Intro
Homemade donuts mark an occasion. They call out the day and deem it special simply because of their presence.
I love how food can do this; how it can turn an ordinary Sunday into something significant because of what is on the table. There are some celebrations such as birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries that ask the food to help illuminate the occasion and then there are the days, like today, where I ask the food to give us reason to pause, say thanks for all the good and to help set it apart from the others that passed without us really noticing.
Donuts, even in their humble beginnings, have this sort of power. Anytime a yeasted dough is involved I find a sudden reverence for the process because so much of it is out of my hands. I add a few things to the bowl, use the same folding, smooshing, turning and pushing technique my mom taught me and her mom taught her and then I wait. I wait for the dough to rise, always a bit anxious because of my lack of control. Please rise, please rise, please. I plead.
A hot pot of oil also gives us the occasion. While I probably fry at home more often than most, it’s not everyday and that alone is reason for us to see this day, a day of donuts, as different.
So while the house is still quiet I slip into the kitchen to wake up some yeast and set this day apart with something as simple as homemade donuts. The rest of the day can go on as normal and yet this day will feel different and perhaps even a bit memorable.
These Apple Cider Fritters are worthy of an occasion or powerful enough to create one. They require a few steps and need a bit of encouragement and folding to lure the apples into the dough. But what happens in the folding is evident as you fry – stunning laminations of cider poached apples and dough. While some still refuse to cooperate, jumping ship from the dough and bathing solo in the oil instead, enough stay put to give these fritters a bit of heft and a tart bite. An apple cider glaze and a sprinkle of flake salt aids in the occasion-making.
As I step back into the kitchen to hopefully find a risen bowl of dough destined for a hot pot of shimmering oil, I hope you will head over the Live.Love.Lux for the recipe and give this day a reason for celebrating.
Apple Cider Fritters with Cider Glaze
Click this link to Live.Love.Lux. for the recipe!
Gorgeous photos as always – and you have completely convinced me to have another go at making donuts with your writing, with how a simple baked good, something a little bit special, can completely transform an occasion . And I am the same with dough rising – always crossing my fingers and hoping the yeast was okay and it will all rise as it should!!
Absolutely stunning. These donuts look truly perfect girl! I mean, that glaze!! <3 <3
It’s so true that special food can elevate an average day, but I haven’t ever thought about it in quite that way before. Thanks for the insight. Yeasted doughnuts are a major weakness for me, and these ones look amazing.
These look fantastic. That is one thing I love about food, how an unexpected dish made with care can set the tone for the whole day, and how joyous a celebration can be when we’re fed well. I’m certainly checking out this recipe.
Never tried making donuts before, but I am going to try yours! Apple fritters are my favorite 🙂
That looks sooo tasty. Great photos as always I have to say. Love this blog as it give so much inspiration to my baking 🙂
xxx
http://theflamingpotato.blogspot.co.uk/
planning on making these today =) what thermometer are you using to measure the oil temperature?
Yes, exactly.
These look (an sound) incredible. I’m never averse to rising and frying so these are certainly on my list for making (and devouring) this weekend. xx
Out of everything in a donut shop, it’s those Apple Fritters I just can’t resist.
I’ve recently been thinking about making them at home, but I have to admit that scares me, because then I’ll want to eat them ALL the time!