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boston cream donuts First Image

Cream-Filled Doughnuts


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  • Author: Chef John
  • Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 12 doughnuts 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

Delicious homemade cream-filled doughnuts coated in rich chocolate ganache.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 Egg Yolks
  • 50 g Granulated Sugar (caster sugar)
  • 240 ml Whole Milk
  • 2 tbsp Cornstarch
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 14 g Unsalted Butter
  • 600 g All-purpose Flour (plain flour)
  • 100 g Granulated Sugar (caster sugar plus extra for coating)
  • 2 packs Active Dry Yeast (or instant yeast)
  • 240 ml Whole Milk (room temperature)
  • 2 Large Eggs (room temperature)
  • 80 g Unsalted Butter (melted)
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • Vegetable Oil (for frying)
  • 225 g Semi-sweet Chocolate (chopped)
  • 120 ml Heavy Cream

Instructions

  1. Whisk the egg yolks together with the cornstarch and sugar.
  2. Pour the milk and vanilla into a saucepan and heat over medium-low heat.
  3. Once the milk begins to steam, drizzle it slowly into the egg yolk mixture, whisking it in to combine as you go.
  4. Once all the milk has been added, pour the whole mixture back into the saucepan and continue to cook, stirring gently but constantly, until the pastry cream begins to boil.
  5. Once you see thick bubbles boiling on the surface of the cream, boil for 1-2 minutes until the pastry cream has thickened.
  6. Remove from the heat and if you have lumps, pass the pastry cream through a fine mesh sieve.
  7. Whisk in the butter, one tablespoon at a time, making sure it has completely melted in before adding the next.
  8. Cover with plastic wrap touching the surface of the pastry cream, and let cool. Then refrigerate until needed (at least 2 hours).
  9. Warm the milk to body temperature and mix in the active dry yeast and 1 tablespoon of the sugar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy.
  10. In the bowl of a stand mixer with a dough hook, add the remaining sugar, salt, and eggs.
  11. Once the yeast is frothy, pour the milk/yeast mixture into the mixer bowl and stir everything together to combine.
  12. Add the flour and mix on low speed for 1 minute until incorporated.
  13. With the mixer on low speed, slowly drizzle in the melted butter.
  14. Turn the mixer to high speed and mix for 3-5 minutes until the dough is no longer sticking to the bowl.
  15. Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead by hand until not sticky.
  16. Form the dough into a smooth ball and place it in an oiled bowl. Cover and leave to rise until doubled in size (1-2 hours).
  17. Once risen, punch the dough to release air and roll out to 1/2 inch thick.
  18. Use a round cookie cutter to cut rounds and place them on a lined baking sheet.
  19. Cover the donuts and leave to prove for 45 minutes.
  20. Heat oil in a pan to 350°F / 180°C.
  21. Fry the donuts in batches until golden brown (1-2 minutes per side).
  22. Let the donuts cool before filling and glazing.
  23. For the ganache glaze, heat the cream until steaming, pour over the chocolate, and stir until smooth.
  24. Poke a hole in the side of each donut and squeeze in the pastry cream.
  25. Dip the filled donuts in the chocolate ganache and let set.

Notes

  • Make the pastry cream filling ahead of time, at least two hours before it is needed so it has time to chill.
  • You can do the windowpane test to see if the dough has been kneaded enough.
  • For more in-depth instructions and step-by-step process shots, see my post on how to make pastry cream.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Frying
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 doughnut
  • Calories: 300
  • Sugar: 15 g
  • Sodium: 100 mg
  • Fat: 15 g
  • Saturated Fat: 10 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 40 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Cholesterol: 45 mg