Pumpkin Donuts

Happy New Year! Lets start the year by being healthy and I think donuts fall into that category don't they? Yes? Ok then donuts it shall be.
Why pumpkin? Well I have several cans in the cupboard I want to use up. The dough is quite a wet one so I am unable to make actual donut shapes but they taste just as good as small pumpkin balls. Balls of heaven if you will. Mr P seemed happy enough stuffing his chops with them as did I.

Ingredients:

Donut mixture:

1/2 can of Pumpkin puree
60ml butter milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg yolk
1/2 egg (yes half an egg, give it a mix and pour half in)
1 1/2 tbsp butter
pinch ground cloves
pinch ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
pinch salt
175g plain flour
50g caster sugar
Vegetable oil to fry

Icing:

130g icing sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
2-3 tbsp milk (add a little at a time you may need more or less)

Makes 12 donuts

Equipment:

Whisk (electric or not)


Whisk the butter and sugar in a bowl, it will be a bit grainy but that's fine. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and beat those in. Then add the butter milk, mix it and then the pumpkin puree and mix again.

Next put all the dry ingredients into a bowl, give it a quick mix and then fold into the wet mixture in about 4 or so batches. Fold it until there are no streaks and you have a wet dough.
You have to then cover the bowl and place in the fridge to chill for one hour.

Now make your glaze by mixing the icing sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Then gradually add the milk till you have a thick smooth paste. Pop it in the fridge till you need it later.

After an hour pour the oil into a deep pan till its about 2 inches deep. Sprinkle in a little bit of flour to tell when it is hot enough, if it sizzle then it is. Then just a few at a time using two metal spoons make a mini rugby ball shape and gently place the dough into the pan. Fry your donuts about a minute on each side. Move to a plate with kitchen roll on to drain and allow to cool.

When cool pour over the glaze, let stand for about half and hour and then EAT!

Pumpkin Pie

I tried pumpkin pie when I was on honeymoon in New York and really loved it so I thought it was time to give it a whirl in the kitchen.
With its sweet and spicy flavour it is just right for this time of year. Its not too hard to make and the results are yummilicious.
So a couple of things. Firstly, if you do make your own pastry I prefer to use icing sugar because it gives a smoother finish than caster but, feel free to use caster if you want. Secondly, the pumpkin puree. In America they sell it in cans which seem to be fairly easy to buy but over here in good old England it’s a little harder to find. After going into 3 different supermarkets I finally found it at Waitrose. You can make your own by baking a pumpkin and whizzing it up in a food processor.
There are two stages, the sweet pastry and then the filling. If you do not want to attempt the pastry just buy a 9 inch pastry case instead.


Ingredients:

Sweet Pastry:

225g plain flour
110g butter salted cubed
90g icing sugar
1 large egg
Splash of milk

Pumpkin filling:

75g soft dark brown sugar
425g pumpkin puree (one can)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp ground ginger
275 ml double cream
2 large eggs and one extra egg yolk

Equipment:

Food processor
9 inch flan tin with a loose bottom
Baking beans


To make the pastry sieve the flour and icing sugar into the food processor. Then add the cubed butter and on a low setting let it whiz until it becomes a crumb texture. If you do not have a food processor use your finger tips.
Next add the egg and milk and give it another whiz till it binds. Make sure you stop as soon as it comes together. Then empty it onto a floured surface and give it just a couple of kneads to make it into a ball. Wrap it in some Clingfilm and put it in the fridge for about 20 minutes to cool.

Place your flan tin bottom on your surface and sprinkle a little flour on it. Put your ball of dough in the middle of the base and start to roll out. Roll it so it is about an inch and a half outside the base of the tin bottom. Then pull it in around the edge and place the bottom back in the tin. Fold the dough back out so it covers the edges of the tin and gently push it into the grooves. Using a fork poke the base about 6 or so times, cover and put back in the fridge for about 20 minutes.

Now to blind bake. Preheat the oven to gas 5/190°C and then cover you pastry case with greaseproof paper. Put your baking beans into it and place in the oven for 10-15 minutes till the sides start to brown. Then take the beans off and continue to bake for another 15-20 minutes so the base browns a little. Take it out of the oven and gently cut off any extra pastry around the edges.

Next job is the filling. Whisk your eggs in a bowl and put to the side. Then pour the cream and all the spices and sugar into a pan over a gentle heat. Whisk it so all the ingredients are incorporated. Gradually pour your cream mixture in the eggs but make sure you whisk it continually so as not to get any lumps. Once fully mixed add your pumpkin puree, again whisking so it is well combined.

Lastly, pour your filling into your pastry case and bake for about 35-40 minutes on gas 5/190°C . There should be a slight wobble in the middle when done.
If you notice there is a crack in the top which means I overcooked mine by about 5 minutes. Ideally there should not be any cracks...If only I had remembered to put an alarm on and stopped watching the T.V. Ho hum.

Allow to cool and then take out of the tin. Serve with a bit of cream or as Mr P has informed me, it would go well with ice cream if we had any.