The first time I has hibiscus was in the form of tea. I was working at a farmer’s market in Boston, and every day as soon as it got hot, my boss and the farm owner would look at me and say “Fennel, coffee run?”
I’d smile and say “Yes!” I took his credit card and asked all the other employees for their drink order.
Iced Cap. Iced Coffee, 1 sugar. Red Eye. Iced Coffee, milk and 2 splenda.
I walked to the downtown coffee shop a block from the market. Amidst business men in their suits and women in pencil skirts heels, I stood in my sneakers and cotton tank top. My hands were always slightly dirty from the wooden crates I had carried off of the farm truck that morning.
At the end of the order, I’d ask for an iced hibiscus tea for myself.
It was heavenly. Cold and refreshing, with this bright and floral flavor that felt so appropriate for the hot day ahead of me.
Every time I have hibiscus now I’m instantly transported back to my summer at the farmer’s market. Bagging spring peas, tri-colored carrots, and haricots verts. Lifting heavy buckets filled with sunflowers as big as your face. And sipping on an iced hibiscus tea.
These donuts have hibiscus both in the sugar coating and in the pastry cream which nearly bursts from the donut.
They are absolute perfection. I had such a hard time not eating them as I made them last week. Which, I think, is a great sign 🙂
In a small bowl, mix together the milk, sugar, and yeast. Allow to sit for 5 minutes, or until the yeast begins to bubble and foam.
In a standing mixer bowl fitted with a dough attachment, combine flour and salt. Add in egg, vanilla extract, melted butter, and milk mixture, stirring to combine.
Knead dough on low speed for 10 minutes, until the dough is soft and very stretchy (dough will be VERY sticky). If kneading by hand, this will take 10-15 minutes. Your dough will be ready when it passes the window test: pull a quarter-sized piece of dough between your hands and put it up to a window. If you can see the light shining through and the dough does not break, the glutens are strong enough and your dough is ready.
Grease a large bowl with oil and place dough into bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm place for 1 1/2 hours.
for the pastry cream
Meanwhile, make your pastry cream. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine dried hibiscus, milk, 1/4 cup of the sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Heat, stirring occasionally, until milk is scalding (steaming) but not boiling.
In a separate bowl, combine egg yolks, the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar, and flour. The mixture will be pasty and this is OK. Just make sure everything is well mixed together.
Pour 1/4 cup of the hot milk mixture into the egg mixture and whisk to combine, then slowly pour everything into the saucepan, whisking the entire time.
Turn the heat to medium and whisk slowly but constantly until the mixture thickens to a pudding-like consistency. Remove from heat and strain through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl.
Cover pastry cream with plastic wrap and place in fridge to cool completely.
back to the donuts
Punch dough lightly to deflate, then roll into a lightly floured work surface. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thick, then use a round 3-inch pastry cutter to cut dough into circles and place on a lined baking sheet. Cover loosely with a towel or plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hour.
Mix together remaining 1 cup of sugar with finely crushed dried hibiscus flowers. Set aside.
In a large heavy-bottomed pot, heat 2 quarts of canola oil to 350°F. Fry donuts 3-4 at a time for 30 seconds to 1 minute on each side, until lightly golden brown. Remove from heat and toss in hibiscus-sugar mixture.
Last, scoop pastry cream into a piping bag with a 1/2 inch tip. Pipe pastry cream into the center of each donut. DEVOUR!
I tried making the hibiscus pastry cream, but it didn’t turn out nearly as pink and pretty as in the photos. Once the hibiscus milk mixture was combined with the egg yolks, it turned more of a peachy/brown colour and looked very unappetizing. Any suggestions for getting more of a pink hue?
I’ve tried warming milk with hibiscus before, but it got curdled almost immediately. How do you male it come together after all the acid from both lemon and hibiscus?
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Macros?
I also found that the hibiscus didn’t come through very strongly, the lemon over-powered it.
I tried making the hibiscus pastry cream, but it didn’t turn out nearly as pink and pretty as in the photos. Once the hibiscus milk mixture was combined with the egg yolks, it turned more of a peachy/brown colour and looked very unappetizing. Any suggestions for getting more of a pink hue?
Same exact issue with the milk curdling immediately with the hibiscus. Too bad I saw the comments too late
I’ve tried warming milk with hibiscus before, but it got curdled almost immediately. How do you male it come together after all the acid from both lemon and hibiscus?
I’ve never had that issue. You could try using a non-dairy milk, like almond milk, to prevent this?