Vegan Boston Cream Donuts
Updated: Nov 17, 2021
Bloody Cupcakes
Yield: 15 donuts Prep Time: 1 Hour
Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Full Time: 1 Hour 15 Minutes
Simple and delicious Vegan Boston Cream donuts from home!
Ingredients:
FOR THE PASTRY CREAM
· 1 cup plant-based milk, I used oat milk
· 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
· 1/4 cup sugar
· 2 tablespoons neutral oil, I used canola oil
· 2 teaspoons vegetable shortening
· 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
· Splash of lemon juice
· Piping bag for filling
FOR THE DOUGH
· 1 cup unsweetened plant-based milk, I used oat milk
· 1 packet instant yeast
· 1/3 cup sugar
· 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
· 6 tablespoons vegan butter, softened
· 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
· 1/2 teaspoon salt
· 4 cups all purpose flour, plus more for surface
· vegetable oil, for frying, I used canola oil
FOR THE CHOCOLATE GLAZE
· 1 cup semi-sweet or dark vegan chocolate chips
· 1 teaspoon refined coconut oil
Instructions:
PREPARE THE PASTRY CREAM
1. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, whisk together all the pastry cream ingredients. Stir constantly until the mixture is thick and begins to bubble. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to stir for another minute or so until it thickens like the consistency of pudding. Remove from heat.
2. Pour the mixture into a small bowl and allow to cool for about 5 minutes. Then cover the top of the bowl with plastic wrap and put in fridge to continue cooling.
PREPARE THE DOUGH
1. Heat the soy milk in the microwave for about a minute until it’s warm to touch.
2. Pour the warmed milk into a large bowl and add the instant yeast and sugar. Mix then let sit for about 3 minutes, and then whisk until frothy and bubbly.
3. To the bowl with the yeast mixture, add the applesauce, softened vegan butter, vanilla, salt and half of flour. Mix on low speed with a hand mixer (or by hand with a spoon) for a few minutes, then add the rest of the flour and mix, until a shaggy dough starts to form.
4. Lightly grease a large bowl, then place the dough inside the bowl. Cover with a tea towel and let rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes. If you can’t find a warm place, you can heat your oven to 180°F, turn off the heat and place the bowl inside.
5. Remove the dough after 30 minutes, poke the dough a couple of times and place on a floured surface. Roll to about 1/2 inch thick (I used the width of my index finger as a guide) and cut out the donuts with a donut cutter, you can also use the rim of the cut as I did in the video. You will get around 15 rounds of donut.
6. Line a large baking sheet with lightly greased parchment paper. Place the cut donuts on it. Cover with the towel for about 15 minutes for a second rise.
7. You can either deep-fry, air fry or bake the donuts. My preferred method would be air fry. Please see sections below for further details.
8. Once donuts are cooled, use a skewer or toothpick to poke a slit in the center of the donut. Move the skewer around in the middle of the donut to clear way for the filling.
9. Remove the pastry cream from the fridge and mix with a hand blender to smooth the cream. Use a piping bag with a large tip to fill with the cream. Pipe the pastry cream into the center of the donut.
10. Make the chocolate glaze: Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second increments. Mix thoroughly. Add the coconut oil and mix again. Dip the top of the donut in the glaze, and place on cooling rack.
TO DEEP-FRY
1. Heat an inch or two of a neutral oil. Heat until it reaches 350°F (180°C).
1. Use a slotted spoon or spatula to gently lift a donut off the baking sheet, brush off excess flour, and carefully lower into the oil. Cook for 45 seconds or until the bottom is golden brown. Flip and cook for 30-45 seconds longer or until that side is also golden brown. Transfer to a paper-towel lined wire rack to cool. Repeat with all the donuts, frying one or two at a time. Keep an eye on the temperature and adjust as needed to keep it at 350°F (180°C). Let the cooked donuts cool to room temperature before filling and glazing.
TO AIR-FRY (Preferred)
1. Preheat air fryer to 350°F (180°C). Lightly oil the bottom of the pan with neutral oil and place two donuts in. They should fit without overlapping.
2. When the air fryer is preheated, pop the pan in and air fry for 4-5 minutes. The donuts will come out lightly golden on top. Transfer to a wire rack immediately and let cool to room temperature before filling and glazing.
TO BAKE
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). When the oven reaches temperature, bake donuts for 10 minutes. Remove from oven immediately. The donuts should be just cooked through. They won’t be as browned as the deep-fried version, and that’s okay. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool to room temperature before filling and glazing.
Share your creation on Instagram and tag @marinatedvegan #marinatedvegan