Sweet Potato Donuts w/ Roasted Apple

Last time i was in a Krispy Kreme i noticed the three guys in line in front of me were carrying guns under their vests. My mind couldn’t help but playing two possible scenarios, the first is that i was in the middle of a Donut robbery and the thieves were about to grab a stash of jelly donuts and run away. The second is those men were in fact NYPD undercover cops in need of a sugar fix before going to chase the bad guys. The suspense intensified as they placed the order. One of them pulled his gun… to get his wallet in his inside pocket (he had a large tummy!) and i got a peek at his badge. Pfffff. I admit i felt relieved when they left the store with a box of a dozen Boston cream. To be robbed is one thing i can live with but being left without a donut to spare would have me crying for help.
Of course the incident was forgotten after a few bites – until a few nights later i have this really weird dream where I get arrested by the Donut police, handcuffed and placed in a room furnished with just a chair and a blinding donut-shaped light put on my face. All i remember is the officer interrogating me (he looked like an italian landlord with a crazy eye) said loudly: “Hand over the French crullers, you scum!” to which my reply was “Yo mama!”. I have a bad cop/no donut policy even in my dreams. Thankfully my alarm clock rescued me from this creepy dream.
Later that day i put 1+1 together – the donut shop and the dream. I had previously placed a baked donut recipe from Pichet Ong’s new cookbook in my To Do list. A baked donut recipe!? A donut should be fried!! As you may know, donut is the main food group for police officers – therefore baking a donut is running the risk of being arrested and thrown in jail for bad conduct and not adhering to the rules. The bastards were chasing me in my dreams! But what the heck, i tried the baked version and it was good, a bit more chewy than your average donut but still very flavorful and much lighter and airier, the apple filling was both crunchy and juicy. Here you have it friends, try it, love it, hate it but don’t call the cops on me. Cheers!

Sweet Potato Donuts w/ Roasted Apple Filling

(makes 2 dozen)

Sweet Potato Donuts:

  • 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1 inch-sliced
  • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
  • 1/3 cup evaporated milk
  • 1/3 cup buttermilk
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons butter for greasing the molds

Roasted Apple Filling:

  • 2 apples, preferably Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoon butter
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

——————-

  1. Steam the sweet potato until soft and mash with a fork until smooth. Set aside.
  2. Sprinkle the yeast over 1/4 cup warm water and let it sit until foamy, about 10 minutes.
  3. Transfer the mashed sweet potato to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and add the evaporated milk, buttermilk, and 1/3 cup water. Mix about 3 minutes. Add the sugar and mix until dissolved, about 5 minutes. Turn the mixer to low and add the foamy yeast, then add the flour 1/2 cup at a time. Mix for 1 more minute. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place until nearly doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
  4. Meanwhile, make the filling: Toss the apples with the lemon juice, sugar and cinnamon. Set a large skillet over medium heat for 3 minutes, then add the apples and butter. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are browned and slightly softened, about 30 minutes. Stir in the vanilla extract and set aside to cool.
  5. Generously butter two 12-cups muffin tins, then sprinkle the molds lightly with sugar. Fill each mold with 3 tablespoons of the soft, wet dough, then press a piece of roasted apple into the center of each. Gently gather the dough together to cover the apple and pinch the top seam tightly. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and let rise for 30 minutes.
  6. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350’F.
  7. Uncover the donuts and bake until puffed and golden brown, about 20 minutes. Serve warm.
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  • Manggy

    I’m no lawyer but I’d totally defend you in court if you were tried 😉 I know Pichet Ong can do no wrong! Those donuts (okay, let’s call them yeast cakes) look yummy but still wholesome. I’d extol the virtues of sweet potatoes but I don’t want to bore everyone, heh heh :)

  • foodhuntress79

    “If you want to find all the cops,
    They’re hanging out in the donut shop.
    They sing and dance (Oh-Ah-Oh),
    They spin their clock and cruise on down the block.”

    -WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN
    (Me First and the Gimme Gimmes)

    Haha!

  • foodhuntress79

    – but originally by THE BANGLES. :)

  • Ann

    Manggy can defend you and I’ll be a character witness. These look YUM!

  • Ben

    The donut police? LOL You know you are obsessed with food when you start having this kind of dreams.

  • Claude-Olivier

    Mais ou vas tu chercher tout ca 😉

  • Tavolini

    well, if your dreams inspire you to make this, here’s to many more food inspired dreams (preferably with less evil)

    Looks good–wonder how it would be fried…

  • Cakespy

    Oh my god. I nearly died laughing reading this. But I am glad I didn’t because now I can go get a donut.

  • Emiline

    I like the way you think…this is a great idea. I hardly ever eat donuts, cause of the grease. I love sweet potato, too.

    No glaze? :(

  • Zen Chef

    Manggy. Thanks it’s good to know someone out there will support me if i get caught by the donut police. :-)

    Foodhuntress. hahahahahaha… you got me singing to myself! I just had an 80’s flashback. I love that song but with donut lyrics.. even more! Love the band name too. haha!

    Thanks Ann! Looks like i’ve got my legal team in place. :-)

    Ben, i had worse dreams before. :-)

    Claude. Je ne sais pas! Ca pousse comme de mauvaise herbes dans le jardin. haha. :-)

  • Zen Chef

    Tavolini. I think it could be fried. Anything fried works!

    Cakespy. Don’t die! Who’s gonna make those cute illustrations. Have a donut instead! :-)

    Emiline. You can add a glaze. Sounds good! :-)

  • aCey

    this post made me happy today for some reason. you’re funny and you write well, too.

    and your donuts looks soooo good! i copied the recipe so i can make some as soon as i am free from school, free to learn to cook and bake! (can’t wait for graduation day!) hehehe.

    and, hey, i like your cop no donut policy! ;p

  • Dhanggit

    what a genius idea!! sweet potato donuts with roasted apples !! i love this..the twist sounds really delicious..btw,i want to share something about what my mom often say when we eat too much sweet potato but i dont want to disgust other bloggers reading ..maybe i’ll tell you in private hahahaha

  • cakewardrobe

    I wish I had donut dreams! You are too funny! I actually live with a member of the NYPD.. I know they love their donuts cause they get em hooked up!

  • La Belette Rouge

    Just last week, I went to a lovely restaurant in Chicago where the chef shared with us that an amazing appetizer that we very much enjoyed, a seafood fritter on a lobster risotto, was inspired by him watching Cartoon Planet and craving a funnel cake. Never know where inspiration is going to strike.

  • Catherine Wilkinson

    Holy Crap. Sweet potato and apple all nestled inside a wonderful treat. Jessica Seinfeld would be so jealous.

  • pha27531

    Can I replace lemon juice with orange juice?

  • Chicken & Waffles

    Like an upscale Twinkie. Me Like.

  • b

    It is so funny how experiences emerge in our dreams! The Donut Police?! Haha. How funny!

  • Alejandra

    Do you want to know something weird about me? Of course you do!

    I don’t like Krispy Kremes. Actually, I don’t really like donuts very much, except for French crullers…something about the way they dissolve I think… It’s all about texture!

    But now this…this I think I could love. What is the difference between a donut and a cake?

  • Kate / Kajal

    hahaha … u have clearly been reading too many comic books !!
    I have weird food related dreams as well , but clearly this takes the cake … eer i mean donut 😛
    A wonderful creation once again from the Zen Chef … (applause)… i like :)

  • Deborah

    I have been obsessed with sweet potatoes lately, so these really grabbed my attention. They sound delicious!

  • Anali

    LOL! That’s hilarious! Thanks for sharing your dreams with us. ; ) And the recipe too! I’ve been saving baked donut recipes, but still haven’t tried them.

  • AzAzura

    I laughed non stop while reading this entry and still am right now…I love doughnuts and I can just stuffed all this into my mouth,I can imagine the scent of roasted apple in my kitchen.xo

  • Heather

    Ah, donuts. Mr. Donut in Tokyo was the very best. They looked exactly like the pictures! And you could smoke in there with your coffee and donuts. I don’t smoke anymore, but I hanker deep in my bosom for a Mr. Donut.

  • daphne

    oh beautiful! Sweet potatoes-nice touch.

  • White On Rice Couple

    Not only can you cook, you have a brilliant sense of humor! You should have a show!
    BTW- our first cooking video is up!

  • Tartelette

    Gorgeous! I love that book….I read it before going to bed so I don’t have any bad cop dreams but I keep being chased by butter!

  • http://donutrecipes.info David

    I love donuts and can’t wait ’till Sundays here in Japan: 1 dollar donuts at Mister Donut! Great recipe, unusual and unique! Love it!