Polish doughnuts (Pączki)

Prepare

1. 🥄step 1
2. 🔥To make the leaven, mix the yeast with the sugar and flour, and stir in the warm milk.

Steps

1. 🔥Set aside in a warm place for 30 minutes.
2. 🧂step 2
3. 🍳For the dough, put egg yolks into a heatproof bowl and add the sugar and vanilla sugar.

Prepare

1. 🧂Set the bowl over a pan of simmering water and whisk until smooth and thick.

Steps

1. 🍳step 3

Prepare

1. 🫇Sift the flour into the bowl of a stand mixer, add the beaten yolks and the warm cream, mix thoroughly, then add a pinch of salt and the leaven.

Steps

1. 🍽️Bring together to make a dough and knead for 10 minutes (or 15-20 if doing this by hand).
2. 🌿step 4
3. ✨When the dough stops sticking to your hands, pour in the cooled melted butter and knead for a few more minutes.
4. 🥄Cover with a cloth and leave in a warm place to rise for at least 1 hr-1 hr 30 mins.
5. 🔥step 5

Prepare

1. 🌿Mix the jam with the ground almonds and spoon into a piping bag or jam syringe.

Steps

1. ✨Divide the dough into 16 pieces and shape them into doughnuts.
2. 🥄Cover and leave to rise for 30 mins.
3. 🔥step 6

Cook

1. 🥄Fill a deep pan or a deep fat fryer one third full of oil or melted lard and heat it until it is 180C – if you don’t have a thermometer, drop in a small chunk of bread.

Steps

1. 🔥The oil is ready when it browns in about 30 secs.

Cook

1. 🧂Add the doughnuts and fry, turning them once for about 1-2 mins on each side (a thin lighter ring should form in the middle).

Steps

1. 🍳After removing, drain the doughnuts of excess fat on some kitchen paper.