One Dough, Pear Fritters

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These tempting fried spirals, swirled with pear and caramelized brown sugar, are like a cross between a cinnamon roll and a funnel cake. Serve them as a special brunch treat or after-dinner dessert.

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Ingredients

  • * Canola, peanut, or vegetable oil for frying
  • 1 * 1 pound (grapefruit-size piece) prepared dough
  • 1 * 1 firm pear, peeled, cored, and grated
  • 1/3 * 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 * 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 * 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 * 1/4 cup currants
  • 1/4 * 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts
  • 1/2 * 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

Preparation

Step 1

Fill a medium saucepan with 2 inches of oil and heat it to 360-380 degrees. As the oil warms, cloak the dough to help it hold its shape while it rises: dust it with flour, then quickly shape it into a ball by stretching the surface and tucking it under the bottom, then rotating it a quarter-turn as you work. On a well-floured surface, roll it out into a 9- by 12-inch rectangle.

Combine the pear, brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, currants, and nuts in a small bowl. Spread the mixture over the dough, stopping 1/2 inch from the edge. Starting at a long end, tightly roll the dough into a log as shown, then pinch the seam to seal it. Use a pair of kitchen shears to cut off 1/2-inch-thick slices from the log.

Fry the fritters in batches by carefully placing a few of them into the oil at a time, leaving enough room to let them rise to the surface as they cook. Fry them for about 1 minute, then use a slotted spoon to gently flip each one and fry it until golden brown on both sides, about 1 minute more. (You may need to flip them over a few times to brown them evenly.) Transfer the fritters to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Dust the fritters with confectioners' sugar and let them cool slightly before serving.

Nutritional Information:

Per serving (1 fritter): Calories 106 ● Total Fat 5 g (8% DV) ● Saturated Fat 0.4 g (2% DV) ● Cholesterol 7 mg (2% DV) ● Sodium 49 mg (2% DV) ● Total Carbohydrate 15 g (5% DV) ● Fiber 0.9 g (4% DV) ● Sugars 6 g ● Protein 2 g (3% DV)

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