Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Filled Doughnuts with Chocolate Sauce
Doughnuts.
1 cup whole milk
1 package active dry yeast
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 1/2 - 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling
olive oil, for frying
Filling.
8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup salted caramel sauce
Chocolate.
6 ounces heavy whipping cream
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
Doughnuts.
Warm the milk in a saucepan or in the microwave until the temperature reaches between 110-115 degrees F. Pour into the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Sprinkle with the yeast and sugar; let stand 5 minutes until foamy.
With the mixer on low, add the butter, egg, salt, nutmeg and half the flour. Gradually add the remainder of the flour. Switch to the dough hook and knead on medium speed for 4-5 minutes, until the dough is smooth and starts to pull away from the bowl; it may be slightly loose and sticky but don't add more flour. Dump the dough into an oiled bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel and set in a warm place to rise until doubled in size, about one hour.
On a floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/2 inch thick. Cut out dough with a 1 1/2 inch round cutter, then gather up any scraps and cut those as well. Place the doughnuts on parchment lined baking sheets, cover with clean towels, and set aside to rest and rise again for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat three inches of olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, until the oil reaches 365F. Fry the doughnuts 5 or 6 at a time, for about a minute on each side, until golden brown. Drain on a wire rack and let cool slightly.
Filling.
For the filling, whip the cream cheese, cream and caramel with a hand mixer until thick and smooth. Scoop into a piping bag and pipe into the doughnuts.
Chocolate.
Heat the cream in a saucepan just until it begins to simmer around the edges. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate until smooth and creamy. Serve warm, on the side for dipping the doughnuts.
If you have leftover doughnuts, chill the chocolate until thickened like pudding and spread onto the doughnuts. Store leftover doughnuts in an airtight container in the refrigerator; they will be good for up to one day, and when chilled they taste like cream puffs.
Yields about 3 dozen mini doughnuts
Recipe from Curly Girl Kitchen