Mini Sweet Potato Doughnuts With Brown Butter Glaze Recipes

SPICED SWEET POTATO DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until blended. Beat in eggs, sweet potatoes, buttermilk and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, pie spice and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture., Turn onto a well-floured surface; pat to 1/2-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 3-in. doughnut cutter. In an electric skillet or deep fryer, heat oil to 375°. Fry doughnuts, a few at a time, 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. In a small bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon; dip warm doughnuts in topping mixture to coat both sides.

MINI SWEET-POTATO DOUGHNUTS WITH BROWN-BUTTER GLAZE

Steps:

• Make the doughnuts: Heat butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat until dark brown and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in milk. Let cool slightly.
• Combine yeast, warm water, and 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar in a mixer bowl. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk sweet potato puree, egg, yolk, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, and remaining 3 tablespoons granulated sugar in a medium bowl. Whisk in butter mixture, then add to yeast mixture in mixer bowl. Attach bowl to mixer fitted with the dough-hook attachment, and mix on low speed. Slowly add flour until incorporated. Raise speed to medium-high, and beat until dough becomes elastic, about 3 minutes. Dough will be very soft.
• Transfer dough to an oiled bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Let stand until double in size, about 2 hours. Punch dough, then cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
• On a generously floured surface, roll out dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Using a 1 1/2-inch round cutter, cut out rounds. Using the wide end of a 1/2-inch round pastry tip, cut holes in center of each round. Transfer doughnuts and holes to generously floured baking sheets, and cover loosely with plastic. Let rise in a warm place for 45 minutes.
• Line wire racks with several layers of paper towels. Heat 4 inches of oil in a large, heavy pot until it reaches 365 to 370 on a deep-fry thermometer. Fry doughnuts and holes in small batches until golden brown, about 20 seconds per side. (Adjust heat as needed to maintain temperature of oil.) Using a slotted spoon or a wire-mesh skimmer, transfer doughnuts and holes to paper towels to drain. Let cool slightly.
• Make the glaze: Heat butter in a medium saucepan until dark brown, about 10 minutes. Whisk in confectioners' sugar until a smooth paste forms, then gradually whisk in milk until thick and silky. Let stand for 10 minutes before using, whisking occasionally to keep glaze smooth.
• Pour glaze into a large, deep bowl. With tongs, dip doughnuts and holes into glaze, turning to coat. Remove, letting excess drip off before transferring to clean wire racks set over baking sheets. Let glaze harden before serving, about 15 minutes. Serve immediately.

SKULL MADELEINES

Steps:

• Make the madeleines: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter mini-madeleine pans.
• Whisk cocoa powder and water in a medium bowl until smooth. Let cool slightly, then whisk in egg, yolk, and vanilla until incorporated.
• Beat flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt with a mixer on low speed until combined. Raise speed to medium, and add butter and 1/2 the cocoa mixture. Beat for 2 minutes, then scrape sides of bowl. Beat in remaining cocoa mixture on medium speed until completely combined, scraping sides of bowl as needed.
• Transfer batter to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch round tip, and pipe into buttered pans, filling each 3/4 full. (Refrigerate batter between batches.) Bake, rotating halfway, until testers inserted in centers come out clean and madeleines spring back when pressed, 8 to 10 minutes. Unmold onto wire racks, and let cool. Unglazed madeleines can be refrigerated up to 3 days.
• Make the glaze: Place chocolate in a food processor. Bring cream and corn syrup to a simmer in a small saucepan, whisking until combined. Pour over chocolate, and process until smooth.
• Set racks with madeleines over parchment-lined baking sheets. Spoon some of the glaze over each madeleine to coat. Transfer to clean parchment-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until glaze is firm, 15 to 20 minutes. Push sticky side of marshmallow skulls into madeleines, and serve immediately.