until a rough dough forms. Then, add the softened butter gradually, incorporating it into the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours, or until it doubles in size.
- Once the dough has risen, punch it down, and turn it out onto a floured surface. Roll the dough to about 1/2 inch thickness.
- Use a donut cutter or two differently sized round cutters to cut out donut shapes. Place the cutouts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Cover the donuts with a clean kitchen towel and let them rise for another 30-60 minutes.
- Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or large, deep pan to 350°F (175°C). Carefully fry the donuts in batches until they are golden brown on both sides.
- Remove the donuts from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil.
- Optionally, toss the warm donuts in powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar for added sweetness.
Enjoy your brioche donuts! They are best served fresh and warm.
