Light & Fluffy Fill-able Donuts
A MELT-IN-YOUR-MOUTH TAKE ON POLISH PACZKI.
Traditional Polish paczki are filled or stuffed donuts—but no matter what you call them, they’re pretty irresistible. A splash of EVERCLEAR® Grain Alcohol keeps the dough fluffy and helps them fry up quickly—without getting oily—for that perfect light-as-air texture.
Ingredients:
2 c. All-Purpose Flour
1 tsp. Active Dry Yeast
¼ c. Milk
2 Tbsp. Sugar
1 Tbsp. Everclear® Grain Alcohol
½ tsp. Vanilla
½ tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Lemon Zest
2 Tbsp. Melted Unsalted Butter
Canola Oil, For Frying
Instructions:
- In a warm bowl, combine 1/3 c. of flour and the yeast. In a saucepan or the microwave, heat milk to 115 degrees F and pour over the flour mixture. Stir, and let bubble up in a warm place (like on top of the refrigerator) for 30 minutes to an hour.
- After mixture has rested and bubbled, add the rest of the flour along with the sugar, EVERCLEAR®, vanilla, salt, lemon zest, and butter to the bowl. Stir until dough comes together, either in a stand mixer with a dough hook or by hand. Knead for ten minutes, or until the dough is smooth. Form into a ball and place in a greased glass or metal bowl. Set in a warm place (80 degrees to 95 degrees F) until the dough has at least doubled in size or a finger imprint stays in the dough—anywhere from two to five hours.
- After resting, punch the dough down and roll out to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut the dough into nine donuts using a round cutter, saving the scraps to rise and re-roll later. Place the cut donuts on a lined sheet pan and let rise another hour to two hours in a warm place.
- In a dutch oven, heat enough frying oil to fill about halfway. Use a thermometer to measure when the oil reaches 356 degrees F. (The temperature will drop as you add the donuts, so kick it up a bit when the dough first goes in, and then lower as they cook.) Once the donuts are fried to a golden-brown color, remove using a strainer or slotted spoon and place on a rack before draining further on a paper towel-lined tray.
- When slightly cooled, toss donuts in powdered sugar, then poke a hole and stuff with your favorite filling as desired.
Please Enjoy Responsibly.