PEANUT BUTTER WITH JELLY GLAZED DOUGHNUTS TOPPED WITH CHOPPED SALTED PEANUTS

Steps:

• For the dough: Put the warm water in a medium bowl and whisk in the yeast. Set aside to proof until you see bubbles on the surface, about 10 minutes. (If there is nothing at all, start again with fresher yeast.) Stir in the all-purpose flour, then cover with plastic and set aside in a warm place, at least 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cream together the butter and granulated sugar in an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until light and fluffy, 8 to 10 minutes. Do not skimp on or rush the creaming time. Add the eggs with the mixer on low speed, one by one, followed by the vanilla and salt. If the mixture seems to separate, increase the speed slightly and keep going; it will come back together. Add the bread flour and mix on low speed until fully incorporated. Pour in the yeast mixture and mix until thoroughly incorporated. Put the dough in an oiled bowl and proof again in a warm place for about 1 1/2 hours.
• Lightly sprinkle a cool surface with an even layer of flour. Flour a baking sheet and set aside. Lightly flour a rolling pin and a 3 1/2-inch round cookie cutter, being careful not to use too much. Turn out the dough onto the surface and use the rolling pin to first gently flatten the dough, then roll it out to 1/2- to 1-inch thick. Cut rounds of dough with the cookie cutter and turn them onto the floured baking sheet to rest in a warm place for 20 to 30 minutes (see Cook's Note). (You cannot re-roll or use scraps unless you fry them "as is," so cut your doughnut rounds very close together to maximize yield.)
• For the pastry cream: Put 2 cups of the heavy cream, 1/2 cup of the granulated sugar and the vanilla bean seeds and pod in a saucepan and whisk to combine. Bring to a boil over low heat. Meanwhile, combine the eggs and remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar in one bowl and the cornstarch and remaining 1/4 cup heavy cream in a second bowl. Beat both with a whisk to a homogeneous mixture. Set aside.
• When the cream comes to a boil, whisk half of the cream into the egg-sugar mixture and then IMMEDIATELY whisk it back into the pan with the hot cream. (This is called tempering and will allow you to combine boiling the cream and eggs without making scrambled eggs.)
• Return the pan to medium heat and gradually whisk in the cornstarch-milk mixture. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently to prevent scorching. (It is necessary to bring this mixture to a boil to cook the starch; otherwise the pastry cream will feel starchy and gritty.) Cook until thickened to the consistency of vanilla pudding (YUM!), 3 to 5 minutes. Strain into a bowl and chill with plastic wrap pressed against its surface (chilling can be done really quickly over an ice bath) until firmed up, about 2 hours.
• Prepare the frying oil: Heat the oil in a medium heavy-bottomed pot fitted with a deep-frying thermometer until it reaches 350 degrees F. Fit a cooling rack into a sheet pan for landing the finished doughnuts.
• Fry the doughnuts: When the oil reaches 350 degrees F, drop 2 to 3 doughnuts into the hot fat and cook, turning occasionally, until golden brown on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon or fish spatula and set on the cooling rack. Continue with remaining doughnuts and set aside to cool.
• For the filling: Mix the peanut butter and heavy cream in a saucepan over medium heat and warm until smooth. Remove from the heat and mix into the pastry cream. Chill over an ice bath and refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the glaze and topping: Melt the raspberry preserves together with a splash of water in a small pot over medium heat until smooth. Sift in the powdered sugar and stir to combine. Adjust the thickness with water or more sugar as necessary.
• Fill the doughnuts: Fit a pastry bag with a pastry tip and fill with the peanut butter pastry cream. Poke the pastry tip into the side of each doughnut to inject the cream into the center of each.
• Dip the filled doughnuts in the jelly glaze, then drizzle with the melted chocolate and sprinkle with the roasted peanuts. Transfer to a rack and let set, 15 minutes.