Hyperrealistic Strawberry Donuts (w/ Strawberry Cream Filling)

Yes, these very large palm-sized strawberries are in fact hyperrealistic donuts. Not just your run-of-the-mill glazed donuts, these strawberry donuts are triple flavored with strawberries -- first, the dough itself is enhanced with powdered freeze dried strawberries, then dipped into strawberry glaze, and filled with a delicious strawberry pastry cream. It's just like eating strawberries...but donuts!

Supplies

Hyperrealistic strawberry donuts have been on my list of to-do's for a long while, but the challenge was always the texture of the seeds. I racked my brain and scoured my house for the exact tool that would bring the donut glaze's texture to life and found it right in my kitchen -- the cheese grater! The finest side makes for a very believable texture of seeds and it is very easy to use as a stamp.

Another important supply is a modified cookie cutter. I used a basic oval and transformed it into a strawberry shape. The key to realism is imperfection, so the less symmetrical, the better.

Step 1: Donut Dough

For the donut dough, you will need:

2-1/2 c all purpose flour

1 c whole milk

1/4 c butter

1 large egg

1/4 c sugar

2-1/4 tsp active dry yeast

2 tbsp powdered freeze dried strawberries

*YIELDS APPROX 24-30 DONUTS*

To prep the dough:

1. Combine butter with milk.

2. Heat in the microwave for about 1 minute until warm and mix until combined.

3. Put all ingredients into a mixing bowl.

4. Using a spoon, combine all ingredients.

5. At this stage the dough will be shaggy. Just set aside to rise for 1 hour or until doubled.

Step 2: Strawberry Pastry Cream

For the filling, you will need:

1 c half & half

1/3 c strawberry jam

2 large egg yolks

1/4 c corn starch

2 tsp vanilla extract

To prepare:

1. Place all ingredients in a sauce pan.

2. Whisk until thoroughly combined.

3. Over medium heat, whisk until the consistency thickens similar to a pudding.

4. Place in a bowl.

5. Cover the pasty cream with plastic wrap, ensuring the wrap touches the surface of the pasty cream. Refrigerate while working on the next steps.

Step 3: Knead Dough

Once the dough has risen to double in size, knead with a hook attachment on low speed for 5 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.

Step 4: Cut Dough

1. Place the dough on a generously floured surface.

2. Generously flour the top of the dough and roll with a rolling pin.

3. Roll to a thickness of about 1/3".

4. Cut using your modified cookie cutter.

5. Place cut dough on generously floured parchment paper and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise for 30 minutes.

Step 5: Fry Dough

Place 2" of oil in a large pan and heat to 370-degrees Fahrenheit. Place several pieces of dough and fry for 1 minute. Turn over and fry the other side for 1 more minute. Remove from oil and place on a paper-towel lined cooling rack, puffy side up.

Step 6: Fill Donuts

Remove strawberry pastry cream from the fridge and place into a piping bag. Time to fill each donut.

Step 7: Strawberry Glaze

To make the strawberry glaze, you will need:

1 c icing sugar

2 tbsp milk

1/4 c strawberry jam

Red and black food color

1. Combine icing sugar, milk, and jam in a bowl.

2. Mix together. Add red food color as needed.

3. Add a scant amount of black food color to deepen the shade of red.

4. Dip donuts in strawberry glaze. Let the glaze set (approximately 1 hour).

Step 8: Fondant Leaves

While the glaze is setting, it is the perfect time to roll and cut some fondant leaves. You will need a small amount of white fondant, at least 2 green food coloring and at least 1 yellow food coloring, and a small star shaped cookie cutter.

1. Take some fondant to make 4 pieces that are about 3/4" to 1" balls.

2. Color each ball with green and yellow food color.

3. Create one large ball with the four pieces. Combine to make a marbled effect.

4. Roll out to about 1/16" thick.

5. Cut star shapes.

6. Roll out further to make a more realistic thickness. Cover with plastic wrap until ready for use.

Step 9: Stamp Seeds

Once the glaze has set, you are ready to stamp your donuts. Lightly place the finest side of the cheese grater on the glaze, making sure to also get the sides of the glaze. It's as simple as that -- you have seeds!

Step 10: Random Seeds

To add further detail to the seeds, you will need a fine brush and some food color (tinted with white, yellow, and green). You only need to dot a few seeds in a couple of random spots on the glaze. Make sure to use the gradations of white, yellow, and green and not use a single color. Do not dot more than necessary as doing so will lessen the realism.

Step 11: Attach Leaves

Attach the fondant leaves to the top of each strawberry, pushing into the hole where the filling was placed. I used the end of the paint brush to push the leaves in.