Nothing beats freshly made, heart-shaped, filled donuts dipped into sparkling sugars! These donuts are made with a soft, sticky dough, fried to a golden color, and then filled with a delicious berry filling.
For the Donuts:
1. Add the flour, yeast, sugar, eggs, milk, and butter into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the hook attachment and mix on low speed for 3-4 minutes.
2. Add the salt and vanilla and knead on medium speed for 10 minutes. The dough will be soft and sticky.
3. Transfer the dough to a separate greased bowl, cover with kitchen plastic and a towel, and allow to rise in a dark, warm place for 2 hours.
4. Once the dough has risen/doubled in size - lightly roll it over a floured surface to 1/2 inch thick rectangle.
5. Cut heart shapes with a cookie cutter and place them on a baking sheet/pan lined with parchment paper. (Don't re-roll the dough cutouts; instead, cut them into smaller pieces to rise/fry later if desired).
6. Cover the heart donuts (and leftover pieces, if using) with kitchen plastic and a towel and allow them to rise at room temperature for 30 minutes.
7. Once the donuts have risen, heat the oil in a large pot (there should be 2-3" high of oil) to 350°F.
8. Cut the parchment paper with donuts on it into squares. Carefully place one or two donuts at a time (with the parchment squares intact) into the hot oil.
9. Remove the parchment and fry each side of the donut hearts to a dark golden color, then place them on a cooling rack or paper towel.
10. While the fried donuts are still warm, dip them in sugar, fill with the berry filling, and enjoy.
For the Berry Filling:
Combine 2 cups of washed, dried, and hulled berries of choice, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1 tsp of freshly squeezed or bottled lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until berries break down and mixture thickens, then let cool.
