Good afternoon

GOOD AFTERNOON
​YES, IT IS AFTERNOON IN 8 MINUTES LOL.

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Did you know it takes 21 days to make a habit? In 3 teeny tiny weeks, you can start these things below in this photo. Feel free to print it out.

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German Donuts & How to Make Them Like a Bavarian

Authentic recipe for Bavarian donuts aka Ausgezogene Krapfen. Easy to follow step by step pictures, instructions and tips.
​Learn how to make authentic Bavarian donuts and how they are different from other German desserts and pastries categorized as donuts.

​​Bavarian donuts are soft, puffy yeast dough circles, shaped to have a thin, shallow center and a raised outer edge. When fried to golden perfection the indented middles remain a lighter color.

​Most commonly they are enjoyed liberally dusted with confectioners sugar or vanilla sugar.

They are not filled with Bavarian cream. In fact, they are not filled with anything, they are simply pulled into shape which is why one of their regional names is Ausgezogene Krapfen (literally pulled donuts).

Bavarian donuts are also known as Knieküchle and Auszogne. In Austria they call them Bauernkrapfen (farmhouse donuts). In the past the fried dough treats were mostly made on holidays and special occasions such as Christenings. Today they are a popular item on beer garden menus, at folk fests and fairs and have become an iconic German dessert and a well-loved Oktoberfest treat.

This authentic recipe from Chris’s collection from the Kaltenberg can be easily scaled down for half the amount or up if you are making the donuts for a larger party.

INGREDIENTS YOU NEED

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The yeast dough for Ausgezogene Krapfen is simple to prepare. In Bavarian cuisine the same dough is also used to bake Buchteln, which are soft bread rolls filled with fruit or jam and eaten with warm vanilla sauce.

• Yeast. The bread yeast is truly the star of the show. It creates the soft texture of the dough and the esters it releases infuses the donuts with delicious aromas. 
• Sugar. Only a minimal amount is used, primarily to feed the yeast. 
• Milk. Milk is the ingredient which imparts a delicate sweetness to the dough as yeast does not feed on lactose. 
• Flour. Use all-purpose flour. 
• Salt. Just a pinch to bring out the milk’s sweetness. 
• Eggs. They add structure and stability to the dough as well as additional moisture.  
• Rum. Optional. Not commonly done, but sometimes, especially in Austria, a shot of rum is added to the dough. 
• Frying oil. You can use vegetable cooking oil and you will have excellent results. Traditionally a combination of two kinds of frying agents were used – lard and butter, or vegetable shortening and cooking oil. 

HOW TO MAKE BAVARIAN DONUTS

There are three key points to remember in an otherwise simple process. If you get them right, you will enjoy perfectly light and crispy naked donuts.

The first two require patience, the last one attentiveness. No hard work is involved. 

• You need strong yeast. Allow the yeast enough time to get activated and strengthen before you mix the dough. 
• Allow the dough plenty of time to rise (both bulk and individual balls). The light and soft texture of the donuts depends on this.
• Keep the frying fat at a temperature between 340-350 F. Not overcrowding the pan is very helpful.

Make the dough

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Step 1. Warm up the milk (keep it under 90 F so as not to kill the yeast) and pour it in a mixing bowl. Add the sugar and the yeast. Stir gently and let the yeast activate – it will begin to produce bubbles (#3) as it eats the sugar.

NOTE: Bread yeast does not eat lactose from the milk so when activated the yeast will not look as foamy as if you had used water and sugar. 

Step 2. Add flour, salt, soft or melted butter and eggs to the activate yeast and milk mixture (#4, 5, 6). 

Step 3. Use the dough hook attachment on medium low speed until you get a soft but not sticky dough that has cleanly pulled away from the bowl sides (#8 below). Cover the dough with plastic and let it sit in a warm place for about an hour until it doubles in size (#9, 10).

Step 4. After the dough has risen flour a clean surface and place it on top. Divide it in two, then in two again and twice more until you get 16 more or less equal in size and weight parts. Shape them into balls and do not worry about uniformity too much. These are low key, rustic style donuts.

Step 5. Apply a bit of oil over each ball, cover with plastic to prevent air access and then a towel and let them rise for another 15-20 minutes (#2, 3, 4 below).

​SHAPING TECHNIQUES

Granted, the word technique is a bit over the top here, but there are a couple of different ways to shape the yeast dough balls into the traditional indented krapfen rounds. 

1. You can employ the thumb print cookie method (I personally find it easiest). 
2. You can use a small ramekin or jar with rounded bottom to press a ball of dough on top and then using your fingers gently force the sides down, thinning out the​ middle.
   
3. Press a small ramekin or jar with rounded bottom on top of a dough ball and continue pressing while gently twisting until you get the desired shape.
   

​FRY THE DONUTS 

Step 1. Heat enough oil to fill your frying pan about 2-3 inches deep. Maintaining 340-350 F is essential so do not futz with the heat and do not fry more than three donuts at a time. 

Step 2. Fry with the indentation facing down first – you will notice the centers puff up (#1 below). Once golden flip and fry the bottoms. Drain onto paper towels or over a cooling rack. 

TIP: To guarantee that the center remains a lighter color than the edges make sure that after you turn the donuts over there is no oil pooled in the middles. Gently lift and tilt each donut to remove excess oil. 

​WAYS TO ENJOY GERMAN DONUTS

• The most common way to serve them in Germany is to dust them with powdered sugar or dip them in vanilla sugar while they are still hot. 
• In Austria apricot jam is a popular accompaniment – it is simply spooned into the middles of the donuts. So try them with your favorite preserve. Or Nutella.
• If you really want to turn them into Bavarian cream donuts – no problem. Simply add some in the middle – here is an authentic Bavarian cream recipe you can make in advance and let set in the fridge.