Thursday 31 May 2012

Time for change... and some baked doughnuts


Time for change... and some baked doughnuts

Well this week has flown by as usual...  It seems there have been a lot of exciting changes this week for some reason.  Exciting piece of news #1: officially accepted into the doctorate program at UMass.  #2: We are officially moving to the beach this August!  It was not our original plan to have to uproot after a year, but due to some changes in how taxes impact expats in Australia it makes the most sense.  The more we have talked about moving, the more exciting it is becoming (and yes, I am aware most would love to “have” to move and be living near a beach).  #3 the hubby signed us up for City to Surf- Woo!  Time to get him into running form for August.  For those not in Sydney, City to Surf is a fun run they do here each year from the CBD to Bondi Beach.  I am super excited because we did not have the chance to do it last year since it was right after we arrived in Sydney.  #4 took my first zumba class (courtesy of Liz) and it was awesome.  I’m sure I looked a bit ridiculous but it was awesome none the less.


Future view from the new house... I will get some better pictures after the move.

Well, writing that all down makes me jam packed with change the week has been. Life’s changes seem to always make me think of seasons (I know that sounds cheesy).  This is still a source of confusion for me here with the backwards seasons from what we are used to in New England.  It is currently getting dark by 5pm and cool… think Octoberesque weather.  Since it is currently going into June, this just doesn’t seem right.  Although, this weather is quite condusive to baking and making all sorts of comfort food stuff in my crockpot… always a good time. 

As I mentioned before, I am obsessed with my mini-doughnut pan I bought at Kmart of all places (Kmart is a story for another post I believe).  I think I am a bit behind on this trend, but I love it anyways.  I’m not going to lie and say these taste anything like an actual fried doughnut- they don’t.  But they can be a really good baked treat anyways.   Because it is feeling so much like fall I’ve been having cravings for all those typical autumn flavors. 

I’m thinking pumpkin, ginger and strong spices… and of course, maple.  Well, let me tell you maple will win in my mind most of the time!  Spiced “doughnuts” with maple glaze it is!  Hmm… but the downside is the hubby does not share my obsessive love of all things maple.  Because I am such a good wife, triple chocolate “doughnuts” for him.  First up, the chocolate batch!

Triple Chocolate “Doughnuts”

Since I only have one of these cute little doughnut trays (and essentially we are making slightly dense muffins in the shape of doughnuts) extra batter can be made into either muffins or baked in a loaf pan.

Yield: 12 mini doughnuts and approx 6 muffins or small loaf with remainder of mixture

Ingredients
2 cups flour (plain or whole wheat would work well)
½ cup sugar
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp nutmeg (optional)
1 cup milk
¼ cup honey
2 eggs
1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
2 ½ tablespoons canola oil or melted butter
½ cup mini chocolate chips

Glaze
3 tablespoons cocoa
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup powder sugar
2-3 tablespoons milk
Sprinkles for decorating
  
- Preheat oven to 325º F (160º C)
- Mix all dry ingredients together in medium bowl
- Beat with a whisk all wet ingredients in large bowl.
- Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture in 2 batches.  Mix until just combined.
- Stir in chocolate chips.
- Here is the fun part.  Fill a ziplock bag with mixture and cut a small opening in the corner.  Pipe filling into greased doughnut and muffin pans.  Fill approximately ¾.
- Bake 10-12 minutes for mini-doughnut pan, 14-16 for muffins.
- Let cool completely.
- For the glaze: melt butter and mix with all other ingredients well.  Dip doughnuts into glaze and let cool to set.  If you want to put sprinkles on top, do so right away before the glaze hardens.


The line up of ingredients


Get the dry and wet ingredients ready...


Mix it all well.

 Ready to bake...


Spiced “doughnuts” with Maple Glaze

This is a combination of an old gingerbread recipe and apple bread that I had from my grandmother's recipe box, with a slightly healthier twist.

Ingredients
1 cup whole wheat flour
¼ cup brown sugar
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp allspice
1/3 cup applesauce
¼ cup molasses
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon canola oil or melted butter

Maple Glaze
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2-3 tablespoons milk
1 ½ cups powder sugar
1 tsp maple extract (for a stronger maple flavor, but vanilla would work as well)
Sprinkles for decorating


- Preheat oven to 350º F (175º C)
- Mix all dry ingredients together in medium bowl
- Beat with a whisk all wet ingredients in large bowl.
- Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture in 2 batches.  Mix until just combined.
- Fill a ziplock bag with mixture and cut a small opening in the corner.  Pipe filling into greased doughnut and muffin pans.  Fill approximately ¾ full.
- Bake 10-12 minutes for mini-doughnut pan.
- Let cool completely.
- For the glaze: combine all ingredients well.  Dip doughnuts into glaze and let cool to set.  If you want to put sprinkles on top, do so right away before the glaze hardens.


Ah the final products.  Much to my dismay (and my stubborn love of all things autumn and maple) 
I actually enjoyed the chocolate best.

5 comments:

  1. Mmmm...Maple, its a Canadian thing, it runs through our blood :-) Excited to see you guys so soon!

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    Replies
    1. Indeed it is a Canadian thing :) Can't wait to see you too- I can't believe our trip back is in less than a week!

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  2. Do you find you have trouble getting a hold of ingredients that would be common in America? For example, I had big plans to make a dessert with a graham cracker based crust, only to discover that no one even knows what graham crackers are here! But the recipe also called for marshmallow creme, which also doesn't exist here. and I've been searching for shortening for months...

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    Replies
    1. Ugh... this was one of the things I completely fixated on the first couple of months here. Luckily, due to this fixation I was able to find several (albeit expensive) options for outfitting my kitchen with US necessities. For a local place, I use the Essential Ingredient. They have several locations in the Sydney and Melbourne areas. It is kind of like a small scale Williams Sonoma that also has many random cooking/baking ingredients. You can find shortening there... I also use them for all Mexican ingredients (think dried peppers, enchilada sauces...) You can also use this site: www.usafoods.com.au It is expensive, but they carry pretty much everything. I used them to stock up on canned pumpkin last October, as I couldn't find it anywhere!
      David Jones also has a small US section of food... but I never seem to find much there.
      Hope this helps (and thanks for checking out my blog!) :)

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  3. Thanks for that! I'll look into those options. :-)I knew about USA Foods, but not the others.

    P.S. You've been tagged! http://housewifedownunder.wordpress.com/2012/06/06/tag-youre-it/

    ReplyDelete