Doughnuts – Stab my Eyeball with a Fork, then Eat it
October 27, 2010 at 12:04 pm | Posted in Breads, Daring Bakers, Dessert, Jams/Jellies | 78 CommentsTags: Chocolate, Daring Bakers, Donut Holes, Donuts, Doughnut Eyeballs, Doughnut Holes, Doughnuts, Glazed doughnuts, Halloween, Strawberrry Jam
I’m going to start this off with a blunt comment. I don’t flip over doughnuts. I never did. In fact, doughnuts are probably at the bottom of my sweet tooth list when I’m craving something sugary. However, I do prefer cakey doughnuts to yeasty doughnuts and I will eat them if there’s absolutely nothing else sweet to eat and I must have a dose of sugar. OK, there is a loophole here – Krispy Kreme doughnuts fresh out of the fryer back in the day. This is because they were moist, eggy, sugary. creamy…sort of like biting into creme brulee.
The October 2010 Daring Bakers challenge was hosted by Lori of Butter Me Up. Lori chose to challenge DBers to make doughnuts. She used several sources for her recipes including Alton Brown, Nancy Silverton, Kate Neumann and Epicurious.
Since I’m not a huge doughnut fan, I decided to take this month’s challenge, half the recipe, and make doughnut holes…aka munchkins, aka poppers. Since Halloween is upon us, I also decided to take these holes in a ghoulish direction. I’d seen doughnut eyeballs all over the net for quite some time, but I could tell the flavor wasn’t spectacular since 1) They call for store bought doughnut holes, the boxed kind. No doubt you can get your doughnut holes at one of the doughnut chains, but still, everything tastes better when it’s homemade and not sitting in a case for hours; 2) They dip the eyeballs in melted white chocolate. Don’t get me wrong, I love white chocolate – but, come on, a doughnut isn’t a truffle – it just seems like complete overkill as far as sweetness and texture go..and 3) NO FILLING. As if I can’t reiterate it enough, I don’t flip over doughnuts, but if I’m going to eat one..unless it’s a hot, melty ‘just out of the fryer’, glazed creme brulee yum – I need me some filling!
So..as you can see I turned my doughnut holes into eyeballs. but not just any eyeballs, bleeding eyeballs, and not just bleeding eyeballs, but eyeballs that are bleeding because they’ve been stabbed with a fork – which is a great way to serve them, especially considering they have such a bloody interior, and this blood is definitely not viscous. That wouldn’t be any fun, would it? The question is, do eyeballs actually bleed? Well, I have yet to cut open or stab an eyeball, and most definitely don’t think I ever will..so leaving it up to one’s imagination and upping the gross factor, is not a bad thing come Halloween. UPDATE: According to Claire of Cooking is Medicine, an actual MD, eyeballs do in fact bleed, but nowhere near as much as my gory doughnut holes.
Having said all that, and now that I have my Halloween doughnut eyeball idea all ready to go, here’s what I did to make them taste better than the store bought white chocolate covered eyeballs. Naturally, these doughnut holes are homemade. Unfortunately, no cool frying photos. As some of you know, I practically live in a forest so I have almost zero natural light. I have windows, but with all the brush, not much sunlight gets in. Well, I have NO windows in my kitchen – just a little window on the door. Whenever I take ‘food in pot’ photos, I literally take the pot off stove and bring it to my sad, little Lowel Ego light nook to photograph it, then back to the stove. With hot oil, no way, and not only for safety reasons – greasy reasons too. Letting the dough sit in the oil that’s cooling down is NOT a good thing – don’t think I have to explain any further. I did it once before with my cannoli challenge, and those shells were greasier than Zorro’s headband.
OK, back to the task at hand. I chose the yeast doughnut provided to us by our lovely hostess, Lori. Why the yeast doughnut when I clearly stated I like the cakey doughnuts better, you ask? Because a yeast risen doughnut will take more filling than a cake doughnut, and I wanted these babies to bleeeeeed. I filled each doughnut hole with loads of bloood, welll, errr, really good strawberry jam with a little red gel paste added to really get a nice, bloody, red hue. I nixed the white chocolate coating for the ever so awesome confectioners sugar glaze, double dipped to get it as white as I could. I do love, love, love a nice translucent coating of glaze. Finally, we DO have some chocolate, white chocolate tinted blue for the iris, white chocolate tinted red for the bloody, oozy veins, and dark chocolate for the pupil. I have to say, they taste pretty good, and that’s a huge statement from me, the occasional doughnut nazi.
Well, that’s all folks, and who knows, maybe this challenge has converted me as far as doughnuts go, but they definitely have to be homemade and fresh, so I think I’ll try it again in the near future. For some fingerlicious Halloween ideas, click HERE. For the recipes for yeast and cake doughnuts, Click HERE, and as always, please click on the links HERE to see the gorgeous and amazing flavors, glazes and what have you.. my fellow Daring Bakers came up with for their doughnuts. Have a safe, happy and ghoulish Halloween! Oh, try to refrain from stabbing any eyeballs – unless they’re doughnuts.
OOOOPs, forgot to mention, I’m submitting these ghoulicious donut holes to Susan’s weekly bread baking showcase, Yeastspotting.
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Woooo! Gosh… you got my eye balls out, wouldn’t expect less from you… scarilicious 🙂
Comment by Zita— October 27, 2010 #
So awesome! I agree about the white chocolate and think that glaze was a much better idea. These look incredible… you hit every last detail. There are tons of things I would choose over a doughnut too… unless it’s a hot Krispy Kreme or a hot homemade apple cider doughnut!
Comment by Megan— October 27, 2010 #
That is such a great idea! I love that first shot. Perfect for Halloween and so freakish.
Cheers,
Rosa
Comment by Rosa— October 27, 2010 #
Oh man, I don’t know whether to laugh or look away! What a super clever (and totally seasonally appropriately gross!) take on the challenge. Love your write up (and empathize with your lighting situation…) and LOVE your photos. Awesome job (as always!). 🙂
Comment by Shelley C— October 27, 2010 #
And I thought my “Newfie Tongues” sounded disgusting 🙂 Your eyeballs are very creative and timely. Another fabulous challenge creation, by another fabulous DB!
Comment by Denise@There's a Newf in My Soup!— October 27, 2010 #
Wow those are eye popping. Glazy gooey and scary all in the same bite. Like yourself I only enjoy the fresh donuts from Krispy Kreme off the converyor belt. Great job and great photos – I checked your finger post those are incrediably awesome. Finger licking (or should I say biting) good.
Comment by Dan— October 27, 2010 #
Wow these are awesome and scary. 😉
Comment by zorra— October 27, 2010 #
Wow! I bow down to your creative take on donuts, entirely appropriate for the fall/Halloween season. Ghoulishly fantastic!!
Comment by sleepingbear— October 27, 2010 #
Thank you, sleepingbear!
Comment by lisamichele— October 28, 2010 #
Those are fantastic – I’m not a huge donut fan either, but now I want to make some of these in time for Halloween! Great work!!
Comment by stacy— October 27, 2010 #
Oooh, well-done … and creepy! Love it! Funny, I’m not a big fan of doughnuts either, but I do like jelly doughnuts, so I’m loving where you went with this. So creative, fun, and seasonal. Fantastic!
Comment by The Diva on a Diet— October 27, 2010 #
SO creative – I love it!
Comment by jfochek— October 27, 2010 #
Thank you, jfocheck!!
Comment by lisamichele— October 28, 2010 #
O my god those eyeballs on forks are just simply brilliant!! And I bet they tasted delicious too… I agree on the fact that doughnuts are soooo much better when homemade. It made such a huge difference that I am now a doughnut convert. love them!
Comment by Simone— October 27, 2010 #
OMG! I LOVE THESE! Hilarious! I might just have to whip up a batch for this weekend.
Comment by Tami— October 27, 2010 #
These really are great. 🙂
Comment by Misty in Utah— October 27, 2010 #
Lisa…you never disappoint. Once more your creativity came screaming out from this challenge ;o)
I can only wonder if I’m ever going to attack such a challenge myself??? I’m only a fan of donuts that are really well made with a fabulous icing 😉
Have a wonderful week and flavourful wishes,
Claudia
Comment by FOODESSA— October 27, 2010 #
Amazing way to turn our monthly challenge into a halloween challenge! Awesome!!!!!!
Comment by Patty— October 27, 2010 #
HAR! You did manage to do them! And they are fanfarkintastic! I love the runny blood and the veins.. perfection! You are so my Halloween inspiration. As well as the wind beneath my wings.. Love you, Wifey-poo! XOXOXOXOXOXXOXO
Comment by Your Soon To Be Wife— October 27, 2010 #
Zombie eyes- what a great idea!!
Comment by crumbsoflove— October 27, 2010 #
Well you have out done yourself again those ghoulish eyeballs are top notch no better perfect Hallow food, I just love that 1st photo so much superb work on this challenge. I always thought you weren’t a doughnut person and your posting are always so interesting. Uber good work as always. Cheers from Audax in Sydney Australia.
Comment by Audax Artifex— October 27, 2010 #
Way to go, those things are spooky but manage to look yummy too! Great job, creativity at work!
Comment by Patri— October 27, 2010 #
I’m so relieved now that I’ve read your post. Seeing the title pop up on my reader rather startled me. That said, FABULOUS take on the challenge. I feel so boring just dipping mine in chocolate glaze.
Comment by Leslie— October 27, 2010 #
SERIOUSLY?! How rad are those doughnuts!? I must say, when I saw the chocolate covered photo… I … thought they had condoms on them. I’m not sure what that says about my scattered brain today. Anywhooo, your donuts look fabulous and perfect for Halloween!
Comment by Rose@The BMK— October 27, 2010 #
LOL..they do look they have condoms on them!! SO funny..safe sex donuts – I love it!!
Comment by lisamichele— October 29, 2010 #
This cracked me up–the hardest I’ve laughed all day! Well done!
Comment by Julie— October 27, 2010 #
Oh my gosh! I laughed when the photo came up:) I love your creepy Halloween spin on the donuts! I have the opposite preference; I like the yeast donuts:) Happy Halloween, Lisa!
Comment by Sue— October 27, 2010 #
EEeeekk. Gross me out. Totally Halloweeney of you. And might I add clever.
I am not a big fan of doughnuts either. I do prefer the cakes ones though. But my kids, well, they love them. I bet they would love yours Lisa! I did really like the pumpkin doughnuts. I baked them and I will do it again the same way- baked.
Comment by Lori— October 27, 2010 #
Gosh I can SEE how creative you were on this one, even if not a crazy good thing for you. I love the decoration, love doing spooky Halloween food. I did a cakey doughnut, I prefer those too.
Comment by Evelyne@CheapEthnicEatz— October 27, 2010 #
Ohhhhh they do look like bleeding eyeballs! But when you said they were filled with strawberry jam and dipped in confectioner’s sugar and white chocolate–yummy!!! Great job and excellent pictures!
Comment by chef_d— October 27, 2010 #
Those are hilarious! What a fun idea for around Halloween! Nice job on the challenge!
Comment by Kim— October 27, 2010 #
Fantastic! You took this challenge to a new level!
Comment by marcellina— October 27, 2010 #
Thank you! You just helped me decide what to bring to a Halloween Party this weekend. How could it be anything else:) Yay, I get to make more doughnuts.
Comment by Tami— October 28, 2010 #
Hahaha! These are hilarious! (In a good way) I love the oozing blood! But now you have me wondering about what would come out of an eyeball. Hmmm…
I sat out of this challenge, I’ve just been eating way too many calorie rich things lately, and even though I do like donuts, I thought it best to not tempt myself. I don’t think I would have even thought to make donut eyeballs, I’ve never seen them, but what a great idea.
Love these!
Comment by MandyM— October 28, 2010 #
OMG Lisa I spit coffee all over my computer twice! You are too funny! When can we meet and spend time laughing together? And what a challenge! You went all the way with this one! Creative, imaginative, funny, oozy and I absolutely love it! And I tell you, we really were separated at birth – you’ll see what I mean when you read my post….
Comment by Jamie— October 28, 2010 #
I love this SO much! Mmm, tasty, tasty eyeballs…
Comment by Alex G— October 28, 2010 #
Wowowowow, this is my absolute favourite this month! I love every single detail, especially the blood dribbling down the forks! Bring on the gore! xxx
Comment by Angela— October 28, 2010 #
Your eye ball doughnuts are officially the most outstanding Halloween goodies! I am curious how kids would react upon receiving such creative treats…. 🙂
Sawadee from Bangkok,
Kris
Comment by bake in paris— October 28, 2010 #
You are so funny and creative, Lisa! What a great idea.
Comment by pragmaticattic— October 28, 2010 #
So creative! I love the detail of the “blood”‘ oozing down the fork!! Great job! The children will love that! Thanks for your lovely comment on mine! Before frying, the holes of my doughnuts were not as round, but they puffed up and became so round that it was difficult to turn them over to brown on the other side… even the star shaped doughnut I attempted to make, had star shaped holes that turned out perfect balls… lol
Comment by Renata— October 28, 2010 #
OH ME _ OH MY – gruesome and awesome!!!!
🙂
Valerie
Comment by A Canadian Foodie— October 28, 2010 #
OMG, Lisa, I freaked out when I saw your first picture! You’ve actually managed to make doughnuts that terrify me – never thought I’d see the day! But it’s such a creative idea, and so well executed. Fantastic job, as always!
Comment by Valérie— October 28, 2010 #
These are crazy fun! Halloween has never been spookier — or more delicious than with eyeball donut holes. 😉
Comment by Carolyn Jung— October 28, 2010 #
These I bet will be a hit with the kids!! They look so scary, but yummy!
Comment by Tina— October 28, 2010 #
Holy Eyeballs!!! What a great idea, very gruesome!!
Comment by JehanP— October 28, 2010 #
That is so creepy and gross, and, well, Halloween perfect! Great photos, and I wonder how you make them so amazing with so little light. I have a lot of studying to do.
Oh, eyeballs don’t contain blood, but rather a lot of a clear fluid. Gross, thick fluid. That’s more than I want to remember about 3rd year anatomy!
🙂
Comment by Mary— October 28, 2010 #
These are fantastic!!
Comment by Charles— October 28, 2010 #
Those are such cool spooky doughnuts! Perfect for Halloween!
Comment by 5 Star Foodie— October 29, 2010 #
Those are the cutest dismembered eyeballs I’ve ever seen 🙂 What a fantastic Halloween treat!
Comment by Amanda— October 29, 2010 #
LOVE these! I posted a link on ediblecrafts.craftgossip.com (hope that’s OK!)
Comment by meaghan (the decorated cookie)— October 29, 2010 #
I do so flip for doughnuts of all sizes, shapes, flavors, and types. Even bloody, eyeball doughnuts! These are awesome. The gooey filling looks delicious too.
Comment by lisaiscooking— October 29, 2010 #
They’re a bit ghoulish (which is what you were aiming for)for my taste. 🙂 I take my virtual hat off to you in terms of sheer creativity, Lisa.
Comment by Aparna— October 29, 2010 #
Love these! They turned out so cool especially with the fork in them and blood oozing out. 🙂
Happy Friday!
Btw, nice job the photos. No floating food! lol
~ingrid
Comment by ingrid— October 29, 2010 #
I love your forked eyeballs so much! They look so delicious and ghoulish. Goulicious even. The blood dribbling down the fork is a very nice touch!
Comment by Suz— October 29, 2010 #
Wow! You are the most creative person ever. This should be in Martha Stewart’s Halloween issue. But your stuff is so much more creative. Bravo!!!
Comment by Snuggles— October 29, 2010 #
Wow…those are fun!!!! I’m not a fan of filling in donuts but I think I’m with you on cake donuts (and Krispy kreme!). And yes, though probably not as much as that filling, eyeballs bleed. 🙂
Comment by Claire— October 29, 2010 #
These look absolutely amazing! Well done!!
Comment by Susan: My Food Obsession— October 30, 2010 #
Lisa, you were always soooo creative/arty, so this doesn’t surprise me at all! I’m loving how you took an idea, changed it to taste better…then ran with it, making it bleed of all things! So incredibly gruesome, but so perfect for Halloween. One would never look at you and think you had this in you! I love it!
Comment by Melissa— October 30, 2010 #
MEGA Kudos!! These are awesome!! You rock, Halloween girl!
Comment by Kevin— October 30, 2010 #
Fantastic. I so agree with you, don’t care for donuts and IF I’m forced to have one, I go for those old-fashioned cake ones. But I’d certainly fork up a few of these bleeding eyeballs and pop them down, no problem. 😉 Most creative DB donut post I’ve seen, Lisa.
Comment by Katrina— October 30, 2010 #
So fun! I’ll have to make these for next year, cuz I love a donut, fried, bake, cake or yeast.
Comment by Barbara Bakes— October 31, 2010 #
These are ooze-some (awesome, geddit?) eyeballs Lisa! You definitely got them perfect. They sound very tasty too 🙂
Comment by shaz— October 31, 2010 #
For not liking doughnuts you did an absolutely creative job with these confection eyeballs! Luv your creativity!! I’ll take a baker’s dozen, please.
Comment by Cristina @ TeenieCakes— November 3, 2010 #
LOVE it.
And I’m even a few days late. Great variation on the DC challenge… love the creativity you’ve brought to the challenge!
Comment by lo— November 3, 2010 #
These are AMAZING. Perfect for Halloween!
Comment by Michelle— November 3, 2010 #
Disgustingly bloody brilliant! I want to pop one in my mouth right now! Those would be fantastic at a Halloween party!! Great job, Lisa!!
And FYI, from my days working at a sale barn, eyeballs are not filled with blood but a clear liquid. 🙂
Comment by Jenni— November 3, 2010 #
wow!!!!!! perfect for haloween!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by veena— November 3, 2010 #
AWESOMENESS!! Absolutely spooky and yummy!!
Comment by Jen— November 5, 2010 #
Awesomeness!!!! If I were a teacher and this was my class, you’d definitely be teacher’s pet, with a big red A+ on your assignment. I’ll bet they tasted fantastic!
Comment by Jacque— November 5, 2010 #
Oh! These eyes are sure scary…but fit the purpose since it is for Halloween 🙂
Comment by Juliana— November 9, 2010 #
Wow these are so creative, I missed the challenge last month but these are just spooktacular.
Comment by Bubble and Sweet— November 11, 2010 #
Hey, thank you your writing style is amazing. just found your site on yahoo. come back later for sure :)…
Trackback by B— November 15, 2010 #
I really enjoyed this article. Its always nice when you find something that is not only informative but entertaining. Outstanding.
Comment by Stacy Ward— November 26, 2010 #
[…] Doughnuts – Stab my Eyeball with a Fork, then Eat it « Parsley … I filled each doughnut hole with loads of bloood, welll, errr, really good strawberry jam with a little red gel paste added to really get a nice, bloody red hue. I nixed the white chocolate coating for the ever so awesome confectioners . […]
Pingback by Get A Bloody Eyeball— April 6, 2011 #
Oh wow – these are beyond perfect for Halloween!! The fork stuck in them is a nice extra touch. Thanks for linking up to my Halloween blog hop! These are awesome!
Comment by Katherine Martinelli— October 30, 2011 #
[…] I did not want to mess up her cannolies since I have never made them before. And how about these eyes! Definitely making them next […]
Pingback by SRC November Reveal – Bakewell Tart | Ilke's Kitchen— November 7, 2011 #
well written piece, bookmarked, I’ll return for more.
Comment by chocolate diamond— July 18, 2012 #
Good article, bookmarked, I will be returning later.
Comment by chocolate diamond— November 1, 2012 #