Friday Donut (or doughnut) Day! It started sometime last year with the simple act of Gabe picking up doughnuts on Friday and then repeating himself the next week. Just like that a tradition was born. Now we all expect it, crave it, look forward to it and appreciate Friday’s all the more because of it.
We’ve used it as a chance to tour Seattle via their doughnut scene, although truth-be-told we’ve mostly landed back to Top Pot because I’m weak for their Salted Caramel Old Fashioned.
It wasn’t until the start of this school year that I started making the doughnuts at home. Three weeks in and, get this, my kids are begging for the store bought kind.
Sorry kids, I’m making you doughnuts. These doughnuts in particular.
It was these very doughnuts that had Gabe and I making the long trek from our little hotel in Notting Hill to St. John Bread & Wine across the street from Spitalfields Market. I know we went at least twice and it’s quite possible there was a third visit. It was because of these doughnuts (thanks, Molly for the heads up) and the bacon sandwich.
They are a simple doughnut; soft, not very sweet and not complex in flavor but have a subtle bitter tang which I now know to be lemon zest. Like most good yeasted recipes the dough takes a sweet time rising and developing in flavor so there’s a very soft sourness. At St. John they filled them with lemon curd and – my favorite – custard. Although someone on Instagram tells me they now have butterscotch which blew my mind and had me pining for a trip back to London.
These doughnuts fueled our weekly fix last Friday and the one before that. The boys missed them warm from the fryer so to make up for it I served them as dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream in the middle along with a bit of chocolate sauce. I recommend that way too.
As someone who’s never been a fan of the traditional jam filled doughnuts, I was always sceptical that I’d find one I actually liked. In the St. John’s Bakery doughnuts, I haven’t found one I like…I have found one that I adore! It’s quite simply one of the most delicious, exquisite, luscious things I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating and the minute it was gone, I wanted another and another and another…one of those flawlessly perfect sweet treats that stays with you long after you’ve licked the sugar from your lips.
Um, can I spend Fridays at your house? What a wonderful tradition!
A weekly donut day?!That sounds stupendous!! Love these!
ohmygoodness i loooooove st. john!!!! how did i miss their donuts?! i must have been too enthralled in their eccles cakes :-O and i think i’d like to instate a donut day! that is a magnificent idea.
Looks like I need to get to Seattle quickly!
Ugh, jealous! I have such a soft spot for donuts. I want a donut day at our house!
Can you believe I live in London and still haven’t had a legendary doughnut! Got to try it asap!
SERIOUSLY, Millie?! Go today, right now. Do it for me.
These look delicious! Although I too am a sucker for Top Pot Old Fashions!!
I just had to comment and say that these doughnuts are absolutely gorgeous. I’ve never made donuts, but I want these to be my first try! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
This did not help satiate my sweet tooth. We live in a tiny little farm town (all of four months now) and there isn’t even a donut shop much less a donut shop that would make those beauties.
Oh boy, I think I’m making donuts this weekend. They look too good!
These remind me of malasadas and I’m a HUGE fan of those. Thanks for sharing–I am definitely bookmarking this for things to try in the very near future. P.S. Friday Donuts every Friday? So v v wonderful!!
These donuts look awesome! I’m such a sucker for the fried ones 🙂
Doughnut Friday?? oooohh, I’m so starting this tradition! These look scrumptious.
So glad we encouraged another tradition. It should be a holiday really. A weekly holiday.
These look incredible, but I am absolutely pining for the lemon curd filling now.
I love the looks of these doughnuts! Fried is always the way to go!
Oh. My! I don’t know St. John, but I do know these are right straight up my alley. I may need to instigate doughnut day…
OMG these look heavenly!
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So, a question: the salted caramel old fashioned is a doughnut? Or a cocktail? I mean, I’d take either, but I’m also thinking that it’d be amazing for a bakery to also have a bar that did pairings. Just sayin.
I still have not tried making doughnuts… But gosh this looks incredible. And I knkw Eric would love it.
Brian, is EVERYTHING a cocktail to you?! Just kidding. It’s a doughnut but really, I like the way you think. Let’s start the first ever doughnut/cocktail joint. It’d be a hit I’m sure.
And poor poor Eric, never getting homemade doughnuts. Tell him to come here, I’ll make him doughnuts.
Your blog was the first food blog I ever read. I didn’t even know that food blogs existed when I first found yours a couple of years ago. Everything you do is amazing and this is not an exception. Love it! <3
Really?! That’s amazing. Thanks so much for the kind words and for reading the blog!
You should definitely come back to London for a butterscotch doughnut 😉
You know I want to.
you had me at doughnut.
and custard.
and friday family ritual.
done.
Absolutely stunning, Ashley!! I think I need a donut day in my life. x
Ashley, these look amazing. A donut a day keeps the blues away, right?
OMG! These look absolutely scrumptious. I’m looking forward to frying and trying.
Wow, just gorgeous!
Wow. Those look seriously addictive. Amazing!
sweet baby jesus, ash. these look out of this world.
And I thought I didn’t crave donuts! If I start now we could celebrate Decadent Donut Saturday at home tomorrow… and make an emergency run to TopPot today.
I’ve never seen a more beautiful donut. Ignore your kids, one day they’ll be telling all their friends (and definitely their own kids) how their mom used to make them donuts from scratch every Friday. And if they don’t want them, then I’ll surely take a few! 🙂
Oh my gosh, donuts with custard. This looks sooo good!
Amazing!
These look SO GOOD. Seriously drooling. I love how you just slit a little hole for the custard instead of trying to deal with a pastry bag and stuffing them.
these look delicious!
I just made these and they are absolutely amazing! Thank you so much! I’m a bit worried I’m going to polish the whole lot off before I get to share them though. I made a salted caramel crème patisserie to fill the doughnuts with as a slight change which brought them to another level.
looks fantastic
lovely recipe!
These look incredible! I can’t have gluten, so I might find a gluten free version I can make. Although, I am sure they would not be as good.
Oh, and that last photo is stunning!
Amazing! I wouldn’t mind having a few of these donuts right now! Happy Friday 🙂
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Oh wow these look delicious, i had some amazing salted caramel custard doughnuts recently – they were to die for
Yum!
Those donuts are outta control
Just discovered your blog, it’s beautiful! <3
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Weekly doughnuts?! Want. Need. Love.
That doughnut looks so delicious. I can’t wait to try this 😉 thanks for sharing! xx
Those doughnuts look amazing! I’ll have to give that recipe a try 🙂
Hi Ashley! These look absolutely phenomenal! I can’t wait to make them this weekend. One quick question–do you recommend active dry, instant or fresh yeast for this recipe?
Oh glorious beauties!
Is there any way to make these without a stand mixer, oh pretty please? I’m willing to get down and dirty with my hands-but I know sometimes its simply just near impossible.
Thanks!
these look really lovely! Is there any way to make them the day of? I’m visiting for thanksgiving day and I’m in charge of the desserts. I would love to make these but I’m not sure there’s enough time 🙁
Yes! You can totally make these the same day. The flavor of the dough is improved with age but they are still delicious made the same day.
I visit your blog regularly to get new things like this. Thank you
Thank you so much for showing up, bringing your real authentic self and being such a huge contribution to us all.
I’m willing to get down and dirty with my hands.I visit your blog regularly to get new things like this. Thank you
very….. tasty doughtnuts
this is yum my saliva is just spreading everywhere in my mouth after watching this!
Thanks ASHLEY RODRIGUEZ for the amazing recipe. Keep sharing!
this is so delicious just amazing out of the box!
Thanks for sharing and please keep sharing.