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    Baked spelt splits with apple, cinnamon and custard

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    Baked spelt splits with apple, cinnamon and custard

    Baking gives a convincing result and is simpler than deep-frying. Think of these as crumble and custard in doughnut form.

    • Vegetarian
    • Preparation time: About 4 hours (includes rising, proving and cooling)
    • Cooking time: 15 minutes
    • Total time: About 4 hours 15 minutes (includes rising, proving and cooling)

    Makes: 16 large doughnuts

    Ingredients

    200ml semi-skimmed milk
    100g unsalted butter
    ½ tsp vanilla bean paste
    50g golden caster sugar
    200g spelt flour
    200g plain white flour, plus extra for dusting
    ½ tsp fine salt
    1 tsp ground cinnamon
    7g sachet Allinson easy bake yeast
    3 eggs (150g), beaten

    CUSTARD
    250ml semi-skimmed milk
    2 egg yolks
    50g caster sugar
    ½ tsp vanilla bean paste
    20g plain flour
    20g cornflour
    150ml double cream

    APPLE COMPOTE
    4 bramley apples, peeled and chopped (about 400g prepared weight)
    4 tbsp golden caster sugar

    CINNAMON COATING
    150g golden caster sugar
    1½ tsp ground cinnamon
    75g unsalted butter, melted

    Method

    1. Pour the milk into a small saucepan and add the butter and vanilla. Heat gently until the butter melts and the milk is warm, then remove from the heat.

    2. Mix the sugar, flours, ground cinnamon and salt together in a large bowl, then make a well in the centre and add the yeast. Test the milk temperature with your little finger – it should be warm but not hot. Pour the milk mixture into the well and leave to stand for 5 minutes to let the yeast dissolve. Add the beaten eggs, then mix with a wooden spoon to a smooth, very wet dough (almost a batter); set aside for 10 minutes.

    3. Beat the dough for 1 minute; you’ll find it has more body to it. Cover the bowl with oiled cling film and leave in a warm place for 2 hours, or until at least doubled in size.

    4. Generously flour the worktop and your hands, then scrape the dough from the bowl. Flour the top of the dough too, then gently knead by bringing the top edge into the centre, turning the dough a quarter turn and repeating. Do this for 2-3 minutes. Add more flour if your hands get sticky (the odd sticky patch of dough will mean a better doughnut, though, so don’t be put off). The dough should feel soft, fluid and bouncy. Flour 2 large baking sheets

    5. Shape the risen and kneaded dough into 16 balls and place, well spaced out, on well-floured baking sheets. Cover loosely with oiled cling film and leave to prove in a warm place until almost doubled in size – about 45 minutes-1 hour.

    6. Meanwhile, make the custard. Bring the milk to just before boiling in a pan. Whisk the egg yolks, sugar and vanilla in a large bowl, then whisk in the flours. Gradually pour in the hot milk, whisking as you go. Pour the custard back into the pan, bring back to the boil and whisk constantly for about 2 minutes, until smooth and thick (it will seem lumpy at first but will become smooth again). Transfer to a bowl and cover the surface directly with cling film to prevent a skin forming. Leave to cool and chill completely.

    7. For the apple compote, put the apples, sugar and 2 tbsp water in a pan. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring halfway. Stir to a mashed consistency, then set aside to cool.

    8. Preheat the oven to 190˚C, gas mark 5. Remove the cling film and bake the doughnuts for 8-12 minutes, until they are dark golden and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. Cool briefly on the tray. 5 For the coating, mix the caster sugar and cinnamon together in a shallow container. Brush each warm doughnut with melted butter, sit it in the sugar and sprinkle all over to coat. Repeat until all are coated, then leave to cool.

    9. To finish the custard, use electric beaters to beat the cream in a bowl until thick but not stiff. Beat the cold custard until smooth, then fold in the whipped cream. Split the doughnuts in half, then fill each one with a spoonful each of custard and compote. 

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    This recipe first appeared in Waitrose Food, March 2017 issue. Download the Waitose Food app for the full issue.

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