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Heart-Shaped Donuts with Strawberry Jam Filling and Valentine’s Glaze Recipe

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4.2 from 14 reviews

  • Author: Sara
  • Total Time: 8 hours 50 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings

Description

These homemade Heart Shaped Donuts offer a delightful twist on a classic treat, perfect for Valentine’s Day or any special occasion. Made from a rich, slightly sweet dough and fried to golden perfection, these donuts are filled with luscious strawberry jam and finished with a smooth vanilla glaze, pink in color and adorned with festive sprinkles. The recipe involves an overnight dough chill for optimal flavor and texture, followed by frying for a crispy exterior and soft interior. They are as charming in appearance as they are delicious to eat.

Ingredients

Dough Ingredients

  • 4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons instant yeast
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Coating and Filling

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar (for rolling)
  • 1/2 cup strawberry jam

Glaze

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2-4 tablespoons milk, as needed
  • 1-2 drops pink gel food coloring (optional)
  • Valentine’s sprinkles

Frying

  • 2-4 cups vegetable oil (for frying, about 2 inches deep)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, combine flour, sugar, milk, melted butter, egg, vanilla extract, instant yeast, and salt. Knead on medium-low speed for about 5 minutes until the dough forms a cohesive ball that pulls away from the bowl sides but remains slightly sticky. Add flour one tablespoon at a time if necessary.
  2. Chill the Dough: Place the dough in a large lightly greased bowl, cover it, and refrigerate overnight (8-12 hours) to develop flavor and texture.
  3. Bring Dough to Room Temperature: Remove the chilled dough and let it rise at room temperature for about 30 minutes to take off the chill and become pliable.
  4. Roll and Cut Donuts: Lightly punch down the dough and turn it onto a floured surface. Roll into a large rectangle about ½ inch thick. Using a 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out heart donuts and use a smaller cutter to remove the centers for classic heart shapes. Re-roll scraps once to cut more shapes and use leftover scraps for donut holes. Lightly cover and let rest while heating the oil.
  5. Heat Oil for Frying: Pour 2-4 cups of vegetable oil into a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven to a depth of about 2 inches. Heat over medium-high until oil reaches 375°F. Prepare a cooling rack over a baking sheet nearby for draining excess oil.
  6. Fry Donuts: Fry 3-4 donuts at a time, cooking each side for about 1 minute until deep golden brown. Remove and place on a cooling rack. Test one donut first to ensure it is fully cooked. Repeat with all donuts and donut holes.
  7. Roll and Fill Solid Heart Donuts: While warm, toss solid heart donuts in granulated sugar and let them cool mostly to room temperature. Fill a piping bag with strawberry jam fitted with a large Bismarck tip. Poke a hole in the top of each donut with a chopstick and fill with jam.
  8. Glaze Heart Donuts: Whisk together powdered sugar, melted butter, and vanilla. Gradually add milk to reach a thick but pourable glaze consistency. Optionally mix in pink gel food coloring. Dip heart donuts into glaze and place back on cooling rack. Immediately sprinkle with Valentine’s sprinkles so they adhere.

Notes

  • Letting the dough chill overnight improves flavor and dough handling.
  • Ensure oil temperature is consistent at 375°F for even frying and to avoid greasy donuts.
  • Do not overcrowd the frying pot, fry in batches for best results.
  • Use a thermometer that clips onto your pot for safe and accurate oil temperature monitoring.
  • Re-roll dough scraps only once to maintain donut texture and fluffiness.
  • Fill the donuts while they are slightly cool to avoid melting the jam filling.
  • You can substitute strawberry jam with any other fruit preserves for variation.
  • The pink gel food coloring is optional but adds a festive look.
  • Store donuts in an airtight container for up to 2 days for best freshness.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus overnight chilling)
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes (frying in batches)
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Frying
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://saraflavors.com/heart-shaped-donuts-with-strawberry-jam-filling-and-valentines-glaze-recipe/