Friday, April 8, 2011

Sweet Potato Donuts w/ Cinnamon Marshmallow Cream


Well, you guys sure do like Chocolate Cake don't you?!  I hear you people, and I have no idea why I didn't just make it into a post, but the recipe I used for the chocolate cake is from the blog Foodess - recipe titled "Moist Chocolate Cake".  And it ain't no lie!  I pretty much followed that one to a tee (I made it into a rectangle cake, instead of a circular one), so it's no-fail.  I was a little worried, because you add the hot coffee at the end and it made the batter look like a big mud puddle (but I think that's what makes this cake so moist, so don't fret!).  I also used this Buttercream Frosting recipe from Wilton.com, and the only change I made was to only use 2 cups of powdered sugar instead of 4 (I just have trouble using that much sugar sometimes) and it made just enough frosting to frost the whole cake.

Anyway, to today's recipe (which won the poll from a couple weeks ago) is Sweet Potato Donuts.  Seriously, these are a must try.  And to have it with the cinnamon marshmallow cream just puts them over the top!  A-d-d-i-c-t-i-n-g.

Don't forget to vote for the new poll (which I'll try not to be too late on, again) down below!

I bet you can't have just one!
Ingredients:
Adapted from Food & Wine's recipe


Donuts:


1 large sweet potato
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon instant dry yeast
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 & 1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 vanilla bean, seeds scraped
pinch of nutmeg
1 tablespoon bourbon (c'mon, I live in Kentucky, had to replace the rum with this, hehe)
1 egg
2 egg yolks
3 & 1/4 to 5 cups flour, plus more for rolling out dough

Cinnamon Marshmallow Cream:

1 & 1/2 cups marshmallows
1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream, plus more if desired
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Prick your sweet potato all over with a fork and cook in the microwave for 10 minutes, or until softened.  Let cool to room temperature and carefully peel.

Place sweet potato in a high rimmed bowl and puree with an immersion blender (or an actual blender - but I was going for getting less contraptions dirty) until smooth.  I had about 1 & 1/2 cups of puree.

In a small skillet, brown butter under medium high heat until nutty in flavor, about 5-6 minutes.


Scrape butter and any solids into a medium sized bowl and let cool.

Using the same skillet used for butter, add milk and heat until it is just warm (about 105 F).  Pour milk into a large bowl and add yeast.  Let sit for about 5 minutes.  Slowly mix in white sugar, dark brown sugar, salt, vanilla seeds, nutmeg, and bourbon.  Stir in sweet potato puree, browned butter & solids, egg, and egg yolks.  Beat mixture until combined.  Add the flour and beat at a medium speed (I used a wooden spoon for this - nothing like an old-fashioned workout) until pliable dough forms.  I think I added about 1 to 1 & 1/2 more cups of flour to get the desired dough consistency for mine (but I think this all depends on how big your actual sweet potato is, and how much puree you end up with).  Knead dough for a few minutes and place in a greased bowl.  Cover and let rise for about 1 hour.


Punch down the dough and let sit for about 5 minutes.  On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/2 inch thickness.  Use a floured rim of a glass (or round cookie cutters) and cut out as many rounds as you can.  Use a smaller round cookie cutter (or in my case, the bourbon cap) to cut out the centers of the donuts for donut holes.  Nothing goes to waste here!  Roll out dough one or two more times to cut out as many donuts as possible.  I think I ended up with a little over 2 dozen.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and transfer cut out dough to each sheet.  Cover baking sheets with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 400 F and place oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven.  Bake the donut holes for about 10 minutes, and the donuts for 20 minutes, or until risen and golden.  You can have the holes and donuts on the same sheet, just remember to remove the donut holes first.  Let donuts cool to room temperature before dipping in cream.


To make the marshmallow cream, heat a small saucepan under medium low to medium heat.  Add marshmallows, heavy cream, and cinnamon.  Stir slowly until marshmallows have melted.  You can add more cream if you want a thinner sauce.

Dip the donuts in cream and let any excess drip off (into your mouth, if you wish).

The original recipe had a cinnamon sugar topping, which is all well and fine, but seriously, the marshmallow cream here is where it's at.  There's a restaurant here in Louisville, the Village Anchor, that serves sweet potato fries with this cream (I was lucky enough to obtain this VERY simple recipe from our waiter last time we were there), and I just thought it would be perfect for these donuts!  I could really just drink that cream by itself, it's that good.

I love that these donuts were baked, instead of fried, too.  It makes them actually somewhat healthy, right?  They were absolutely delicious, unique, and perfect with a cup of coffee!

And don't forget to vote for next time's dessert in this week's poll!  I'm in a chocolate mood - and when I'm in a chocolate mood, Andy is very very happy.


39 comments:

  1. I just finished eating breakfast but I have a room for these delicious sweet potato donuts!!!! Yes baking "sounds" a lot healthier and I might eat one more extra just for that (then equal as deep frying?). These look so delicious Peggy...almost dangerous...I got sugar high from pictures. =P Have a wonderful weekend!

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  2. Sweet potatoes!!! How delicious!!

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  3. What a neat post! Looking forward for more post from you. Thank you for sharing!

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  4. Wow that looks so inviting and glorious Peggy...

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  5. These look delish! I have always wanted to make homemade doughnuts...what am I waiting for?!??!? :)

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  6. How fun! My nieces are coming into Chicago next month and I know they've been trying donuts lately. I may have to try this recipe on them!

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  7. Peggy,

    This sweet potato donuts with cinnamony cream is one die for.

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  8. Oh WOW these look WAY too good!!! What a treat.

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  9. Oh my word! That is one awesome donut!

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  10. Those look amazing!!! How awesome is that?

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  11. Incredible - LOVE sweet potatoes and donuts aren't so bad either.. thanks for sharing!

    -twentyeight

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  12. Wonderful! Love the flavor combination of your donuts. Now off to see the chocolate cake recipe :)

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  13. I love that these donuts have sweet potatoes! I really want to try them now... but it is going to be on my list of "things to try after my diet".

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  14. I am actually drooling a little right now :) These look fabulous!

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  15. OMG!!! These look sooooo fabulous! I love sweet potatoes but never thought to make them into doughnuts...brilliant! :)

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  16. Oh yum! Can't wait to make and more importantly try!!

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  17. Oh my gosh, you are killing me with this!! It's 11 pm and I am seriously considering making these...

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  18. It's like you know exactly what I want before I want it. Sweet potaotes. In BAKED donuts. Covered in marshmallow cream. Heavenly.

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  19. Those really are beautiful! Every day I'm learning about a new thing that I can do with sweet potatoes. They're one of my favourite foods!

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  20. First time here and the Donuts looks awesome. Love the addition of sweet potatoes and your photos are fabulous.

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  21. Sweet potatoes are really great and a doughnut made of them plus your marshmallow cream is a MUST-taste! Just looking at the photos makes me want to grab them. I'm sure your soon to be married life will be filled with sweet things that comes right from your heart. Best Wishes Peggy!

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  22. I have never made donuts at home (a shame, I know) but when I do...these will be first on my list. Thank you so much for sharing your words and creativity with me tonight. During good times and bad, your blog always offers me a dose of joy. I hope you have a blessed and happy Sunday, my friend. Hugs from Austin!

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  23. wow..looks so delicious...awesome recipe..will try this someday...:)

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  24. Hey Peggy, those donuts look simply delish! Btw, I'm your new friend on foodbuzz :)

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  25. I love homemade donuts, though I've never made them with sweet potatoes. These sound wonderful. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  26. Oh my! A sweet potato doughnut!? How could that be nothing but delicious? Yum!

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  27. They look delicious and very fluffy!

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  28. That is one yummy looking donut! Thanks for visiting and commenting on Claudia's post!

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  29. Oh wow. These, I must make! They look so good!

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  30. Just incredible. Clever girl. Speechless. Amazing combination!

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  31. Perfect, I just bought some sweet potatoes! These look really good.

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  32. Why, why, why would you torture me with this recipe?!

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  33. Homemade donuts are simply the best, but I've never had one made with sweet potatoes. Your version looks and sounds amazing and that frosting, well, I'm not sure it would ever make it on the donuts ;o)

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  34. i'd love to try these. i love sweet potatoes.

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