Bacon Donuts with Maple Cinnamon Cream are breakfast heaven! Bacon, maple, and cinnamon are the best of friends and these donuts take it to a whole new level!
Bring milk to simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add salt and sugar, and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat, and allow to cool while yeast blooms.
In a small bowl, add yeast and water and stir to combine. Let sit for 5 minutes.
In a large bowl, combine 2 1/2 cups flour 2 tablespoons oil, eggs, bacon, yeast mixture, and milk mixture with a wooden spoon to form a soft dough.
Flour your counter (or silicone rolling mat) with the remaining 1 cup flour. Transfer dough to the floured surface, and knead in all flour until dough springs back when pressed, about 5 to 6 minutes.
Place dough in a large bowl coated with non-stick cooking spray. Sprinkle flour on top of the dough, and cover the bowl with a tea towel. Let sit in a warm place for 1 1/2 hours, or until the dough has doubled in size.
Removed dough from the bowl onto a lightly floured surface. Roll dough out until 1/2-inch thick. Using a 2-inch round cookie cutter, cut out dough and press to flatten to a 2 1/2-inch circle. Repeat with remaining dough. (Once all the circles were cut, I used a knife to cut the remaining dough into small fritter sized pieces instead of re-rolling.)
Heat 2-inches of oil in a large cast-iron pot (or deep fryer) over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, place 4 to 5 dough circles in the oil. Cook until golden brown, about 1 minute, and then flip to cook the other side until browned. Remove donuts to a wire rack placed over a paper towel lined baking sheet, to let the excess oil drain. Repeat with remaining dough.
Let donuts cool completely before filling.
Filling:
In a large bowl, whisk together heavy cream, syrup, sugar, and cinnamon until they form medium peaks. Transfer whipped cream to a pastry bag fitted with a large piping tip.
Insert piping tip into the side of each donut and squeeze bag until cream pushed the piping tip out of the donut = donut is filled. Repeat until all donuts are filled.
Sprinkle the top of each donut generously with powdered sugar. Serve immediately.
Notes
If the donuts are still warm on the inside when the cream filling goes is added, don't fret! The whipped cream will melt and create this maple cinnamon flavor inside the donut. YUM!