There are some homemade dishes that you are very proud of. Perhaps not because they turned out perfectly, but because you conquered something new, and the end result was edible. Delicious edible. Rustic , yes. Delicious rustic. These homemade jam doughnuts were just that. Inspired by some gorgeous jam gifted from Hanks Jam – and a craving for sugary warm doughnuts. The only problem being that I have never made jam doughnuts from scratch before. So  what’s the deal with Hank’s Jam anyway? I had seen some at my local IGA – but was intrigued to find out…

“Hank’s, Sydney’s favourite gourmet jam, celebrates 21 years of business this year, after starting in a small kitchen near Bronte. Hank, a young chef, started making jams part time to earn some extra cash to support his love of surfing. Soon the demand and reputation of these beautifully crafted jams spread and cafes all over Sydney were demanding Hank’s Jam. After making its mark on Sydney, Hank’s continues to grow and will now be available in IGAs nationwide for all of Australia to enjoy.”

Not to mention – they tasty pretty damn good! One fine weekend afternoon, not all that long ago, I got to work. Dough was made, proved, then rolled and shaped. And with no circle cutter in sight, it was only appropriate that I used the top of my own jam jar instead! Left to rise… Then into my trusty – albeit wonky – deep fryer…. And somehow doughnuts sprung to life! Time for the fun part! I rolled the doughnuts in a mixture of caster sugar and cinnamon while they were still warm – and piped a generous amount of the mixed berry jam inside. And, my friends, I could not have been happier with the result! Sure, they were a little rustic, but the dough was light and fluffy – with just the right amount of sugary sweetness. Instantly I was reminded of the big bag of warm jam doughnuts we used to pick up from a roadside vendor when travelling to the beach for our family holiday as a child…. They were most delicious when eaten while warm – and we wasted no time in indulging.  Next time I’d probably pipe even more jam into the middle – for the mixed berry filling was rather scrumptious. So – while it was not the simplest of recipes, and most certainly not the quickest, it was a fun foray into the world of doughnut-making nonetheless! Homemade Jam  Donuts – makes 20

• 490g plain flour
• 55g caster sugar (+ 1 cup extra)
• 15g dried yeast
• pinch salt
• 1 cup warm milk
• 100g melted butter
• 3 egg yolks
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup jam

1. Combine the flour, caster sugar, yeast and salt in a medium bowl. Make a well in the centre.
2. Meanwhile, combine the milk, butter and egg yolks, then pour into the well.
3. Stir until the mixture forms a dough, then knead for 5 minutes or until smooth. Place in a clean bowl (lightly sprayed with oil), cover and allow to prove for 1 hour (or until doubled in size).
4. Punch down, and knead for another few minutes. Roll out on a lightly floured bench until 1cm thick.
5. Using a 7cm round cutter, cut into circles and place on a lined baking tray. Set aside to rise for a further 30 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, combine caster sugar and cinnamon on a plate. Fill piping bag with jam.
7. Heat canola oil in a deep fryer until 160-170C. Cook donuts 1 to 2 minutes each side, or until golden brown. Transfer to a bowl lined with paper towel to drain – then roll in sugar mixture to coat.
8. Finish by piping jam into the side of each doughnut – and ENJOY!

What about you? Have you ever made your own jam doughnuts? Thanks again to Hanks Jam for the generous gift that inspired these treats! Check out their website for other ‘jammy’ recipes….