Oh my goodness, it's the end of October already! And it's time for another Daring Bakers' Challenge!
The October 2010 Daring Bakers' Challenge was hosted by Lori of Butter Me Up. Lori chose to challenge DBers to make doughnuts. She used several sources for her recipes including Alton Brown, Nancy Silverton, Kate Neumann and Epicurious.
When I first read the challenge I thought it would be so easy, after all, we've tackled ice cream, puff pastry, layer cakes, croquembouche and the like..boy was I wrong. I underestimated doughnuts. While my fellow Daring Bakers were uploading pictures of their lovely creations, I was slaving away in my kitchen--desperately trying to save mine. First of all, I didn't realize that I already ran out of flour, and when I was kneading my dough, it dawned on me that my flour was mixed in with some cornstarch. Instead of coming together after kneading for 10 minutes, it became more wet. I didn't have any choice but to go through with it--so I salvaged the mixture and went ahead. And then when it was time to roll it out, it kept sticking on the work table, and I couldnt find my round cookie cutters! So I just did my best to roll them into balls, proofed them for 30 minutes and fried them in hot oil. To my surprise, they came out alright--here's a cross section of the flour-cornstarch donuts.
I sprinkled them with some cinnamon sugar but I wasn't satisfied because of the free-form shapes so I melted bittersweet chocolate and dipped the tops. And they came out better looking. Good enough to post my finished products in the forums. 
I had to redeem myself, I won't allow myself to be intimidated by these doughnuts so I bought some flour and did the whole thing again. And this time to my relief, the doughnuts came out more presentable. Here they are, made of all-purpose flour, no cornstarch. The dough was easier to knead and roll out, and I found my cookie cutters so they are really round this time. I glazed the tops with melted bittersweet chocolate, nutella and coffee and decorated it with some poured fondant icing (powdered sugar and milk). They got rave reviews at work, everyone said they tasted so good and couldn't get enough of the glaze.
Thank you Lori for this challenge, which taught me never to underestimate any recipe, be it simple or complicated!
40 comments:
I think the cornstarch ones look good but the second version are very impressive and I love the glaze on them. Cheers from Audax in Sydney Australia.
This is what I call a REAL DB!! never gives up! Both versions look delicious! Great job on the challenge!
Great looking doughnuts! Very nicely done.
They look amazing and the chocolate glaze is just perfect!
I'm sorry for your first failure, but you didn't give up and ended up with really beautiful results! I love your shiny chocolate glaze (they're much more beautiful than any store-bought ones for sure!).
Oh goodness, what troubles this challenge gave you! They all look gorgeous, but I especially like the chocolate glazed ones with white icing designs. Excellent!
Your doughnuts deserve the rave reviews they got. They look lovely. Like the nutella touch in the glaze. :)
They look beautiful! I want the chocolate ones!
You did a perfect job. I like them both but the seconds ones are dressed so perfectly.
They look beautiful! I wish I could eat the chocolate ones right now!
Both batches look fantastic, but the glaze on the second batch is so elegant and beautiful. Was there a taste or texture difference between the two batches? Awesome job, great perseverance to get them done to your satisfaction, and really great looking donuts!!
Everything looks gorgous and the chocolate glaze drizzled with marble effect looks awesome.
Pavithra
www.dishesfrommykitchen.com
A true Daring Baker indeed! Well done, your doughnuts look perfect.:-)
Cornstarch or not, both versions look delicious to me! Your glaze is perfect! Nom, nom, nom...
That glaze looks and sounds fantastic! I bet the cornstarch made for a nice texture--maybe you've discovered a great new doughnut recipe!
:)
I saw your chocolate with the glaze on the forums and thought it looked like a professionally baked doughnut! Nice job on the challenge!
Totally in love with the glaze.... and beautifully shot!!
Sawadee from Bangkok,
Kris
These look so wonderful! Kudos for sticking with this challenge! The donuts look so fluffy, not to mention that great chocolatey glaze!
You had problems? I can't believe it. Your first attempt looks fantastic! And the second batch? Those are so professional looking Great job.
Love the last photo - the chocolate coating looks lovely.
Love the chocolate idea! They look yummy !
I love your glazed doughnuts! They look great!
I had to make my doughnuts twice two, but first time they got so sticky that I even went ahead with the recipe, just trough everything away, and made again!
Oh dear, it sounds like everything conspired against you for your first try. But to your credit, you couldn't tell by the result! I have to say, your second version looks mouth-watering, I just want to bite into it!
Good for you for not giving up on the first batch. What can I say I like free form. But your second attempt does look superb. Congrats
I love the chocolate glaze with nutella and coffee, your doughnuts look delicious!
Flour and cornstarch?! Did that taste differently? I think both versions look just fine...though without the cornstarch it is a bit more "refined."
Oh these donuts are so so pretty!
You did a great job! I love the chocolate glaze.
Beautiful job on both the donuts and the holes - they look phenomenal, especially the chocolate glazed beauty. You always rock these challenges :D
I think your doughnuts turned out perfect! I love the chocolate glaze; they're beautiful! I think your cornstarch ones didn't look half bad either. Trust me, I've had some pretty crazy looking flops on the daring kitchen challenges. I think people just don't always show the craziness behind the scenes.
Nice work and congrats on a successful challenge!
That glazed doughnut is exactly the kind of thing I daydream about. Beautiful! The glaze sounds delicious. The cornstarch batch look great too. Mmm!
Wow, aren't the cornstarch one fine in texture? I love when recipes turn out even if I made a mistake. Otherwise what a terrible waste of ingredients and time! Yes, the glaze looks gorgeous!
Those are so perfect and tempting! I am drooling... You did a great job.
Cheers,
Rosa
Somedays you just aren't meant to cook LOL!
Your second batch of doughnuts look divine :) Good on you for trying again - it was well worth it!
These look delicious!! Loving the glazed ones!!
Good on you for going ahead despite your doubts, and turning out perfect looking donuts. I want to lick that shiny chocolate glaze - it looks devine.
hoooray! :) the 2nd batch looks great :) the 1st batch actually looks photogenic too.
great job! im sure your workmates always wished you had more of these challenges
tooooooooooooooooo good. looking great with glaze.
Oo, your doughnuts look great! I love the chocolate glaze.
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