Diving Deep on Doughnuts, with Fany Gerson
5/11/202650 min
Heat up your fry oil — today, we’re talking doughnuts!
After sharing a slightly traumatic, mostly doughnut-filled childhood story with David, Jessica talks to Fany Gerson of Fan Fan Doughnuts in New York. They discuss Fany’s relationship to doughnuts, her biggest sources of inspiration, and the enduring power of this timeless treat. Then, Jessica and David jump into your listener questions, including tips to fry without fear. Finally, they close the show with a freshly fried Jess-opinion and the recipes they’re baking this week.
Learn more about the history of the doughnut from Smithsonian Magazine
Bake our recipes for Yeast-Raised Doughnuts and Old-Fashioned Cake Doughnuts
Find our Pączki recipe
Learn more about Fany Gerson and her work at FanyGerson.com
Bake Fany’s recipes for Bigotes de Azúcar (Sugared Mustaches) and Puerquitos (Piggies)
Learn how to fry without fear
For a shortcut, get our recipe for Cinnamon-Sugar Doughnut Muffins
What David’s baking this week: Jelly Doughnut Cake
What Jessica’s baking this week: Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies
Record your question for our Ask the Bakers segment here!
This episode is sponsored by Brød & Taylor. Your best bread is within reach. Brød & Taylor builds tools that help you get there. See what's possible at brodandtaylor.com.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsJessica Battilana· Host0:00
This episode is sponsored by Brod and Taylor, helping more people bake bread, gather around the table, and share something made by hand.
David Tamarkin· Host0:06
It's, it's a game.
Jessica Battilana· Host0:08
It is.
David Tamarkin· Host0:08
It's a game- [laughs] ... with hot oil. You're playing with literal fire. [laughs] Uh, and good luck.
Jessica Battilana· Host0:16
From King Arthur Baking Company, this is Things Bakers Know. I'm Jessica Battaglini, King Arthur's staff editor.
David Tamarkin· Host0:22
And I'm David Tamarkin, King Arthur's editorial director, and today it's our donut episode.
Jessica Battilana· Host0:28
[bell dings] It's donut day.
David Tamarkin· Host0:32
Long time coming.
Jessica Battilana· Host0:34
Yeah.
David Tamarkin· Host0:34
Donut day. Is there a donut day? I think there is.
Jessica Battilana· Host0:36
Oh, there's definitely a donut day.
David Tamarkin· Host0:38
Oh, donut days.
Jessica Battilana· Host0:38
There are multiple donut days.
David Tamarkin· Host0:39
Yeah.
Jessica Battilana· Host0:39
And today is one of them. [laughs] And I'm gonna start today's episode with a little story time.
David Tamarkin· Host0:44
Oh.
Jessica Battilana· Host0:45
Gather around, children.
David Tamarkin· Host0:46
Oh, I'm here.
Jessica Battilana· Host0:46
[laughs] [laughs] So there is a family story about donuts that I thought was, like, a nice... It's another one of my- A Battaglini family story. A, yeah, a Battaglini family story.
David Tamarkin· Host0:55
Okay.
Jessica Battilana· Host0:55
It's another one that's, like, is it funny or is it sad? I'll let you decide. [laughs] But kind of like my- Oh, no ... car crash one in the Chinatown Bakes. If people haven't heard that- Oh, jeez ... they can go back and hear about that.
David Tamarkin· Host1:06
Okay. Yes.
Jessica Battilana· Host1:06
Um, so a similar story. So listeners of this podcast and you know that I grew up not far from King Arthur headquarters in rural Vermont, and I was probably, like, 8 or maybe 10 years old.
David Tamarkin· Host1:19
Mm-hmm.
Jessica Battilana· Host1:19
And it was a snowy winter day, and I got a call from a friend inviting me to come for a play date.
David Tamarkin· Host1:25
Okay. I waited for that call.
Jessica Battilana· Host1:27
[laughs] Never came.
David Tamarkin· Host1:29
My entire childhood.