Wednesday, October 27, 2010

CINNAMON SUGAR DOUGHNUTS - THE DARING BAKERS

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October represent the beginning of fall (my favorite time of the year) and is the month of pumpkins, Halloween and doughnuts! Why doughnuts, you'll ask me. Well, because all Daring Bakers around the world have been asked to bake that irresistible old-fashioned goody whicht has made the reputation of chains like Krispy Kreme and Dunkin' Doughnuts.

The October 2010 Daring Bakers challenge was hosted by Lori of "Butter Me Up" who chose to challenge DBers to make doughnuts. She used several sources for her recipes including Alton Brown, Nancy Silverton, Kate Neumann and Epicurious.

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It might sound very odd to you, but unlike many Americans or children around the world, when I was a kid I was not a big fan of doughnuts ("Berlin Balls" more exactly). I can't really say why that treat did not particularly appeal to me, but although the flavor of doughnuts didn't repulse me it never made me drool. I tolerated doughnuts...

Thankfully, with age my tastes changed and I grew very fond of that fluffy, "oily" (good ones should not be soaked with fat, they should just be brushed be the delicate fingers of oil that is brought at the right temperature) and sugar coated snack. Thankfully I was able to join the ranks of doughnuts lovers and finally got to understand what all the buzz is about when it comes to eating those tender regressive pastries to surfeited collapse. A guilty pleasure that is so worth the calotrie intake.

Making "Cinnamon Sugar Doughnuts" for this month's challenge was a first for me. Strangely enough I had not tackled the art of doughnut-making until now even if I bake a lot and make breads on a weekly basis. I never got around to baking that speciality from the past as I am a little apprehensive when it comes to using boiling oil because I tend to be afraid of the mess it'll leave in my kitchen (you know, the oil spurting all over your floor, walls and fourniture) and the thick greasy as well as smelly cloud that might enshroud the apartment.

Anyway, considering the fact that I prepared that recipe while cleaning the apartment, blogging and being in a totally rotten/quarrelly mood, I must say that my "Cinnamon Sugar Doughnuts" turned out pretty well. The whole process was quite straight forward, fast, easy and clean. At 10am I started mixing all the ingredients together with my beloved retro red Kitchen Aid and by 1.30am we were already frantically gobbling my freshly fried, warm and divinely smooth doughnuts.

This time I decided not to make many changes to the original recipe. I prepared "Berlin Balls
" filled with homemade blackcurrant jam and plain "Cinnamon Sugar Ring Doughnuts" . The Alton Brown recipe produced pillowy doughnuts that melted in the mouth and were just impeccable. The cinnamon sugar (with a hint of cardamom) sublimated both fried cakes in a marvelous manner and the gorgeous tartness of the jam contrasted perfectly with the roundness of the dough.

I wish to thank Lori for having chosen that awesome challenge. Thanks to her I have discovered that it is possible to make the most scrumptious doughnuts at home, effortlessly. I'm definitely going to make more of them babies in the future.

This bread is getting yeastspotted by Susan’s Yeastspotting!

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~ Cinnamon Sugar Doughnuts ~
Recipe from Alton Brown.

Yields 20 to 25 doughnuts & 20 to 25 doughnut holes, depending on size.

Equipment required:
A Dutch oven or deep skillet (I prefer using a Dutch oven to reduce splatter).
Deep fry thermometer, candy thermometer or any thermometer that will withstand and measure temperatures of up to 190° C (380° F).
Metal slotted spoon, metal slotted spatula or tongs (do NOT use plastic - it will melt!).
Cookie sheets or a wire rack lined with paper towels to allow doughnuts to drain.
Electric hand mixer or stand mixer, or a bowl and a spoon if you are able to utilize a lot of elbow grease.
Doughnut or biscuit cutters or you can use a glass and a piping tip for the center.
Pastry bag (filled doughnut) or a squeeze bottle with a good tip that will poke a hole in your doughnuts.

Preparation time:

Hands on prep time - 25 minutes
Rising time - 1.5 hours total
Cooking time - 12 minutes

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Ingredients for the "Dough":
1 1/2 Cup (360ml) Milk
1/3 Cup (70g/2.5oz) Unsalted butter
4 1/2 Tsps (2Pkgs./14g/0.5oz) Active Dry Yeast
1/3 Cup (80ml) Warm Water (95°F to 105°F / 35°C to 41° C)
2 Large eggs, beaten
1/4 Cup (60g/20z) White Granulated Sugar
1 1/2 Tsp (9g/1/3oz) Sea salt
1 Tsp (86g/1/4oz) Grated nutmeg
4 2/3 Cups (650g/230z) All Purpose Flour + extra if the dou gh is to wet & for dusting surface Peanut oil, you need 3 inches of oil in the pan (can substitute any flavorless oil used for frying) Ingredients for the "Cinnamon Sugar":
450g (1 pound) White granulated sugar
2 Tbs Ground cinnamon
1 Tbs Ground cardamom

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Method:
1. Place the milk in a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat just until warm enough to melt the shortening. (It should not be warmer than 50° C/120° F otherwise you'll kill the yeast! Make sure the shortening is melted so that it incorporates well into the batter.).
2. Place the shortening in a bowl and pour warmed milk over. Set aside.
3. In a small bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the warm water and let dissolve for 5 minutes (it should get foamy).
4. After 5 minutes, pour the yeast mixture into the large bowl of a stand mixer and add the milk and shortening mixture, first making sure the milk and shortening mixture has cooled to lukewarm.
5. Add the eggs, sugar, salt, nutmeg, and half of the flour.
6. Using the paddle attachment of your mixer (if you have one), combine the ingredients on low speed until flour is incorporated and then turn the speed up to medium and beat until well combined.
7. Add the remaining flour, combining on low speed at first, and then increase the speed to medium and beat well.
8. Change to the dough hook attachment of the mixer and beat on medium speed until the dough pulls away from the bowl and becomes smooth (not sticky), approximately 3 to 4 minutes (if you do not have a dough hook/stand mixer – knead until the dough is smooth and not sticky).
9. Transfer to a well-oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
10. On a well-floured surface, roll out dough to 9mm (3/8-inch) thick. (Make sure the surface really is well-floured otherwise your doughnuts will stick to the counter).
11. Cut out dough using a 65mm (2 1/2-inch) doughnut cutter or pastry ring or drinking glass and using a 22mm (7/8-inch) ring for the center whole.
12. Set on floured baking sheet, cover lightly with a tea towel, and let rise for 30 minutes.
13. Preheat the oil in a deep fryer or Dutch oven to 185° C (365 °F).
14. Gently place the doughnuts into the oil, 3 to 4 at a time. Cook for 1 minute per side or until golden brown (my doughnuts only took about 30 seconds on each side at this temperature).
15. Drain on paper towels and toss in cinnamon sugar. Let cool.

Doughnuts Picnik collage 5 bis
Filling Directions (only for doughnut balls):
Once you have coated your doughnut balls with cinnamon sugar and let them cool, fit a pastry bag with a plain doughnut tip (or a 1/4-inch (6 mm) tip) and fill with the preserves (you can also use a squeeze bottle). Poke the tip three-fourths of the way into the "Berlin Balls" and squeeze in the preserves, pulling the tip out slightly as you squeeze to fill them as much as possible.

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Etant donné que je suis en vacance et que je n'ai pas beaucoup de temps pour bloguer, je n'ai malheureusement pas pu faire une traduction française de ce billet et je m'en excuse auprès de tous mes amis lecteurs et blogueurs francophones!

C'est pourquoi je vous suggère de vous rendre sur le blog mentionné ci-desso us. Vous y trouverez cette recette en version française.

Chez Isa de "Les Gourmandises d'Isa" (Canada)
Chez Vibi de "La Casserole Carrée" (Canada)

doughnuts Picnik collage 4 bis

118 comments:

  1. Rosa, you make me want to include doughnuts again in my diet. I'm goinfg to go buy a dozen!

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  2. Nice job, Rosa! I love the "berlin balls" name. Never knew that! They look SOOOO goood! really. I personally can't wait to try these again, especially with filling like you did. Isn't it amazing that those of us who bake a lot can still find things we've never done month after month. Its never ending!

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  3. Wowo i love that jammie one, so so good.
    When i was grouwn up we didn't had doughnuts at all. Nut then unlike you i am sure i would hav eloved them if we had it :-)
    My daughter loce Berlin Balls which is filled with cream pattisier here.

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  4. What can I add to what I see?
    Perfect !!! in all senses!

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  5. I love doughnuts and these look awesome!

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  6. I am speechless.
    The world is so perfect and delicious over here.
    Outstanding post ♥

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  7. est il raisonnable d'en manger à cette heure? peu importe, j'en veux::::!!!!

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  8. This is the third doughnut recipe that I've came across today!

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  9. Mm your doughnuts look just perfect! Makes me want to go and make some more right now!

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  10. Too lovely to eat! Well done Rosa, as always.

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  11. Ah des vrais donuts avec des trous ;-) Superbes tes photos. On a envie de croquer dedans.
    Bises

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  12. How absolutely gorgeous! I love the way you have combined the delicious looking doughnuts pics with the beautiful scenes of autumn in Switzerland.

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  13. Rosa these look lovely. For some obscure reason they are called gravy rings in this part of the world but I love them especially dusted in cinnamon sugar. I haven't made these since I was in school. You have tempted me. They don't seem difficult if you are used to working with yeast. Your pics as always are wonderful.

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  14. Wow! I just admire at your creation. when I open your page I just can't wait to see your images.

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  15. Gorgeous pictures and love the sound of the filling.

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  16. Gorgeous doughnuts and beautiful pictures! I never grew up eating a lot of doughnuts either... love the jam filling!

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  17. I can sure understand how your quarrelly dispersed once taking a first bite of that pillowy treat ;O)

    There are many things I haven't tackled yet myself...I'm even more behind than you are for sure...however, even though I can't stand frying for most of the reasons you mentioned...I get the feeling I'll be making these over the holidays.

    You did a fabulous post Rosa.
    Ciao for now and wishing better spirits going forward ;)
    Claudia

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  18. Your doughnuts looks good! I'd like to have a bite of one or two of them!!!!

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  19. Ils sont carrément parfaits ! tous en rondeurs et en couleurs. Ils n'auraient pas eu une longue durée de vie chez nous, mon fils, peut en manger une 1/2 douzaine en un rien de temps :)

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  20. Isn't it funny how our tastes change as we grow? Your donuts look absolutely fantastic, all light and pillowy and cinnamon-sugary goodness! And your photos, as always, are simply stunning. Truly wonderful job.

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  21. Cinnamon sugar doughnuts are a childhood favourite Rosa.

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  22. oh wow what fantastic clicks...so yummy as well..

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  23. WOW. Those look so good! Especially the filled ones :D

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  24. Fabulous pictures. They look wonderful!

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  25. I have fond memories of doughnuts. We were living further north, a lot further north than where I live now and the winters were VERY cold! I would come home after school, on bread making day, to a toasty warm, steamy kitchen. Mom would have a pot of oil on ready to make me a fresh bread doughnut. Sometimes she'd make proper doughnuts, hole and all but sometimes she'd just spread out a piece of dough and drop it on the oil. Interesting shapes would come out which she would to with flavoured icing. So yum. Nothing like home made doughnuts! She also made cake doughnuts and those are yummy too.

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  26. You should open a bakery Rosa! As always, these look fantastic!

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  27. Rosa, these muffins look super! I shall make some too.

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  28. Waouh!

    Ils sont superbes! Et les photos, c'est comme toujours! :)

    Bonnes vacances!

    Bisous :)

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  29. Oh my these look so mouthwatering...I don't have the guts to make doughnuts, but I really really want to!!

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  30. Outstanding job Rosa! Your doughnut look delicious and your photos are stunning as well.

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  31. Those look so beautiful, just perfect! I have always wanted to try making doughnuts. You have inspired me to try:)

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  32. Your doughnuts looks so so perfect

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  33. They look so good, nothing like fresh cinnamon sugar doughnuts. I love all your other photos that you slip in there too!

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  34. Both your doughnuts look delicious. I'm a huge fan of cinnamon but the doughnuts filled with homemade blackcurrant jam look divine!

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  35. Stunning! You managed to make something fried look like a beautiful part of nature...perhaps doughnuts are not so unhealthy after all. :-)

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  36. These are just too darned tempting and gorgeous dear girl...wow! I love them!!

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  37. "Berlin Balls", I absolutely love that name for donuts!
    Black Currant Jam as a filler sent me over the edge...what are the chances of you having a few leftover donuts for me?
    The one thing I find suspect is you being in a "rotten/quarrelly" mood...never...you are always so sweet and kind!

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  38. Stunning pix, as always, Rosa. Great job!

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  39. Pillowy Goodness is exactly what it is! Awesome photographs as usual!

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  40. How scrumptious, Rosa. :-) I've never made deep-fried doughnuts before, but used to make baked ones all the time when I was a girl. :-) Yours look deliciously light and tender. :-)

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  41. YUMMY! I love them, they look wonderful. My grandmother use to make cinnamon sugar doughnuts, I could never stop at one, two or three! Thanks for motivating me to do this challenge! Loved the recipe!

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  42. Rosa, those donuts are too gorgeous to eat!! Great job!!!

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  43. They look delicious! My mum used to make similar doughnuts once a year for a Spring festival in Finland :-)

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  44. Yummy, yummy! I can't believe how fast the process was! I've only made doughnuts once (I'm traumatized now) but I started them in the morning, and they were ready by 5pm! Perhaps I'd be up for trying them again if I had a quicker recipe. :)

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  45. Such beautiful photos of doughnuts that look heavenly! Great job on the DB challenge!!

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  46. Rosa, you've brought back fond memories for me of my grandmother and her doughnuts. They were divine, although sadly I don't have her recipe. You've made doughnuts look like rock stars.
    Sam

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  47. Those are beautiful donuts! I love both versions, but the filled ones with the home-made jam sound so delicious! Great job and excellent pictures!

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  48. Rosa, the donuts look stunningly perfect!!! beautiful creations...

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  49. Doughnuts have always been one of my favorite things! Both of your versions look fantastic. I have to make some soon!

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  50. OMG Rosa these doughnuts look amazing! xx gloria

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  51. Perfect, Rosa! These are just PERFECT!!

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  52. Great pictures! Your doughnuts are perfect! And perfect for this time of the year that is cooler enough to enjoy them with a cup of coffee!

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  53. Your doughnuts look incredible! Great job on the challenge!!

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  54. Rosa, These are gorgeous and mouthwatering! Great photos, as always!

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  55. Oh, a fresh donut...how yummy! I have yet to try my hand at making one. I'm a little bit intimidated by the donut!

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  56. Rosa what is better than Cinnamon doughnuts! These looks AMAZING! YUMM!

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  57. I am not a big doughnut fan,most of the ones in the US taste like plastic. But I would have a bite of yours in a heartbeat!

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  58. Great looking doughnuts. Very nicely done, Rosa!

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  59. OMG Rosa those donuts are incredible – a dozen right now!!

    Cheers,

    Gera

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  60. Rosa, I would love one of your beautiful homemade donuts- it looks like you have easily mastered the art of donut making. I love your photographs and am very impressed at how many beautiful things you have posted here in the month of October:)

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  61. These are the most tempting doughnuts I've ever seen. Sensational.

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  62. I have not make donuts for a long time but what I made have no comparison to yours. I must try making it again with your recipes! Gorgeous pictures!

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  63. Same here, never thought about baking doughnuts until just now! Maybe it is the oil that holds us back...]

    I must be addicted to the cinnamon flavor of your "Berlin Balls"... Any reason whey they are called "Berlin Balls"?

    And love the photos of flowers...

    Sawadee from Bangkok,
    Kris

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  64. Awsome! Awsome sweets, post and pictures! Love everything!

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  65. Really? Your first doughnuts? I am floored! Rosa, you amaze me endlessly! I absolutely love doughnuts and these would have me begging for more! The filled ones are divine! Good for you!

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  66. Superb... real autum treats, great pics too:)

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  67. A guilty pleasure - j'aime assez l'expression. Jen ai deja fait, avec une autre recette, mais je me laisserais bien tenter par ceux-ci.

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  68. The look gorgeous and love the flavours!

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  69. je te piquerais bien un donat de ce genre. Ils ont l'air parfaits.

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  70. These may be the most tempting morsels I've seen posted all month long. WOW! Utterly gorgeous and with the most perfect seeming texture ratio of crispy outside to pillowy interior... Thanks for sharing!

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  71. I really like this sugar on these donuts :)

    have a nice time,
    Paula

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  72. Awesome..thats the word..I love donuts and your pictures are truly amazing...!!

    US Masala

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  73. Oh you've done wonders with these Rosa...they look amazing! Good on you for getting out of your comfort zone.

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  74. Suis un peu nullos en Anglais alors bon suis pas sûre que si j'essaie ça va ressembler au modèle !!!! Passe de très belles vacances ! :-)

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  75. A divine treat. One of these would be perfect with my tea right now. Lovely!

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  76. Oh Do-nuts!!
    Love them , specially as flavor full and pretty as urs!

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  77. Rosa, je m'étonne aussi régulièrement à quel point notre goût peut changer ou évoluer avec l'âge... Bien que pour ma part, les beignets/doughnuts ont toujours été apprécié ;)
    Elles sont très tentantes tes boules de Berlin !

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  78. Love your 'Berlin Balls' and love that they're filled with loads of jelly! Gorgeous photography, it's so fun to just stare at each photo :)

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  79. WOW - your doughnuts are looking mighty, mighty fine! I want to eat them right off the screen.

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  80. Your donuts look perfect. I wish I would have tried some of the filled ones. They must have been fabulous!

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  81. These donuts look so heavenly good - wonderful with the cinnamon sugar coating!

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  82. Perfect looking donuts. I wish I could just tear into one right this second. Rosa, you have to find a way to have donuts spit out of our computers when we are reading your post. ;)

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  83. that looks heavenly with the filling!

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  84. on va se contenter des photos !!! miam !

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  85. Waouh!!! those doughnuts are so perfect! I love your pictures too, you did a wonderful job!!!

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  86. moi j'aimerais faire un peut de regime avant Noel mais chez toi c'est impossible...superbes photos et.....
    golosissima ricetta!

    bisous!

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  87. Rosa, looks like you tackled the fine art of making homemade doughnuts with perfection. Not a shock. I too was never a big fan. However, if I sat down to one of these doughnuts I am sure they would rock my world ;) XO

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  88. Ils sont très réussis tes donuts!!
    Un délice avec la cannelle!

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  89. oh rosa you accomplished your challenge beautifully...I love your donuts, perfect for fall weather...ad the pairing of donuts with flowers is stunning

    sweetlife

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  90. that is a fantastic looking donut! speaking of halloween, my office is completely useless today, everyone is in costume and each department decorated their areas with such abandon that all of the equipment is un-usable... needless to say, very little work is getting accomplished today! happy halloween...

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  91. this looks so beautiful rosa! your creations are just stunning:) thank you for sharing. have a nice weekend.

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  92. Rosa,you are amazing as always! ;)
    Donuts look so delicious.

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  93. Hey Rosa! These look so nice! And you know I didn't like doughnuts either when I was little. It might be b/c my parents bought cheap powdered and glazed ones that just weren't very good though (smile). Yours look awesome!
    Hope your mood is better btw. I've had a few down days too mood-wise lately. It's hard...

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  94. Ces doughnuts sont absolument splendides; moi qui n'aime pas ça, je suis tentée de les faire; je dois dire que les images sont si belles tu pourrais en vendre des centaines en quelques seconds au marché!

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  95. Rosa, These doughnuts look amazing. Mine have never turned out this good. You've inspired me to try baking them again!

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  96. Mmm that homemade jam sounds delicious. I'm not a big doughnut person but I'd make an exception for these any day.

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  97. all donuts should be dusting with cinnamon sugar. well done, rosa!

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  98. Hi,

    They look beautiful dear...Just followed you...:)

    Dr.Sameena@

    www.myeasytocookrecipes.blogspot.com

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  99. Enjoyed browsing thro' ur space. You have awesome and interesting recipes. Glad to follow u :)

    Chitchat
    http://chitchatcrossroads.blogspot.com/

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  100. Difficile de faire plus appétissant ! ;o)
    Bisous
    Hélène

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  101. Totalement décadent!!!!!! Tes z'images sont vraiment belles ma chère Rosa !!

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  102. on a trop envie de mordre dedans bravo Rosa !!!!Pierre

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  103. Would love to bite into one of those.

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  104. a perfect post ,gorgeous pics and so tempting doughnuts!and i love your music!

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  105. Your doughnuts look unbelievably good! Cinnamon sugar are my favorite. I love the "Berlin Balls" filled with preserves too. I will make these when my daughters are home - so I won't eat them all myself :)

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  106. LOL - your donuts look wonderful. I know what you mean about baking in a quarrelsome mood - my baking usually is substandard when that happens, so I am glad that these donuts did not suffer at all.

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  107. I love the the photography on your site and your doughnuts look divine!

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  108. Ils sont superbes , paraissent tellement moelleux ... un vrai bonheur ...

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  109. There is a very special place in Stowe Vermont that I frequent, and they make the most delicious donuts from fresh squeezed apple juice then dusted with Cinnamon.

    Its time for me to make another visit!

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  110. oh my goodness - your donuts look absolutely perfect!!!

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  111. I keep looking at it, I scroll up an down but come back at the jam oozing out and I want some of it so jam. You make everything look so very morish. Love the name Berlin Balls. why are they named berlin balls?

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  112. Rosa, those doughnuts are making me drool! YUMM. Love the shot of the insides, with the jam and all!

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  113. I absolutely love how you have pictures to go along with your food, very cool! And these donuts look amazing!!
    I can't even believe you didn't used to love donuts!

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  114. that's the best article from all that i read it thank's

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