THUNDER BAY – Is there anything that says Thunder Bay more than a Persian? These sugary sweet treats are popular in the city of Thunder Bay. There are actually groups who order Persians shipped to their new cities after they leave Thunder Bay. You don’t see that with many other bakery delights.
Making your own persians might be a thought, or too share the recipe with friends.
Here is a recipe to experiment with:
Thunder Bay Persians
Makes 24 Persians
Doughnut
2 cups scalded milk
1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp yeast
4 eggs
1/4 tsp nutmeg
7 cups flour
Melt butter in hot milk and allow to cool. Beat in yeast, nutmeg, eggs, sugar and 3 cups of flour. Add the last of the flour as needed. Knead for 5 minutes, place in greased bowl, cover and allow to rise 1-1 1/2 hours.
Filling for doughnuts
2 tbsp melted butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon
Mix together filling ingredients and set aside
Once dough has risen divide in half. Take one half and roll out into rectangle approx 16″X11″. Sprinkle with half filling mixture and make sure it’s spread evenly. Roll up the dough tightly starting with the long side. Pinch seam closed. Cut into 12 pieces, flatten each piece and shape into ovals. Lay out with space to expand and make sure they don’t touch.
While doughnuts are rising make the icing
Icing
1/2 cup cold butter
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups icing sugar
1/3 cup chunky jam of your choice, raspberry, strawberry, blueberry
1 cup 35% whipping cream
Whip the whipping cream till stiff and set aside. Mix butter, vanilla, and jam in a mixing bowl, once mixed add the icing sugar the mix will be very stiff I suggest you use a stand mixer for this.
Once mixed fold in whipping cream
Heat oil to 365 degrees and fry doughnuts 1-2 minutes on each side, frost when cool
