Sonho
Custard-filled doughnut
Sonho: Brazilian padaria doughnut filled with vanilla custard and rolled in sugar
BrazilianSonho means dream, and in the padarias of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo these round, sugar-crusted doughnuts split open with a thick vanilla custard are the treat children point to through the glass. They came with Portuguese bakers and are now eaten at any hour, with a cafezinho in the morning or as an after-school snack. The dough is soft and lightly scented with lemon, and frying at a moderate heat gives the pale ring around the middle that bakers look for. Chef's tip: keep the oil at 165 °C so the centres cook through before the outside darkens.
- Total time
- 90 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 14
Ingredients
For the dough
- 1 ⅛ lb plain flour
- 1 cup milk, lukewarm
- 2 ⅛ oz sugar
- 1 ¾ oz buttersoftened
- 2 eggs
- ¼ oz instant dried yeast
- ⅛ oz salt
- 1 lemonfinely grated zest only
For the custard
- 2 cups milk
- 3 ½ oz sugar
- 1 ⅜ oz cornflour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
To fry and coat
- 6 ¼ cups vegetable oil, for deep-frying
- 3 ½ oz caster sugar
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Mix the 1 ⅛ lb plain flour, 2 ⅛ oz sugar, ¼ oz instant dried yeast, ⅛ oz salt and 1 lemon, add the 1 cup milk, lukewarm, 2 eggs and 1 ¾ oz butter and knead for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Cover and leave to rise for 1 hour until doubled.
70 minStep 2: Whisk the 2 cups milk, 3 ½ oz sugar, 4 egg yolks, 1 ⅜ oz cornflour and 1 tsp vanilla extract in a pan over a medium heat until thick and bubbling for 1 minute. Cover the surface and chill.
12 minStep 3: Divide the dough into 14 pieces of about 65 g, roll into tight balls and set each on a small square of baking paper. Cover and prove for 40 minutes until puffy.
50 minStep 4: Heat the 6 ¼ cups vegetable oil, for deep-frying to 325°F. Frying too hot is the common mistake, leaving a dark crust and a raw, doughy centre. Slide in 3 or 4 balls on their paper (pull the paper out with tongs) and fry for about 3 minutes a side until golden with a pale band round the middle.
30 minStep 5: Drain on kitchen paper and roll in the 3 ½ oz caster sugar while warm.
5 minStep 6: Once cool, cut a deep slit in the side of each and pipe in plenty of custard. Eat the same day.
10 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 320 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 46 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does sonho take?
- About 90 minutes in total: 50 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 14 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of milk, lukewarm?
- Oat, soy or almond milk, same amount (use unsweetened for savoury dishes).
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