Clown Donuts: Eating Gilmore Week 6

"Wow did you bring coffee?" "And donuts in the shape of clowns."

Ingredients:

For the donut dough:

*I used the donut dough recipe from Immaculate Bites

• 2 packages of instant dry yeast

• ⅓ cup lukewarm water

• 1 ½ cups whole milk, room temperature

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• 1 tsp salt

• 2 eggs

• ⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened

• 5 cups all-purpose flour

For assembly:

• 1 qt vegetable or canola oil for frying

• 1 ½ cups strawberry or raspberry jam

• Red and blue food writing gel

For icing:

• 3 cups powdered sugar

• 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract

• ½ cup + 1 tbsp heavy cream

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, mix together the water and yeast. Allow to sit for about 5 minutes, until the yeast becomes foam.

2. In a large mixing bowl, add the milk, sugar, salt, eggs, and butter. Mix until fully combined. Then add in the yeast and mix to combine.

3. Add in the flour one cup at a time, mixing to incorporate in between. It’s easiest to use a dough hook, but if you don’t have one, you can use beaters or mix by hand.

4. Allow the dough to rise for about 90 minutes or until doubled in size.

5. On a floured surface, roll out the dough. The dough will be very sticky so keep your hands floured. Once the dough is about ¼-½ inch in thickness, use a cup or circular cookie cutter to cut out circles that are about 4 inches in diameter.

6. Place the donuts on a dry surface to rise for an additional 10 minutes.

7. In a large saucepan, add the oil. It should reach at least 3 inches up the pan. Place over medium heat.

8. Allow the oil to reach 375 degrees F. If you don’t have a thermometer, drop in a small piece of the leftover donut dough into the oil. If it sizzles and starts to fry, the oil should be ready.

9. Gently add the donuts to the oil, working in batches, about 2-3 at a time. Let the donuts cook 1-2 minutes on one side, then use a large slotted spoon to flip over. Allow the donuts to cook 1-2 minutes on the other side.

10. Remove the donuts with the large slotted spoon and place on towels to dry and cool.

11. Once the donuts have cooled, fill a piping bag with the strawberry jelly. Use a small tip to fill the donuts with jelly. You’ll know the donut is full when you feel it start to give. If you don’t have a piping tip, use a knife to create a small hole to inject the jelly.

12. Make the icing by combining the powdered sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream.

13. Spread the icing on top of the donuts.

14. In a small bowl, combine about half of the red and blue food writing gel to create a black color. Using a skewer or toothpick, add two small globs of the black gel onto the donut to create the clown's eyes.

15. Using the blue writing gel, create two triangles above the eyes and two triangles below the eyes.

16. Using the red writing gel, create the nose and clown smile. See photo below for a guide.

Halloween is around the corner, so this week of my Eating Gilmore Challenge is all about spooky season. We only get one true Halloween episode, but there are several Halloween-related moments throughout the show. One, in particular, happens in episode 1.18 The Third Lorelai when Rory brings donuts in the shape of clowns. I don’t know where she gets these donuts from, but I thought creepy clown donuts would be the perfect Halloween treat. Technically, Rory’s clown donuts have hats, but that felt a little out of my artistic capabilities.

I’ve been having so much fun seeing what everyone has made each week for my challenge on Instagram. If you’ve been missing out, make sure to follow me there to participate and be entered for the giveaway at the very end!

Happy cooking from the Hollow!

If you missed what I made for last week’s challenge, catch up here!

Clown donuts are perfect for spooky season!