Stick a Pitchfork In It

Caramel Apple Donuts and Salted Caramel Pumpkin Donuts

I have been wanting some donuts but not a real fan of the cake donut as they are a little dense for my taste. I wanted something a little bit lighter but not a full yeast donut either. I had heard about a guy that makes Cronuts and it is like a donut a pastry had a baby. I had did some thinking and thought I have a really light and fluffy biscuit recipe why not modify it and see what happens.

I experimented with the Biscuit Recipe to see if I could make a combination of something light and fluffy but had a slight crunch on the outside. I also wanted to add in a Harvest theme using apples, caramel and pumpkin. It was very successful and I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as my family and I did.

 Don't worry I will provide you with recipes to BOTH! For the pumpkin donut I wanted to use FRESH pumpkin as I am not a fan of the canned. I also used fresh granny smith apples and made the caramel sauce from scratch. With these recipes you can add cinnamon in place of the Jamaican Allspice that I use (it's an actual plant in Jamaica and it's called an allspice plant). Or you can add a little cinnamon to your liking on top of the seasoning’s I have added to these fantastic recipes.

Remember to visit Better Batter and see what special treat they have in store for you this week. Jamie over at A Families Love has some incredible baked stuffed apples! 

Apple Donut

Ingredients:

4 large Granny Smith Apples
1/4 cup pineapple juice (keeps apples from turning brown)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
4Tbs unsalted butter
2 cup Better Batter Flour
1Tbs baking powder
1/2 cup club soda
Cinnamon- add to your liking I am unable to add due to food allergies in our family. 

For Caramel glaze you will need the following ingredients:

2Tbs unsalted butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup heavy cream


Directions:

Step 1

To prepare the caramel apple ingredients take the granny smith apples and remove the skin and seeds. Cut the apples into little pieces and place into your pan. Add the pineapple juice to the pan while you are cutting up your apples. This will keep your apples from turning brown.  

When done with the first 4 steps it is an apple sauce texture and does not go on top of your donuts. This also makes enough for a double batch not a single batch. If you are wanting to do a single batch cut the apples, pineapple juice, butter and cream in half.

Step 2 

Now add your brown sugar, heavy cream and butter to your apple pan and place on the stove on medium - medium high heat until the apples are tender.

Step 3 

 Once the apples are tender take a colander and separate the apples from the sauce.  Save the sauce do not throw it away you need it.

Step 4 

Take 1/2 of your tender cooked apples and place in a food processor until smooth. Once these apples are smooth add back to your caramel mixture and add the other 1/2 of cut up apples that are already cooked. Let this mixture cool to room temp. I let mine sit in the fridge over night. 

Step 5

 Take 2 cup of flour and 1Tbs baking powder and mix together in your mixer.

Step 6 

Now add 2/3 cups butter cold and cut into the flour and mix until it resembles a coarse crumbs.

Step 7 

Add 1 cup caramel apple sauce and 1/2 cup club soda to the flour mixture and mix until combined.

Step 8 

Place wax paper on your counter and flour generously. Roll out dough to about 1/2 inch thickness  with your hands and using a biscuit cutter that is 4 inches in diameter to cut into a circle and then cut out a circle in the middle using a 1.5 inch diameter biscuit cutter.

Step 9 

Place into HOT oil and fry for about 2-3 minutes or golden brown and then flip and do the same to the other side. 

Step 10

Place onto a plate lined with paper towels to remove any excess oil.

Step 11 

While the donuts are on the paper towels you want to make a fresh caramel apple glaze. In a clean pan place 2Tbs butter, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar and 1/4 cup heavy cream in a pan. Boil this mixture until you have a soft ball that forms in the bottom of a cup that is filled with cold water. Once the caramel is done start dunking the cooler donuts into the glaze.

Step 11
Top the donut with fresh caramel glaze and ENJOY!



Salted Caramel Pumpkin Donut Recipe

Ingredients: 

1 Baking pumpkin
2 1/4 cup Better Batter Flour
1Tbs baking powder
1/2 cup club soda
2/3 cups cold butter

For Salted Caramel glaze you will need the following ingredients:

2Tbs unsalted butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup heavy cream  Sea Salt

**You can use either fresh pumpkin puree or canned pumpkin it is up to you. When you bake your own pumpkin it will make more than what you will need for this recipe.**

Directions:

Step 1

Cut the pumpkin in half, scoop out all the seeds and set aside.

Step 2

Heat your oven to 350 degree's and place pumpkin flesh side down on a cookie sheet or pizza pan.

Step 3

Cook pumpkin in the oven for 1hr or until the outside of pumpkin you can easily stick a fork into it.

Step 4 

 Let pumpkin cool and then remove the flesh and purée 1/2 cup add in 1/2 tsp Jamaican Allspice and 1/2 tsp nutmeg and 1/2 tsp cloves. (You can add in 1tsp cinnamon we omit as it is an allergy in our house).

Step 5 

Take 2 cup of Better Batter flour with 1Tbs of baking powder and sift together.

Step 6 

Now add 2/3 cups butter cold and cut into the flour and mix until it resembles a coarse crumbs.

Step 7

Add 1 cup pumpkin mixture and 1/2 cup club soda to the flour mixture and mix until combined. The dough will be sticky this is normal and good.

Step 8 

Place some wax paper on your counter and flour the wax paper generously with Better Batter flour. Roll out dough to about 1/2 inch thickness with your hands and using a 4 inch biscuit cutter into a circle and then with a 1.5 inch biscuit cutter cut out a circle in the middle.

Step 9

Place into HOT oil and fry for about 2-3 minutes or golden brown and then flip and do the same to the other side.

Step 10 

Place onto a plate lined with paper towels to remove any excess oil. In case you do not have any caramel glaze made you will take a clean pan and place 2Tbs butter, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar and 1/4 cup heavy cream in a pan. Boil this mixture until you have a soft ball that forms in the bottom of a cup that is filled with cold water. Once the caramel is done start dunking the cooler donuts into the glaze.

Step 11 

Dip the donut in fresh caramel glaze and top with a little bit of sea salt and ENJOY!