Apple And Cinnamon Doughnuts

Delicious freshly made doughnuts with an apple and cinnamon filled centre, coated in cinnamon flavoured sugar. Doughnuts are a fantastic, comforting snack all year round whether it is a ring doughnut or a jam filled one they are sure to please adults and children alike. Doughnuts and a cup of coffee may not make the healthiest lunch but it sure makes for a delicious one.

Apple and cinnamon are a tasty combination perfect for autumn, cinnamon has a warm smell and flavour that complements the autumn weather. British apples are also in season from September so you have plenty of variety to chose from, the best apples are the ones from your own garden, you can’t get much cheaper then free and they will be fantastically fresh and organic.  You can use any apples for the filling, if you are using a sour cooking apple like granny smith add more sugar, if your apples are sweet add less white sugar and a bit more lemon. Taste the sauce before you fill the doughnuts.

Ingredients

• 750g plain flour
• 140g caster sugar
• 7g dry yeast
• 250ml lukewarm milk
• 80ml buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 150g butter, melted
• 220g raw caster sugar combined with 2 tsp cinnamon

For the sauce

• 2 granny smith apples, cored, peeled and diced
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 5cm cinnamon stick
• 50g dark brown sugar
• 50g white sugar
• 60ml water

Method

1. Mix the flour, 140g sugar and yeast together.
2. Whisk the eggs, milk, buttermilk and 30g butter.
3. Add the flour mix to the milk mix and whisk to make a smooth dough.
4. Cover with cling film and leave in a warm place to stand for 1 hour until it doubles in size.
5. Roll the dough out on a floured surface about 2 cm thick, cut the dough into circles about 8cm in diameter, allow to rise for 30 minutes.
6. Heat a pan of oil or use a deep fat fryer. Fry the doughnuts for about 3 minutes each side, until golden.

For the sauce

1. For the sauce place all the ingredients together, and simmer for about 20 minutes, until apples are tender and sauce is syrupy, remove the cinnamon. Let the sauce cool slightly then blend to make smooth.
2. Make a little hole in the side of the doughnuts and pipe the apple sauce in. If you don’t have a piping bag use a freezer bag with the corner cut off.
3. Finally coat the doughnut in the caster sugar and cinnamon mix.