Chocolate Monday: Chocolate-Caramel Doughnut Holes

photo credit: marthastewart.com

Oh my goodness! Don't these look delish?!

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for work surface
• 1 cup cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
• 1 cup sugar, plus more for coating
• 3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 2 large eggs
• 28 to 30 store-bought soft caramel squares, unwrapped
• 5 to 6 cups vegetable oil, for frying

Directions

1. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk together sugar, buttermilk, butter, and eggs until thoroughly combined. Stir buttermilk mixture into flour mixture just until a smooth dough forms.
2. On a lightly floured work surface, pat dough flat and lightly flour. Roll out dough to a 1/3-inch thickness. Cut into rounds with a 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter (to lift rounds from work surface, use a thin spatula). Reroll and cut scraps.
3. Place a caramel in the center of each round, pinch dough closed around it, and gently roll into a smooth ball.
4. Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Fill a wide shallow bowl with 1 inch sugar. In a large heavy pot, heat 4 inches oil until it registers 350 degrees on a candy thermometer. In batches of 4, fry doughnuts 5 minutes, turning once with a slotted spoon and adjusting heat as needed. Transfer doughnuts to prepared sheet; let rest 4 minutes. Roll in sugar to coat. Serve immediately.

Recipe and photo from Martha Stewart.com