Wine and walnut donuts, hazelnuts or almonds are a guaranteed success, a delicious after-dinner treat to dip in wine. Every time someone suddenly comes to my house for a coffee and I only have an hour to spare, the wine donuts are my lifesaver. Nothing easier and faster and with ingredients that we always have at home, except for the nuts which can vary based on availability at the time. The list is long even though the original ones have almonds, but I assure you they are also good with hazelnuts and walnuts, but needs make virtue, if you have none of these, don’t add anything and they’re just as delicious, use plenty of grated orange peel.
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
- 3.5 oz walnuts
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup red wine
- 4.5 cups flour
Tools
- Stand Mixer
- Pastry Board
Steps
I don’t think you’ll ever find two wine and walnut donuts that are exactly alike; they are truly rustic and homemade like the ones my grandmother used to make when someone visited her, and she would offer red wine with donuts. My grandmother didn’t always have almonds or walnuts at home, so sometimes she would make the wine donuts without nuts, and they were just as special as these.
When I’m in a hurry and need to be quick, I put all the ingredients in the mixer, with the walnuts last, and once the dough is ready, I make ropes all the same size, cut them, and close them into donut shapes. I want to clarify that you don’t always need 500 grams of flour; it always depends on your cup. Meanwhile, I preheat the oven to 375°F and bake the wine and walnut donuts for 30 minutes.
You can also prepare some sticks with the donut dough; I assure you they are more convenient for dipping them in a glass of wine.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
How long do wine and walnut donuts last?
Practically for many days, even 3 weeks, wine and walnut donuts will remain crisp and fresh if stored in a jar. Three weeks was just for the test; in reality, they are so good that they don’t last that long in my house.
If I don’t have red wine at home, what can I substitute to make the donuts?
Surely white wine won’t be the same, but it might be a good alternative. In simple words, red wine gives the donuts that slightly amber color during baking, making them look rustic.
