Banana Buttermilk Doughnuts with Nutella

Dear life,

Sometimes you can be ugly and stupid and mean and hard, testing my patience with crazy drivers and very rude people.  Sometimes you encourage me to complain about doing something while I’m doing it.  And sometimes you spit on my shoes.

When this happens, I feel a strong urge to punch you in the face.  Or at least give you a dang shake to show you what’s what.  Friends, sometimes life is just plain sour.  It requires a lot from you.  Not just today, but everyday.

During those days, remember that things are good.  Sometimes they are warm and productive and colorful.  Sometimes they are full of family and friends, dogs, yoga mats and running shoes, books, candles, great conversations, and bars of chocolate in the kitchen pantry.

I like spending time with those who encourage and inspire me and who echo my desire to be an enthusiast in life.  To embrace what I’m interested in with both arms.  To hug it, love it, and be white hot and passionate about it.  To always gamble on the big things.

And I like when I can smile on those dreary, ugly, and fussy days.

Now that I’m smiling, let’s talk about doughnuts.

Do you ever think “gee, why eat a doughnut if it’ll be gone in negative seconds?”  You’d probably never say no to a doughnut if you knew it was a never-ending doughnut.  But knowing it’s going to end soon makes you enjoy it even more.  Yes, life can be pretty nasty sometimes and make you feel meaningless.  But while all circumstances are against you, they will come to an end like that doughnut you love so much, allowing you to exist and taste the beauty of it all…

So…  Do you want to grab a doughnut?  I think banana buttermilk doughnuts with Nutella will leave you smiling too.

So life, take that.

Most Sincerely,

Katie

Banana Buttermilk Doughnuts with Nutella

(yields 10-12 doughnuts)

INGREDIENTS:

For the Doughnuts:

1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 large egg

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

2 large bananas

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup Nutella

For the Chocolate Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

3 to 4 tablespoons cream

pinch of vanilla extract

black jimmies

PREPARATION:

To make the Doughnuts:

Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 325  degrees F.  Spray a doughnut baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and brown sugar together in a medium bowl.

In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract until thoroughly combined.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and fold together.  Lastly, add in mashed bananas and Nutella, stirring together until all of the ingredients are well combined.

Use a small spoon to portion batter into the prepared doughnut baking pan.  Bake doughnuts for 13-15 minutes or until a skewer inserted into one of the doughnuts comes out clean.

Remove from the oven and allow to rest for five minutes before transferring doughnuts onto a wire rack to cool completely.  Glaze doughnuts when completely cool.

To make the Glaze:

In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and cocoa powder.  Add 3 tablespoons of cream and vanilla extract.  Whisk to combine.  Add more cream, a tablespoon at a time, until the glaze is thick but still pourable.

Dip each doughnut into the chocolate glaze.  Shake off some of the excess glaze then dip into a bowl ready with jimmies.  Allow to rest a few moments for the frosting to harden slightly.

These doughnuts are best served within two days of baking.  Enjoy!