Friends, it is with tons of joy, some nervous sweating, and a dozen jelly donuts that I share with you THE. MOST. EXCITING. NEWS. No, Mom, I’m not pregnant, but… the Wood and Spoon blog is a finalist in the SAVEUR blog awards!
Saveur Blog Awards
I’m shocked, humbled, and so stinking thrilled about this opportunity. The SAVEUR blog awards, basically the Grammy’s of the food blogging world, is a celebration of writers, photographers, cooks, and bakers from all across the world who share their culinary perspectives on the interwebzz. I’m joined by several friends in the “Best Baking and Sweets” category and am looking forward to hanging out with the rest of the nominees at the awards ceremony that will be hosted in Charleston in early October. While winning this award would be so legit- I’m talking cooler than if Steve Carrell hand-delivered a Dundee award straight to my front door- I’m so honored to even have a seat at the table.
Blogging as a Means
I started writing this blog because I wanted to author a cookbook. Blogging seemed like a practice field for writing and recipe development, perhaps even a chance at developing a readership. I thought that if I worked really hard I might eventually meet a publisher that would offer me a cookbook deal. It’d be done.
What I didn’t expect was how much I would fall in love with blogging. The fear I once had about writing (“What will people think? What if I suck? What if I don’t have time for this?) has been replaced with a ton of joy and a deep sense of gratitude. Instead of opposition, I was met with the open arms of readers and fellow bloggers who welcomed me to this home and gave me the room to make myself comfortable. It’s an incredible feeling to be apart of something that extends beyond my life and the four walls I live in. It’s an incredible feeling to belong here.
I still dream of writing books someday, but I’m content and fulfilled growing this little home we’ve made here too. The community I’ve found in this space is real and I’m so grateful for the friends and family who encouraged me to step into blogging. I’m starting to think that the sharing of food, both online and in real life, is one of the truest ways that I can love the people around me. So please keep hanging out here with me, okay? You guys make this awesome, and I’d like to stick around for a while.
Jelly Donuts
Speaking of awesome, let’s snack on some jelly donuts. Cool?
These sparkly mounds of fluff are from a recipe compliments of the fine folks at SAVEUR magazine. The process is straightforward and simple, just a basic yeast donut filled with quality fruit filling and topped with sweet, sandy sugar.
Making the Donuts
To make them, we start by whipping up a sweet dough. Cream some butter and sugar in your stand mixer and add in some yeast, milk, and egg. Once that’s all combined, we toss in some flour and stir until a soft dough forms. Let it all rise for an hour or two until it’s double in size and ready for forming donuts.
Use a biscuit cutter to cut out some dough rounds and allow them to rise a second round. The recipe called for 3″ biscuit cutter, but I used a 2-1/2″ cutter with success. In the meantime, prepare your oil in a large pot over the stove or in a fryer, being sure to crosscheck the temperature with a thermometer. If your grease isn’t hot enough, the donuts will absorb a ton of oil and you’ll be left with jelly donuts that taste kinda like the county fair (which actually isn’t terrible, if we’re being honest). Cook the donuts about 2 minutes on each side, or until they’re lightly golden and puffed.
Finishing the Donuts
Once out of the fryer, transfer the donuts to a big pan of sugar and take care not to burn yourself while you toss the whole lot of it together. Tossing the donuts while they’re fresh from the oil will matte the pastry in thick, glorious clouds of sweetness. Alternatively, you can allow them to cool first for a thinner layer of sugar. If you choose to use powdered sugar, this is the route I’d recommend. Once they’ve cooled a bit, use a piping bag fitted with a medium-sized round tip to fill your donuts with your favorite jelly. I chose strawberry (because duh) but raspberry, blueberry, or even cherry would find themselves right at home nestled in the center of these jelly donuts.
Vote!
If you love this blog and are a fan of what we do here, I hope you’ll consider casting votes for me in the SAVEUR blog awards! You can vote as often as you like, and (BONUS!) the blog with the most votes will win the Reader’s Choice award! You can click here to vote. Be sure to check out all of the other nominees and show them love if you’re into what they’re doing.
Thank you all again for being rockstar supporters of this site. Happy Hump Day and cheers to you!
Find the recipe for the jelly donuts right here!
31 thoughts on “Jelly Donuts and a SAVEUR Blog Awards Nomination (!!!)”
Pingback: Holiday Inspiration and a Few Things We Love – dear penelope
Congratulations on your nomination! Your blog is beautiful.
Thank you, Shauna!
CONGRATS CONGRATS CONGRATS!!!! so well deserved (: these sound and look fantastically decadent, aka perfect for celebrating your nomination. also, the amount of sugar on these looks about right (;
THANK YOU!! I am over the moon about it.
Suuuuch awesome news! Me and my mom/sisters are obsessed w not only your recipes and beautiful pics, but also you’re talented writing skills. Best blog around 🙂
I’m so grateful for your support!!!! 🙂
Congrats Kate!!! I voted for you and I hope you win.
Well hey stranger! Thank you for the love. <3
Yay! Congratulations on becoming a Saveur finalist! I mean, after reading this post I can see why! Those donuts look legit delicious! Great job!
You are so kind! Thank you so much for the support!
very, very proud for you!
Thank you, friend! <3
Congrats Kate! So very much deserved! Your site is just beautiful ! And this recipe-well, I feel as if I can taste the donuts just looking at the pictures!
Thank you SO MUCH! <3
Many Many congrats Kate 🙂 It’s absolutely deserving and your work says it all. I mean look at those donuts!!
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
Congrats beautiful lady! You are a rockstar and I am SO glad you took the leap to start a blog – you are incredible! I relate so much to all of the fears that ran through your head before you started – I read somewhere that fear is so stupid, it’s worrying about things that haven’t even happened yet! RIGHT? Anyway, I love you, love your stuff and I’ll be sure to go vote again. YOU GO GLEN COCO. (insert heart emojis, rainbow emoji and that awesome man dancing with high heels via insta stories.) xoxoxox
The fact that you just quoted “Mean Girls” reinforced everything I hoped and believed about you and for that, PRAISE. You da bomb. Thanks for your love and friendship!
So many congrats Kate — I’m so so excited for you AND I can’t wait to hang in SC!!!!!!!! Until then, lots and lots of donuts and treats!!! xoxo
My diet starts today because when I see you in SC, there is no carb or drink left behind. We will dominate the town. I cannot wait to meet you IRL and wouldn’t choose other gals to share it with!
So many congrats! Your blog is beautiful and you totally deserve to be in the nominated group. I love that you’re not “Debbie Dietitian” (as I lovingly refer so some of my peers) and show that we can eat everything, even (especially) sweets!
I thought I was going to go easy for my son’s 1st birthday (Doughnuts for Del) and just buy local doughnuts and make your smash cake but….you published a doughnut recipe today! Ah!
ha! Debbie dietitian. Regina RD. They’re the worst, right? Us eaters gotta stick together. 😉 I can’t wait to hear about his bday!!
Kate I am so happy for you. I look forward to your blog every week. I know your mother Amy is always proud of you but probably extra proud mama today. Good luck and you have my vote.
Beth
Beth, I’m so honored by people who share so much encouragement about this. Thank you for being a friend to my Mama and for being such a supporter of this site. 🙂
SQUAD GOALS.
That’s what we are.
x
I desperately want to respond with the dancing emoji or the muscle arm, but I don’t know how. HELP
I literally screamed when I saw you as a finalist!! I voted for you and hoped so hard for this I’m so proud of you and can’t wait to see you knock out all of your goals! Ahh! I feel like a total fan girl right now haha xx
Thank you, friend!! I’m so honored by your support. Totally inspired by the things you do and grateful for your interwebs friendship. 🙂
Congrats on becoming a finalist!!! I am voting for you right now.
Thank you, Tiffany!! <3