Lovers of this bread already have a date to commemorate it, as World Donut Day is observed on the first Friday of June each year, and this year marked the 84th anniversary of the event.
And it’s really surprising because despite being one of the doughs with the most calories, people continue to eat donuts daily, so the recipe is now varying to less fatty forms.
We see them on bakery counters all the time, but also in TV shows and classic and modern movies.
Donuts are a staple of our culture, and it’s difficult to find someone who hasn’t had one, but few are familiar with their history or other facts about them.
We will not only tell you some interesting facts about this famous dessert, but we will also show you how to make a classic homemade donut with chocolate glaze. We will have two versions, one baked in the oven and one fried in oil for those who want to make them the traditional way or a little healthier.
These donuts are ideal for any celebration. If you want to have a snack at home or if you have company. It is popular with children and can be decorated in a variety of ways.
Things you didn´t know about donuts
Here are some fun facts that you probably didn’t know about your favorite dessert.
His given name was “Olykoek.”
It is the name of the original recipe and means “oily bread,” because they were finished in lard before baking.
Dutch in Origin
Around 1770, Dutch settlers brought the sweet snack to New Amsterdam, now Manhattan, United States, and over time, local products were incorporated.
The Ideal Solution
They started as a round bun, but they had a problem: they didn’t cook in the middle. So, around 1840, the sailor Hanson Gregory, who was carrying the loaves made by his mother Elizabeth, decided to simply remove that part, leaving a hole in the middle, according to the records.
The Recipe has Changed
Elizabeth Gregory experimented with the ingredients and added new spices, as well as lemon zest, which enhanced the flavor of the bread, and to cover the central part, she introduced a walnut, until they decided to hollow it out.
A New Name: “Doughnut”
Another change that the recipe underwent over time was the name change to “Doughnut,” which means “nut bread” and sounded better than oily bread. As expected, the name was shortened to “Donut” or “Donut” as we know it today. Additionally, franchises such as Dunkin Donuts have popularized this last term.
World War I Originated his Day
Because of the soldiers’ ordeal during this warlike encounter, a group of Salvation Army women volunteers decided to give donuts to the wounded soldiers to cheer them up. This resulted in the establishment of Donut Day in the United States in June 1938, which was later adopted globally.
The United States Makes them and Canada Eats them
The United States is estimated to produce around 10 billion donuts per year, which is why it has emerged as the leading producer of this bread, even though Canada consumes the most donuts on the planet, with an average of 30 donuts per person.
Worldwide Popularity
This belief is based on the number of donuts produced each year around the world, which is estimated to be more than 35 billion donuts.
The Police’ Donuts
This relationship became very popular, especially on television shows, because it is said that in the 1940s, the only places open late at night were donut shops, so police officers on the evening shift would buy donuts.
The Most Expensive Donut
In 2014, a well-known UK donut chain debuted the world’s most expensive donut, made with edible diamonds, champagne jelly, and covered in 24-karat gold leaf. It cost a thousand pounds per piece and was only available in the exclusive area of Oxford Street.
Chocolate Frosted Donut Recipe
This time around, we’ll make two kinds of chocolate donuts: baked and fried. The cooking time varies slightly depending on the recipe. Each recipe has advantages and disadvantages.
Oven-baked donuts are healthier than regular air-fryer donuts, which have 280 calories, 51 percent fat, and 45 percent carbs.
They’re also faster to make because there’s no waiting for the donuts to rise or the dough to ferment in this recipe.
Fried donuts, on the one hand, have that distinct flavor. Furthermore, allowing them to ferment makes the dough much more spongy and light. The preparation process, on the other hand, is slower and more laborious, but the result is well worth it.
We will start with the donut recipe for ovens and then with the fried ones.
Chocolate Frosted Donut Oven Version
Donut Ingredients
- 1 cup of flour
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ½ tsp baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup of milk
- 1 egg
- 4 tbsp melted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Glaze Ingredients
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 5 tbsp cocoa powder
- Pinch of salt
- 3 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Step by Step Preparation(Oven version)
Step1 Preheat oven to 165oC/325oF. Prepare 1 or 2 donut baking pans, lightly greased with butter (If you only have one baking sheet, bake in two batches.)
Step2 Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a medium mixing bowl.
Step3 In a separate bowl, lightly whisk together the egg, butter, milk, and vanilla extract.
Gradually combine the wet and dry ingredients, beating with a hand whisk until a homogeneous mass is formed.
Step4 Fill the donut pan 2/3 full with a medium spoon, using the spoon to even out the dough inside each donut space.
Step5 Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the dough does not “sink” when touched with a finger and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Step6 Allow cooling slightly on a baking rack. Meanwhile, prepare the glaze; In a small bowl, place the cocoa powder, icing sugar, and a pinch of salt.
Step7 Add milk tablespoon by tablespoon, beating with the hand whisk until you get a thick glaze. Mix in the vanilla extract thoroughly.
Step8 Dip each donut into the glaze by holding it by the center. Return to the rack and top with confetti sugar or colorful sprinkles.
Fried Chocolate Frosted Donut Version
Donut Ingredients
- All-purpose flour (315 g)
- Salt (2 g)
- Sugar (30 g)
- Active dry yeast (5 g)
- Warm milk (180 ml)
- Sunflower oil or 6 melted butter tsp (30 ml)
- Egg (1 medium size)
Glaze Ingredients
- Powdered sugar 100 gr.
- Bitter Cocoa 15 Gr.
- Water 30 ml.
- Colored sprinkles (optional)
Step by Step Preparation(Fried version)
Step1 Mix in the flour, sugar, and a pinch of salt in a medium bowl.
Step2 Mix in the egg, milk, vanilla extract, and yeast. Mix everything thoroughly, first with a spoon and then with your hands.
Step3 Mix until there is no dry flour remaining.
Step4 Add the butter, mix well, and place the dough on the work surface. Knead until you have a consistent bun. If the dough becomes too sticky at this point, do not add more flour.
Step5 Continue kneading with both hands and force until you notice the dough becoming more tense and unifying as it takes shape.
Step6 Form a ball and place it in a bowl; cover and set aside for 1 hour, or until it has roughly doubled in size.
Step7 After allowing the dough to rest for an hour, degas it. The dough is no longer sticky as a result of the rest.
Step8 With a rolling pin, roll out the dough until it is one or two centimeters thick. It must not be too strong or the dough will break.
Step9 On both sides of the dough, repeat the flattening and stretching motion. If the dough sticks again after each turn, flour the work surface.
Step10 Use a pasta cutter ring or a glass, and divide the dough into portions. Knead the scraps, flatten them, and cut them again until the dough is completely gone.
Step11 Place the dough portions on a baking sheet or parchment paper-lined tray. After you’ve cut all of the dough, cover the donuts with a clean cloth or plastic wrap and set them aside for 30 minutes.
Step12 Over medium heat, heat a pot with plenty of oil. To achieve even cooking, the oil should not be too hot; the ideal temperature is 165oC.
Step13 With a spatula, place one of the donuts in hot oil and fry for less than 1 minute per side. Turn it as soon as it starts to brown. They should not be too brown; this will keep them softer.
Step14 Remove from the oil and set aside on a rack. Repeat with the remaining donuts and set aside to cool.
Chocolate Glaze
Step1 Put impalpable sugar, bitter cocoa, and water in a mixing bowl. Water should be added gradually as it is mixed and incorporated with the other ingredients.
Step2 It is critical not to keep adding water until it is completely incorporated because it hydrates and can become very liquid from one moment to the next If it’s too liquid, add a little more sugar and/or cocoa and keep mixing until the density is equal.
Step3 With one hand, support one of the sides of the donut on the glaze, then drain the excess with circular movements and place it on a cooling rack.
Chocolate glazed donuts can be topped with colored sprinkles if desired.
Final Words
We hope that with these two ways to make chocolate-covered donuts you can have more options in your kitchen repertoire.
Remember that they are easy to make and very popular with children and young people.
You can also vary the ingredients that give it flavor or the toppings to make them more creative and innovative according to your tastes.
