Chocolate-Caramel Doughnut Holes

(93)
Prep Time:
45 mins
Total Time:
45 mins
Yield:
28 to 30

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

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for work surface

  • 1 cup cocoa powder

  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

  • ½ teaspoon baking soda

  • 1 ½ teaspoons coarse salt

  • 1 cup sugar, plus more for coating

  • ¾ cup low-fat buttermilk

  • 4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted

  • 2 large eggs

  • 28 to 30 store-bought soft caramel squares, unwrapped

  • 5 to 6 cups vegetable oil, for frying

Directions

  1. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk together sugar, buttermilk, butter, and eggs until thoroughly combined. Stir buttermilk mixture into flour mixture just until a smooth dough forms.

  2. On a lightly floured work surface, pat dough flat and lightly flour. Roll out dough to a 1/3-inch thickness. Cut into rounds with a 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter (to lift rounds from work surface, use a thin spatula). Reroll and cut scraps.

  3. Place a caramel in the center of each round, pinch dough closed around it, and gently roll into a smooth ball.

  4. Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Fill a wide shallow bowl with 1 inch sugar. In a large heavy pot, heat 4 inches oil until it registers 350 degrees on a candy thermometer. In batches of 4, fry doughnuts 5 minutes, turning once with a slotted spoon and adjusting heat as needed. Transfer doughnuts to prepared sheet; let rest 4 minutes. Roll in sugar to coat. Serve immediately.

    chocolate caramel doughnut holes
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