Lemon Ricotta Donuts

Happy Tuesday everyone! I usually reserve things like donuts for the weekend but since we are on day ? of quarantine and no one really knows or maybe even cares what day it is I figured donuts is just what we need. Trust me, these donuts are just what you need! They are baked, so they are healthy, right?! Ok, don’t hold me to that but they aren’t fried so they have that going for them.

I have made these donuts with all different types of flours but I will tell you bread flour is my favorite. However, any type will do! The ricotta gives these donuts the bit of fluff that all donuts need and the lemon sugar makes them taste like Spring. All in all, they are the perfect donut. Pair them with fresh fruit for breakfast or ice cream for dinner. Either way you’ll be satisfied.

Recipe

Ingredients:

1/2 stick butter, room temperature

1/2 stick butter, melted

1/4 cup canola oil

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup ricotta

3 eggs

2 large lemons (first zest the lemons to yield 2 tsp of zest. Then squeeze for 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice)

2 1/2 cups All Purpose, Whole Wheat or Bread Flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup milk

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

To make:

*This recipe requires a donut pan. It makes 12 donuts so if you don’t have 2 pans you will have to bake the donuts in 2 batches.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

In a large bowl, add 1/2 stick of butter, oil, vanilla and sugar. Using an electric mixer, combine until smooth.

Add eggs and cream together. Then add milk, ricotta and lemon juice. Whisk to fully combine.

Add flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir to combine.

Using a large ziplock bag, pour the batter into the bag and snip the corner of the bag to create a piping bag.

Pipe batter into a grease donut pan and bake for 10-12 minutes or until puffed up and golden around the edges.

Remove pan from oven and remove donuts from pan and place on a baking rack to cool for 10 minutes.

While donuts cool mix together 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 2 tsp of lemon zest and set aside

In a flat dish, melt the other half stick of the butter.

Once donuts are cool enough to handle dip the top of the donut into the melted butter, then dip the butter coated side into the sugar mixture. Place back on the cooling rack. Continue this process with all donuts.

Serve warm and enjoy!