There are moments in life when you just crave that bit of sugar for a wicked indulgent treat…

Times like these, I lust for a bite of the humble little donut, hot and sugared or iced with some decandently sweet flavours….

Donuts seem to have gained an elevated status among the many creative bakers out there and the many iced and decorated varieties are very inspiring to both the eyes and palate.

The history of the donut seems an interesting one with its origins going back to the 1800s. The first donut or ‘doughnut’ could have originated from the Dutch who were making fried versions of cake dough calling them ‘oil cakes’. These oil cakes were fried and had various fillings such as fruits or nuts in the centre. Depending on how large these actual ‘oil cakes’ were, the centres could often be uncooked, with the outside of the cake cooking first before the centre. Later on, stories evolved where a Dutch Ship Captain named Hansen Gregory cut a hole in the centre of these oil cakes to increase the surface area for cooking, thus attributing himself as the creator of the modern day Donut.

Many other stories abound with the invention of this fried treat and other countries may share in a different history or adaptation of its own versions.

In this blog post, I take the classic Donut and pair it with a couple of fruity flavours such as Lychee and Strawberry. Here, I use the puree of both the Lychee and Strawberry fruit to deliver a ‘real fruit’ sweetish presence. If fruit is not your preference, then Green Tea or Matcha flavoured Donuts can also be a popular choice. For a more classic taste, then a Donut with a simple dusting of sugar can be all you need with that hot soul warming cup of coffee.

Try my Lychee, Matcha, Strawberry and Classic Mini Donuts recipe.