“The optimist sees the doughnut but the pessimist see 452 calories and a shed load of sugar …” ― James Minter.

I am a little choux obsessed off late. And after the Paris Brest and the eclairs , I tried choux once again in the form of these dainty French doughnuts or Crullers .

These are quite easy to make, need no fancy ingredients , and are far quicker to the regular doughnuts (as they are not made with yeast) . It starts with a basic choux pastry dough , with butter, water, flour and eggs , made on the stove top . The dough is piped using a open star like tip into rings , and deep fried . They are then dipped into or topped with a sweet and simple glaze .

After piping , it helps to chill the dough rings in the freezer for twenty minutes or so. I also found that the easiest way to drop the rings into the hot oil while maintaining their shape is to pipe them on pieces of parchment and drop the parchment into oil. I was a little apprehensive about trying this when I first read about it but turns out it works.In a couple of minutes , you can just lift off the parchment with a pair of tongs. You could also just drop the cold dough rings directly into oil. Also, when undercooked, they collapse while cool . So fry one until golden brown , and if it collapses, fry the others longer!

When the crullers hit the hot oil, they puff up beautifully and turn a ethereal gold. The honey and lemon glaze drenches the not-too-sweet crullers with flavour and sweetness. Drizzle instead of dipping to keep the sugar in check ! I found these crullers to be half way between a not too sweet jalebi and a regular doughnut. Unique and delicious.

These crullers are so light and airy. And the syrup seeps into all the hollows and nooks of the fried Crullers. The distinctive ridges and the ethereal golden colour with the dripping glaze will definitely add a little Parisian flair to your tea time!

French Crullers

Light and airy French style doughnuts made with a choux pastry dough and drenched in a honey lemon glaze!

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Servings 15 servings

Ingredients

  

• 120 ml or 1/2 cups water
• 56 grams or 1/4 cups unsalted butter
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• 65 grams or 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 Eggs , at room temperature
• Oil for frying

For the glaze:

• 100 grams or 1 cups icing sugar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons lime or lemon juice
• 3 - 4 tablespoons milk , at room temperature

Instructions

 

• In a medium saucepan , heat the butter , sugar , salt and water until the butter melts and comes to a boil.
• Add the flour in and mix in. Continue heating for few minutes until the dough is smooth, dry and thick.
• Take off heat and cool for few minutes.
• Add the eggs, one at a time and mix well until each is fully incorporated. Mix until the dough holds a peak when u lift the spoon up.
• Fill the dough into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip .
• On pieces of parchment paper laid on a large plate or baking sheet, pipe rings . Freeze for 20 minutes .
• Heat oil (about 3 inches deep) and drop the pieces of parchment with the dough side down into the hot oil. With tongs , lift off the parchment pieces after a minute.
• Fry the crullers , turning them over as needed, until they turn golden brown .
• Drain on a wire rack or kitchen towels.
• Prepare the glaze by mixing together the icing sugar , lemon juice , honey and two tablespoons milk. Add milk until you achieve the desired consistency.
• When ready to serve , dip the cool crullers in the glaze , shake off excess and let dry. You can alternately just drizzle the glaze on.

Notes

• These are best eaten the day they are made.
• You can store the unglazed crullers in an airtight container for a day or two and glaze before serving.
• The recipe can be doubled.
• Adjust the flavour and sweetness of glaze by adding more lemon juice or reducing icing sugar.
• Use the largest star tip you have for the best look and the hollowed crullers !