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Spooky Web-Themed Donuts

These fun and eerie donuts are made with a soft, vanilla-flavored dough that is fried until golden and fluffy. Once cooled slightly, they are decorated with crackly royal icing in a web pattern, creating a playful, spooky appearance perfect for Halloween or themed parties. The combination of crispy exterior and tender interior makes for a delightful treat with a touch of creepy charm.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 8
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Halloween
Calories: 250
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour sifted
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast proof in warm milk
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • ¼ cup neutral oil plus extra for frying
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup warm milk for proofing yeast
  • 1 cup royal icing or melted chocolate for web decoration
  • Tiny amount edible eyes optional, for decoration

Equipment

  • Deep-fryer or heavy-bottomed pot
  • Thermometer
  • Piping bags with small round tips
  • Cooling rack
  • Mixing bowls
  • Whisk
  • Cookie cutter or small round cutter
  • Rolling pin

Method
 

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine the sifted flour and sugar. Warm the milk slightly and proof the yeast in it until frothy, about 5 minutes.
  2. Add the proofed yeast mixture, egg, vanilla extract, and oil to the dry ingredients. Stir until a sticky, glossy dough forms.
  3. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. Cover with a damp cloth and let it rise in a warm spot for 1 hour, until doubled in size.
  4. Once risen, roll out the dough to about 1 cm thickness on a floured surface. Use a small round cutter to cut out donut shapes or circles.
  5. Heat the oil to 180°C (350°F) in a deep pan or fryer. Carefully slide in a small piece of dough to test if it bubbles and sizzles, indicating the right temperature.
  6. Fry the donuts in batches for 2-3 minutes per side, until golden brown and puffed up. Flip gently with a slotted spoon to ensure even cooking.
  7. Remove the donuts from the oil and drain on a paper towel or cooling rack. Allow them to cool slightly so the icing won’t melt immediately.
  8. Fill a piping bag fitted with a small round tip with royal icing or melted chocolate. Pipe web patterns across the donuts in a crisscross fashion for a spooky web look.
  9. Let the web icing set for about 15 minutes. Add tiny edible eyes if desired to enhance the creepy effect.
  10. Place the decorated donuts on a wire rack and serve once the web pattern has cracked and set. Enjoy these playful treats with friends or family!

Notes

For extra crunch, serve donuts fresh on the day of frying. Store leftovers in an airtight container for a few hours—web decoration may soften over time.