Ways to get creative with leftover doughnuts (as if)
Leftover doughnuts — if there is such a thing in your world — do not have to wind up smooshed into a casserole with eggs, cream and butter. Not that there's anything wrong with that as an occasional splurge; check out Paula Shoyer's more-healthful, fruity version of a doughnut-based pudding included with this article.
Bayou Bakery chef-owner David Guas turns beignet dough scraps (again, we are wondering, how could there be?) into sticky buns with a bourbon-pecan glaze. The beignet dough recipe comes from his 2009 cookbook, “DamGoodSweet.”
Tiffany MacIsaac, executive pastry chef of the Neighborhood Restaurant Group, offered a couple of smart solutions:
Ÿ Doughnut crisps. These are easy to do, akin to baked bagel chips. The difference is that doughnut crisps tend to stay a little softer at the center, and their glazed edges caramelize just enough to provide a sweet crunch.
Use a serrated knife to cut day-old glazed, unfilled doughnuts. When you cut them in half vertically and then into thin slices, the yield will be about 16 slices. Cut horizontally and you might get 4 round slices. Spread them on a rimmed baking sheet and bake at 275 degrees for 10 minutes, then turn them over and bake for another 5 minutes or so. Eat warm, or cool and store in an airtight container.
Ÿ Doughnut truffles. They could be mistaken for cake pops that are surprisingly less sweet. MacIsaac developed two no-bake, chocolate-coated recipes using day-old plain or glazed cake doughnuts: Nutella and one that incorporates blueberry jam, lime and fresh ginger.