Spiced Cake Doughnuts

I found a recipe today from Taste of Home to make Spiced Cake Doughnuts.  Having never made doughnuts before, I was really excited to make these.  The kids and I got right to work.

Spiced Cake Doughnuts

Ingredients:

1/4 Cup Shortening

1 Cup Sugar

3 Eggs

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

5 Cups All-purpose Flour

3 teaspoons Baking Powder

2 teaspoons Salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground Nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground mace

1/2 cup Buttermilk

1 Cup Grated Peeled Apples

Oil for deep-fat frying

Browned Butter Frosting:

1/2 Cup Packed Brown Sugar

3 Tablespoons Butter

1/4 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream

1-3/4 Cups Confectioners' Sugar

Colored Sprinkles

Directions:

In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda,  cinnamon, nutmeg and mace; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition.  Fold in apples.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/2-in. thickness.  Cut with a floured 2-1/2 inch doughnut cutter.  In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375 degrees.  Fry doughnuts, a few at a time, until golden brown on both sides.  Drain on paper towels.

In a small saucepan, bring brown sugar and butter to a boil.  Cook and stir for 1 minute or until lightly thickened.  Pour into a small bowl; let stand for 10 minutes.  Add cream; beat until smooth.  Gradually add confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, beating well after each addition until frosting achieves desired consistency.  Frost doughnuts; top with sprinkles.  Yield:  22 doughnuts.

These doughnuts were a big hit at my house!  For me, the frosting was the best part.  What a great Fall treat!

Pumpkin Shaped Chicken Rolls

Today we went to a party at my mom's house, and I was asked to take something to eat with a Fall/Halloween theme.  This is what I came up with.....

Pumpkin Shaped Chicken Rolls!

Aren't they cute?  And they were delicious too.  This is how I made them....

I started out by making my favorite roll recipe, and adding orange food coloring.

NEVER FAIL ROLLS

4 1/2 Cups flour

1/2 Cup Sugar

1/4 Cup Warm Water

1/2 Cup melted Butter

1 Cup warm water

2 Yeast Cakes (2 Tbsp.)

1 tsp. Salt

3 Well Beaten Eggs

Add yeast to 1/4 cup warm water and stir until dissolved.  Add beaten eggs, sugar, 1 cup water, salt, and melted butter.  Mix well.  Stir in flour making a soft dough (will be slightly sticky).  Cover and let rise to double in bulk.  Punch down and place covered in refrigerator.  Will keep 48 hours in the fridge.  Roll out into rolls and let rise one hour before baking at 400 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes.

I rolled my dough out onto a floured surface, and cut out cute little circles.

Then I scooped Chicken Filling onto the center of each one.

Here is my Chicken Filling Recipe.....

Chicken Filling

2 Cups cooked cut-up boneless chicken

3 ounces cream cheese

2 Tablespoons Melted Butter

1 Tablespoon Chopped Chives or Onion

2-3 Tablespoons Milk

1/4 teaspoon Salt

1/8 teaspoon Pepper

Mix All Ingredients Together In a Bowl.

After scooping the chicken filling on all of the circles, I folded them up into balls.  

***Make sure you pinch the seams tight, and put the seams face down on the pan.***

I diced up celery to use as my stems, and I placed them on top without poking a hole in the role. 

 They turned out perfect.

I baked them for about 12 minutes at 400 degrees.

Ahhhh.....Just Beautiful!