Donuts

Turn this plain pizza dough into a sweet Italian-inspired treat. If you've got kids, this is a great way to get them involved in cooking by letting them shape the pizza dough themselves.From the book "Lucinda's Rustic Italian Kitchen," by Lucinda Scala Quinn (Wiley).

Make this classic bakery treat from the comfort of your own kitchen. These puffy doughnuts are filled with your favorite raspberry jam and rolled in granulated sugar.

Transform pate a choux, a French batter typically used to make cream puffs and crullers, into the beloved Spanish pastries known as churros. Pipe the dough into loops, fry in hot oil, and toss in cinnamon sugar. And don't forget the chocolate sauce for dipping!

In the story of Hanukkah, a lamp containing a tiny amount of oil burned, miraculously, for eight days. But these doughnuts—perfectly crisped in oil and coated in sugar—won't last long at all. Served with a silken chocolate-brandy sauce for dipping and a cup of strong coffee, they are a classic finish to the meal.

No dairy or eggs in these baked donuts! Ripe bananas, coconut oil, and nut milk are all you need for their rich flavor, although the luscious chocolate glaze on top certainly doesn't hurt.

Baked nuggets are filled with strawberry jam and rolled in confectioners' sugar. A cellophane bag shows them off and keeps the sugar from getting all over. Tags are computer-made, cut out, hole-punched, and tied on with waxed twine.

These fluffy, satisfying doughnuts add mashed potatoes to the traditional flour dough -- and are best eaten slightly warm.

These light, delicious doughnuts come to us courtesy of pastry chef Francois Payard, of Payard Patisserie and Bistro in New York City.

Eating fried foods is, of course, one of Hanukkah's delicious traditions. Sufganiyot, or jelly doughnuts, can be given out as party favors when arranged in cupcake liners and packaged in cellophane bags. These are sealed with double-sided tape and finished with patterned pastel paper. If you're making the nondairy version, reduce the amount of salt to 3/4 teaspoon.

Ultrasoft, yeast-raised twists and doughnut holes with a sugary glaze make for a decadent breakfast treat.

These Spanish fried dough cups are topped with cinnamon sugar and served with ice cream and caramel sauce.

These delicately-decorated homemade doughnuts will make hearts flutter before even the first bite is had. The sugared flower decor looks particularly lovely on these orange-blossom-glazed treats, but they'll still look pretty sweet on desserts like iced cookies and cupcakes, too. 

Doughnuts and doughnut holes made with cornmeal and rich pumpkin puree are in keeping with the season. Roll some in confectioners' sugar and others in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. A tall glass of apple cider is the perfect accompaniment.

These quickly fried, cakey confections boast a molten center of liquid caramel. The filling is made by stuffing the dough with store-bought candies.

These crunchy doughnuts are like the fried dough you find at county fairs.

Warm, homemade doughnuts make a decadent birthday treat.

These Italian doughnuts are dusted with spiced sugar and served with espresso.

Rich Devil's Food doughnuts are a perfect choice for any morning -- draped with a brandied chocolate glaze, they can be topped with chopped nuts or coconut for extra flourish.