I believe in treats, but there's also nothing wrong with adding at least some extra nutrition to them. I think they just fill us up a little better that way!
These are admittedly more like churro sticks than donuts, but the speed in which they fry up so that you can be quickly eating a delicious donut will have you forgiving me. This recipe is inspired by Ma Wilder's donuts in the Little House Cookbook. I find the whole wheat dough doesn't stand up to the twisting and I end up with broken donuts this way. I embrace the stick donuts, they're tidier to eat anyhow and no one here complains that their donut was long not round!
Other ways I like to add nutrition to our treats is using plain gelatin in Peach Whip or whole frozen fruit to make soft serve. Popcorn Cake adds whole grains to your classic rice krispies treats.
Why You Need This Recipe
- Another way to "sneak" whole grains into your family. Who can resist a donut?
- Comes together quickly so you can make these on a whim. Make your kids happy!
- Makes just enough for a large family to eat up at once, so you aren't fighting over leftovers.
Key Ingredients
Flour - I like to grind soft white wheat berries for these, as it's one of the mildest tasting whole grains. If looking to buy at the store, check out some whole wheat pastry flour like from King Arthur Flour.
Sour cream - This is the traditional donut flavor, isn't it? I love the tang you get.
Sugar - Use cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar to coat the finished donuts. The dough actually doesn't have any added sugar so this is just the right amount!
How to Make Donuts With Fresh Wheat
***See recipe card below for precise measurements and instructions.***
Step 1: Whisk everything except the flour until nice and smooth. Then pour it over the flour to combine.
Step 2: It should form into a rough ball, but will still feel sticky and you can't roll it out yet. Now's the time to let it rest.
Step 3: Start forming into one long log.
Step 4: Roll out until about ½-inch thick an then cut your sticks.
Step 5: Fry in lard just 1 minutes on each side. Drain over the pot and immediately toss in sugar.
Step 6: Serve them up hot and fresh!
FAQs
You caaaaan freshen these up in the toaster oven later on. But friends, eat the donuts. They are amazing when fresh and the perfect treat with whole grains. The kids will love this and I love letting them have their fill on a fun treat every so often.
Heat your oil up to 375°F for the best results. Don't add too many donuts at once or the temp drops too much. Monitor and adjust as you go. I recommend a candy thermometer for this until you get used to what it looks like! If your oil is too cold then the donuts will soak up oil rather than cooking nicely. Too hot and they burn!
We like powdered sugar and cinnamon sugar pretty much equally. Sometimes I don't have powdered sugar on hand but I always have a jar of cinnamon sugar in the spice drawer! Mix 2 tablespoons cinnamon to 1 cup sugar and shake - easy as that!
Photos by Dante from Shire by the Sea
More Sweet Treats
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Whole Wheat Donuts
Ingredients
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 ¼ cups whole wheat pastry flour i prefer fresh ground soft white wheat
- Lard, tallow, or other deep frying oil to make 2” deep in your heavy-bottomed pot
- Powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar to top
Instructions
- Whisk together sour cream, egg, baking soda, and salt, then add in flour to make a rollable dough. It should be a little on the sticky side before its rest but ready to roll after you let it sit for 20-30 minutes.
- When you’re 10 minutes away from rolling them out, get the lard heating up to 375°F
- Lightly flour your counter and roll your dough into a 6” wide and however long you end up to make the dough 1?2” thick - mine was around 18”.
- Cut 3?4” strips of dough, and when your oil is hot, fry them 1 minute per side.
- Remove from the hot oil, letting drip over the pot for a few seconds before transferring to a bowl and immediately sprinkling with your choice of cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar. They need to be warm and they need the oil to help the topping stick.
Notes
- I keep a jar of cinnamon sugar in my pantry! Mix 1 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons cinnamon.
- Why let dough sit? Whole wheat flour needs time to soak up moisture and if you don't give it that, you’ll end up adding more flour to make it the right consistency and end up with a dense end product.
- You can keep in a sealed container on the counter for upto 5 days and warm up a bit in the toaster oven before you eat to freshen them up.
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