Chocolate Glazed Doughnuts

Makes 12 doughnuts

1    cup whole milk
4    tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
3    cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
¼   cup granulated sugar
2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
½   teaspoon fine sea salt
½   teaspoon finely grated orange zest
1    large egg, lightly beaten
1    teaspoon pure vanilla extract
      Nonstick cooking spray
      Vegetable oil for spraying/coating the doughnuts
Chocolate Glaze:
2     ounces bittersweet chocolate
¼ cup water
1     cups confectioners’ sugar
1     tablespoon coconut oil or unsalted butter
1     tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
¼     teaspoon pure vanilla extract
        Pinch flaked sea salt
        Sprinkles or other toppings (optional)

Nutritional information per doughnut:
Calories 302 (25% from fat) • carb. 53g • pro. 5g • fat 19g • sat. fat 5g chol. 31mg • sod. 144mg • calc. 27mg • fiber 2g

1. Prepare the dough. Put the milk and butter into a microwave-safe
bowl or measuring cup and put into the Cuisinart® 3-in-1 Microwave
AirFryer Plus. Select Microwave, and set the time to 45 seconds and
the power level to High (10P). Cool to about body temperature and
reserve.
2. Put the flour, sugar, yeast, salt, and orange zest into a large shallow
bowl. Using a whisk or a bowl scraper, stir until the ingredients
are well combined. Reserve.
3. Whisk the egg and vanilla extract into the cooled milk/butter
mixture, then add to the dry ingredients. Mix well with a bowl
scraper, spatula, or clean hands. Knead in the bowl, or on a clean
counter, until the dough forms a cohesive dough that springs back
slightly. This should take around 5 minutes when mixing by hand
(note: this process can also be prepared in a stand mixer using the
dough hook. Knead on a low speed. Please note that this dough
is very sticky so it will not produce a smooth, cohesive ball in the
stand mixer, but it should be springy by the end of about 8 to 10
minutes of kneading).
4. Transfer to a large mixing bowl; reserve.
5. Put a mug or small bowl of water in the oven. Microwave on High
(10P) for 5 minutes. Remove the mug/bowl of water and then place
the bowl of dough into the oven (not covered). Close the door of the
oven and allow to rise for 30 minutes. At this point the dough should
be about doubled in size and should spring back to the gentle touch
of a floured finger.
6. After the dough has risen, transfer to a large cutting board,
and gently fold over a few times. Stretch into a 13x9-inch rectangle.
Using a 3-inch round cutter, cut out 12 circles of dough. Dip the
cutter into flour between cuts to keep it from sticking to the dough.
Using a 1-inch cutter, cut out the center of each round. Loosely
cover with plastic wrap, and allow to rise for 30 to 40 minutes.
7. Lightly coat the AirFry basket with nonstick cooking spray, and
place half of the doughnuts into the basket. Lightly spray the
dough all over with vegetable oil. Put into the Microwave AirFryer.
Select Oven/AirFry, and set the temperature at 350°F and time
for 5 minutes.
8. Remove and repeat with remaining doughnuts and the holes.
9. While the doughnuts are cooling, make the chocolate glaze.
Put the chocolate, water, and oil/butter into in a medium microwave safe bowl or large glass liquid measuring cup. Select Microwave,
Chocolate Melt (A-5) preset, and press Start. If the chocolate is
not almost fully melted, return to the oven, and microwave on 4P
for additional time in 10-second increments. Once melted, quickly
whisk in the remaining glaze ingredients. Cool for a few minutes.
Dip one side of each doughnut into the glaze, and then transfer to
a platter. Top with sprinkles or other delectable toppings, and serve.