Keep the Valentine’s Day magic going a little longer with these bites of strawberry sweetness. They are so much better than a bunch of flowers.
Serves
Makes 18
Preparation Time
50 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
WHAT YOU NEED
Cake Donuts
• 80g unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 110g caster (superfine) sugar
• 1 egg, at room temperature
• 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 185ml milk
• 500g self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting
• A good pinch of fine sea salt
• 20g freeze-dried strawberries
• Vegetable, canola or rice bran oil, for deep-frying
Strawberry Icing
• 125g icing (confectioners’) sugar, plus extra for dusting
• 2 teaspoons imitation strawberry essence
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 6 drops of pink food colouring
WHAT TO DO
1. Cream the butter and sugar together in a large standmixer for 3 minutes, or until pale and fluffy. Add the egg, egg yolk, vanilla essence and milk and mix until just combined.
2. Sift the flour and salt over the mixture in the bowl. Add half of the freeze-dried strawberries and mix until just combined, but do not overmix or the dough will become tough.
3. Lightly flour a clean surface, turn the dough out onto it and, using lightly floured hands, gently bring it together. Knead gently for a few seconds until the dough becomes smooth. Using a floured rolling pin, gently roll the dough out to a 1cm thickness. Using a floured 6cm heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out hearts from the dough, making sure you cut them as close together as possible. Re-roll any off-cuts and cut out more hearts until you have 18 in total.
4. Heat the oil in a deep, heavy-based saucepan over a medium-high heat until it reaches 180°C. Deep-fry the donuts in batches, turning occasionally, for 2-3 minutes each, or until puffed, golden and cooked through. Transfer to paper towels to drain briefly, then allow to cool.
5. Whisk all the ingredients for the strawberry icing together in a bowl until well combined and smooth.
6. Transfer the donuts to a wire rack set over a baking tray. Drizzle the icing over the cooled donuts. Sprinkle the tops with the remaining freeze-dried strawberries, then allow to set before dusting with extra icing sugar and serving.
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