Finding healthy alternatives to industrial pastries is easier than we think. Today we teach you how to make a sweet potato donut, taking advantage of the fact that it is usually a typical autumn and winter food.
Remember that we should not only worry about eating healthy, but we should also prioritize the sustainability of food. The ideal is to eat seasonal fruits and vegetables, and be consistent with the consumption.
Eat sweet potatoes differently
Sweet potatoes are very little used foods, despite the fact that many recipes can be made. Some time ago we taught you how to make brownies, fill sweet potato or caramelize it; but thinking of a sweeter recipe, we have decided to make donuts. Do not be afraid to think that they are going to have a strange flavor, because it happens the same as with pumpkin: they do not provide a very remarkable flavor.
In addition, we will play with the flavors of the coverage. You can bathe them with homemade nutella or with healthy nut creams.
They don't really need to have artificial coloring added, their color comes from the natural color of steamed purple mashed sweet potatoes. We have also chosen to use whole eggs instead of just the yolk as we did not want the batter to be too yellowish. These sweet potato donuts taste like any other donut with a hint of sweet potato flavor, and as you well know, there isn't much flavor to them. However, something very positive is that they are perfectly moist and soft due to this tuber.
These sweet potato donuts contain very little yeast. Therefore, the dough is based on baking powder for its leavening properties. You can add relatively fresh baking powder. Over time, baking powder will lose its lifting powders. Check the expiration label on the baking powder container. Otherwise, you may end up with super dense sweet potato donuts.
How to cook sweet potatoes?
It is best to steam or microwave them for this recipe. It is much faster and consumes less power. It will take about 2 small sweet potatoes to make 1 cup. You can also use canned sweet potato puree if you prefer.
- Method of microwave: wash and dry the sweet potatoes. Prick everything with a fork. Place on a microwave-safe plate and heat for 3 minutes. Carefully flip the sweet potatoes over and heat for another 2 minutes or until they prick easily with a fork. Let cool, cut in half and remove the pulp.
- Method to steam: peel and cut the sweet potatoes. Place in a saucepan with a steamer filled with 5 inches of water, or if you don't have a steamer, you can place the sweet potatoes directly in the saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook for 5-6 minutes until tender. Let them cool and shred.
Tips for making sweet potato donut
If you've never made these donuts before, there's no problem becoming an expert pastry chef. Here are some tips and tricks to help you make the perfect batch the first time.
Use warm milk and sweet potato puree
Since yeast is an active ingredient, it is important that all other ingredients are hot for best results. Milk and sweet potato puree should be lukewarm. Neither too hot nor cold, so the yeast can be reactivated well.
Plus, warm sweet potato puree is also easier to mix and makes the dough softer and moister. Of course, the rest of the ingredients are also advised to be at room temperature. That is, it is also recommended to remove the eggs a few minutes before the refrigerator.
Shape the sweet potato donut
Form is important to note because this is where things can go a little awry. Use a 7,5 cm donut cutter to cut the donuts. Then, use a 2,5-inch donut cutter to poke holes in the center of the donuts.
A glass also works well if you don't have a cookie cutter. Although, of course, this is easier if you use an oven-safe donut pan directly. They can be bought in different sizes, so more can come out if we use a smaller mold.
Put the donuts on separate papers
It is recommended to line the bottom of each donut with individual pre-cut parchment paper after shaping. Doing it this way makes it easier when you fry them.
Use parchment or parchment paper to carefully flip the donuts over, gently pulling the parchment off the top. This will help hold the shape of the donuts instead of trying to lift them with your hands. Logically, if we use a silicone mold, we will not have to use the baking paper.
small changes you can make
As for tastes of the flour, you can use the corn version or all oats. It is interesting that they are always with the complete grain (integral), but you can adapt according to your needs.
If you are looking to reduce your carbohydrate intake a bit, we can use pumpkin instead of sweet potato. Although, to be honest, the flavor of the donuts will also vary.
Finally, if you want to use another type of oil other than extra virgin olive oil, you have the option of coconut.
How to store sweet potato donut leftovers?
Leftover baked sweet potato donuts do not keep well and tend to dry out faster than fried ones. If you end up making too much and end up with leftovers, the best way to store them is in a paper bag. Whatever you do, don't put them in the fridge or put them in a plastic bag.
In the case of wanting to revive a stale sweet potato donut, we can soften them again by microwaving them in 5-10 second increments until soft. We recommend sprinkling them lightly with water so they can get moisture back inside and juicier again.
