Doughnuts. Doughnuts. Dough. Nuts. Who would’ve thought that they would be the thing everyone was talking about while I was in Austin? Although, I suppose if you have heard of Gourdough’s Doughnuts then you are not surprised that their doughnuts were such a favorite among BlogHer Food Attendees. They were such a favorite that here we are 3 weeks later and a few of us bloggers are still thinking about them and we decided to recreate some of our favorites and share them on our respective blogs. You’re going to want to go ahead and look at every. single. one. Trust me.
I mean seriously. Just look at all this deliciousness!
PB & J by Capturing Joy
Granny’s Pie by Crazy for Crust
Heavenly Hash by Something Swanky
The Carney (Apple Pie Doughnuts) by Shugary Sweets
Bring the Heath by Mom on Timeout
Son of a Peach by Chef-in-Training
Mama’s Cake by The Domestic Rebel
The Mother Clucker by Oh Sweet Basil
Cherry Bombs by My Life as a Mrs.
The Funky Monkey by The Little Kitchen
Black Out Cupcakes {inspired by Gourdoughs} by Cookies & Cups
ODB by Sweet Treats and More
The Puddin’ by Lauren’s Latest
Miss Shortcake by Kevin & Amanda
For my Gourdough’s Copycat recipe, you can see that I decided to recreate the Naughty and Nice Doughnut. AKA Cinnamon and Sugar. Simple? Yes. Perfect? Very much so. But trust me, it took a while to get there.
This was my first time making doughnuts. Ever. And what was supposed to be my first time making doughnuts turned into making doughnuts 4 times. That’s right, FOUR times.
First attempt: The dough rose just fine and I rolled it out to 1/4 of an inch and let them rise, which they did a little. The big problem came with the cinnamon and sugar. I used cane sugar because it was all I had at the time and it just rolled right off the doughnuts. How can you have a cinnamon and sugar doughnut without the cinnamon and sugar? You can’t. So I was back and square one.
Second attempt: It was 10pm on Friday night, I was drinking a beer and I forgot to add the butter. Enough said.
Third attempt: It was also Friday night. Dough looked good. Smelled good. Put it in the fridge over night. Got up early Saturday morning to remove them and allow them to come to room temperature. Crossed my fingers, went back to bed and woke up to find that the dough didn’t rise. At all. I tried to roll it out anyway, cut the doughnuts and thought it might do something. It didn’t. They were flat.
Fourth attempt: By now I was starting to get a little discouraged. But not one to let a recipe get the better of me, I decided that I would try one more time. I made the dough. Let it rise on the counter for forty minutes instead of overnight in the refrigerator. Then I rolled the dough out to 1/2 inch, big I know but I wanted these babies fluffy! I then let them rise for another 2 hours. By then they were looking good. Light and fluffy. Next up was the fryer and then a quick shake in a bag filled with cinnamon and granulated sugar. The result, friends, was pure doughnut bliss.
You know what they say “If at first you don’t succeed, try try again.” And I firmly believe this because success is sweet. And in this case, also deep fried.
ASM
November 16, 2016 at 2:55 pmWhat sort of milk do you use? Whole, 2% ..?
Nami | Just One Cookbook
June 30, 2013 at 6:05 amI bought a donut pan a few weeks ago, but didn’t have a chance to make donuts yet. I’m so excited to make homemade version!! Your donuts look perfect and look so goooooood… Hope I can succeed to make good ones!
ashley - baker by nature
June 27, 2013 at 3:51 pmNaughty or nice… who cares when they look THIS amazing!!! Wonderful job!
ashley - baker by nature
June 27, 2013 at 3:51 pmNaughty or nice… who cares when they look THIS amazing!!! Wonderful job!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust
June 26, 2013 at 6:27 pm#2, sounds like me!! :)
LOVE the topping. I could eat that with a spoon.
Noble Pig - Cathy Pollak
June 26, 2013 at 5:03 pmThose doughnuts! I’ve dreamnt about them twice since we’ve been back.
Kristy @ Sweet Treats & More
June 26, 2013 at 3:06 pmCinnamon & sugar might be my favorite kind of donut! Love these!! Miss ya girly!
carrian
June 26, 2013 at 1:48 pmI kinda like that you had to fight for this donut, it really is naughty and nice now and we now the recipe will be great since you perfected it
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life
June 26, 2013 at 10:56 amDoggone yeast!!! It always gives me trouble too! I am so glad you kept at it because they look amazing!!! You rocked it big time!!!
Jessica - The Novice Chef
June 26, 2013 at 10:22 amYup. Yeast is a total biatch. But these look so amazing! So worth it in the end!!
Amanda @ Kevin & Amanda
June 26, 2013 at 9:17 amIt was worth the effort! These doughnuts look like absolute perfection. So great seeing you again in Austin!! :) xoxo
Jackie @ The Beeroness
June 26, 2013 at 8:59 amFirst who ever names this doughnuts needs a big high five.
And you guys are killing me with these, I want them all right now.
Trish - Mom On Timeout
June 26, 2013 at 7:05 amI’m so glad you stuck with it – these doughnuts look killer!
Cookbook Queen
June 26, 2013 at 7:01 amYeast is my mortal enemy. True story. So glad you persevered because these are faboosh!!
Christina Gathright
June 26, 2013 at 6:58 amI’d say all those attempts paid off! I’m a sucker for cinnamon sugar donuts :)
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet
June 26, 2013 at 6:39 amSecond attempt, hilarious, but these turned out great!
Ashton
June 26, 2013 at 6:32 amWow– these look incredible! I’m such a sucker for warm cinnamon sugar doughnuts!
JulieD
June 26, 2013 at 6:05 amI love a good cinnamon sugar doughnut, yours looks fantastic! So glad we met in Austin!!
shelly (cookies and cups)
June 26, 2013 at 4:53 amMan!.. 4 attempts? Dang yeast…it’s so tricky! Glad you pushed through, though.. these are simple and perfect!