Being amongst the world’s best doughnut eaters, not that I would necessarily know, of course but what can I say? I’m Canadian. Those little slurps here and a spoonfully nibble there of the grapefruit curd, reminded me of a fresher, livelier version of the sweet lemony filling squeezed out as the best part of a filled doughnut. Petite tarts of fanciness were sent to the back burner as I set out to create a canuck worthy doughnut.

Updating that simple, lemony filling to this, little more grown up, less of a drive-thru flavour was supurb with a little dusting of sugar and a hot morning cup of coffee. It was so sinfully wonderful to have to admit that vegan food isn’t always healthy but certainly scrumptious.

As the January resolutions met their match, I realised I’m not the only one who’s given up a diet for some February grease. Helen from Tartlette and Peabody have teamed up for a donut fry fest; this, my friends should be good.

RED GRAPEFRUIT CURD

1 Cup Freshly Squeezed Red Grapefruit juice
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 Cup Cold Water
4 Tablespoon Corn Starch
1/8 teaspoon Salt
Zest of Grapefruits, well washed before grating
1/4 Cup Soymilk
2 Tablespoons Margarine

In a large saucepan, whisk together the juice and sugar, heating through over a medium high setting
Dissolve the cornstarch in the cold water and salt.
Once the juice and sugar have just come to a boil, add the cornstarch mixture.
Reduce the heat to medium and whisk, stirring constantly, until it comes to a full boil.
Add zest.
Allow to boil for 1 minute, without stirring; it should be quite thick.
Remove from heat.
Blend in the margarine, then soymilk, with the whisk.
Cool the curd, cover and refrigerate.

YEAST DOUGHNUTS

1 Cup Soy Milk, warmed
1/2 teaspoon Sugar
1 Tablespoon Instant Yeast (1 packgae)
1/2 Package Medium Silken Tofu, room temperature (225g)
1/3 Cup Sugar
1/4 teaspoon Salt
3 1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour, plus more for dusting
1/4 Cup Shortening, (vegetable oil may be substituted)

Warm the soy milk so it is tepid but not hot to the touch.
Add the 1/2 teaspoon sugar and yeast granules, stirring to combine and dissolve.
Let the yeast rest to prove, for 5 – 10 minutes or until bubbled and frothy.

Meanwhile, drain and blend the tofu in a food processor until very smooth.
In a medium saucepan, gently heat and whisk together the blended tofu, shortening, salt and remaining sugar.
Once combined, remove from the heat and add the dissolved yeast mixture.
Using an stand mixer, or by hand, add 3 cups of the flour to the bowl and with the dough hook, or a wooden spoon, add the warmed ingredients to create a soft, but not sticky ball of dough, adding more flour as necessary.
Transfer the dough to a large, slightly oiled bowl and cover.
Leave it in a warm place until it has doubled in bulk.
Move the dough to a lightly floured surfaced and with a flour dusted rolling pin, stretch the dough into about a 12″x9″ rectangle.
Using a glass or a biscuit cutter, cut the dough into rounds and leave, covered on a dusted baking sheet for about 40 minutes to rise.
In a large saucepan, heat 3″ – 4″ of oil. Using a candy thermometer, bring the temperature to 350ºF – 365ºF.
Once the oil is heated, carefully drop 2 – 3 of the risen, cut donuts, one at a time into the hot oil, being sure not to overcrowd the pan.
Using a slotted spoon, regularly flip the donuts until golden brown; about 3 minutes or 90 seconds per side.
Lift the donuts and let the excess oil drip before transferring to a brown bag or paper towel lined cooling rack.
Repeating to cook the donuts.
Once the donuts are cool enough to handle, using a long handled skewer or chopstick, poke a hold and make a space in the center of the donut for filling.
Using a piping bag with a large holed tip, pipe in the red grapefruit curd to fill.
Dust the filled donuts with confectioners sugar just prior to serving.

Makes about a bakers dozen.

It’s embarrassingly amazing how used to baking in a toaster sized convection oven I’d become. In fact many of these photographed recipes were made from that bitty thing. The last stove worked, however the oven did not and the burners needed a little Laura Ingles styled lovin’ with a match and some rapid waving. It’s taken me a few days to stop reaching for a match and just turn a knob to light it.
This technology continues to amaze me.

It’s pretty natural for me to be quite in love with such a new toy. Any good kitchen gal loves a new oven, right? I’d been yearning for large loaves of fresh bread and batches of cookies baked more than six at a time. …And the thought of waking up in the morning with the smell of fresh cinnamon rolls all puffed and ready, just waiting to be baked in a real sized oven? Heaven.
Ahhhh. My house has never smelled better.
Needless to say, you might have to look forward to more baked items from me this winter.

CINNAMON ROLLS

1 Ripe Banana, finely mashed
1/4 Cup Sugar
6 Tablespoons Margarine, melted or vegetable oil
3/4 Cup Soy Milk, warmed slightly
3 1/2 Cups All-Purpose Unbleached Flour, plus additional for dusting
1/2 Cup Soft Whole Wheat Flour
2 teaspoons Instant Dry Yeast, 1 Package
1 1/4 teaspoons Salt
Cooking spray or vegetable oil

FILLING

1/2 Cup Dark Brown Sugar, packed
1 1/2 Tablespoons Ground Cinnamon
Pinch salt
1 1/2 Tablespoons Margarine, melted
(For a more “grown-up” version, try adding 1/4 cup of raisins, currants, or dried cranberries soaked in 1/4 cup of brandy.)

ICING

1/4 Cup Tofuti Brand Cream Cheese
2 Tablespoons Soy Milk
1 Cup Confectioners Sugar

Warm the soy milk, making sure it’s not hot. To it add the sugar and yeast and allow it to set for about 5 minutes until it bubbles.
In the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whisk the mashed banana and oil until well combined then add the soy milk and yeast mixture.
Remove the whisk attachment and replace with a dough hook.
Add approximately 2 cups of the flour along with the salt; mixing until moistened and combined.
Add all but 3/4 cup of the remaining flour and knead on low speed for about 5 minutes.
Check the consistency of the dough adding more flour if necessary; the dough should feel soft and moist but not sticky. Knead on low speed 5 minutes more or until the dough cleaned the sides of the bowl and has come together.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface; knead by hand about 30 seconds.
Lightly oil a large bowl. Transfer the dough to the bowl, lightly oil the top of the dough, cover and let it double in volume, 2 to 2 1/2 hours.

Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl.
Mix until well incorporated.
Set aside until ready to use.

Grease a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface.
Shape the dough into a rectangle with the long side nearest you.
Roll into an 18 by 12-inch rectangle.
Brush the dough with the 1 1/2 tablespoons of melted margarine, leaving 1/2-inch border along the top edge.
Sprinkle the filling mixture over the dough, leaving a 3/4-inch border along the top edge; gently press the filling into the dough. Beginning with the long edge nearest you, roll the dough into a tight cylinder.
Firmly pinch the seam to seal and roll the cylinder seam side down.
Gently squeeze the cylinder to create even thickness. Using a serrated knife, slice the cylinder into 1 1/2-inch rolls; yielding 12 rolls.
Arrange rolls cut side down in the baking dish; cover tightly with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator overnight or up to 16 hours to rest.
Remove the rolls from the refrigerator and place in an oven that is turned off.
Fill a shallow baking dish 2/3-full of boiling water and set on the rack below the rolls.
Close the oven door and let the rolls rise from the steam until they look slightly puffy; approximately 30 minutes.
Remove the rolls and the shallow pan of water from the oven.
Preheat the oven to 350º F.
When the oven is ready, place the rolls on the middle rack and bake until golden brown, approximately 30 minutes.
While the rolls are cooling slightly, make the icing by whisking the cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer until creamy.
Add the soy milk and whisk until combined.
Sift in the powdered sugar, and continue whisk until smooth.
Spread over the rolls and serve warm.

With thirteen members of the 4 and 5 year old set, I knew I’d need extra hands and entertainment but as far as the food went, I figured I had it covered.
Between the green goo and witches brew, there were ghost pops, goblin cakes and these Casper cookies.

The cookies are great for cutting out cats, witches, pumpkins and ghosts alike. Pretty quick and easy to make, just err on the underdone as the edges can brown fairy quickly.

HALLOWEEN SUGAR ROLL OUT COOKIES

3/4 Cup Vegetable Shortening
3/4 Cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch of Nutmeg
2 Tablespoons Orange Juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus a little for dusting

Combine shortening and sugar using an electric stand mixer until incorporated, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
Follow with orange juice and vanilla, mixing until combined.
Add flour in batches. The dough should come together smoothly, be soft but not overly sticky.
Shape dough into a ball, divide in half then flatten into two disks.
Wrap the dough in plastic and chill for about an hour.

Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Line a baking sheet with parchment or a Silpat liner.
On a lightly floured surface, roll each disk 1/4-inch thick.
Cut out dough using lightly floured cutters.
Transfer cutouts to prepared baking sheet using a thin, metal spatula, if necessary.
Bake for about 8 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are very lightly browned. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely.
Frost and decorate cookies with royal icing as desired.

ROYAL ICING

2 Cups Icing Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 Tablespoons Soy Milk
3 – 5 Tablespoons Warm Water

Mix sugar, vanilla and soy milk with an electric mixer until combined.
Slowly add the the first three tablespoons of water, one at a time.
Mix well and stop to check consistency; adding the remaining water, one tablespoon at a time as necessary. The icing should be fluid and smooth. The drizzle from the beater should leave ribbons that hold on the surface for about three seconds.

To decorate, spoon the prepared icing into a piping bag, reserving about 2 tablespoons.
Using a small, plain tip, outline the edges then flood the centres.
When all of the ghosts have been iced, add two drops of black food colouring (or two drops of dark green with one drop of red) into the reserved icing.
Spoon coloured icing into the piping bag to dot eyes and a nose on the ghosts to finish.

Makes about 24 cookies.