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DOUBLE GRUDGE DONUTS is the eighth book in the Deputy Donut Mysteries by Ginger Bolton. With a fun week of events planned for the Fallingbrook Arts Festival, a mere two weeks before her wedding, Emily Westhill has her hands full baking up donuts at Deputy Donut. What she didn’t need was a disruptive bagpiper stirring up trouble with participants and keeping townsfolk awake at all hours of the night playing the pipes. Ms. Bolton sets the stage for a riveting murder mystery and delectable donuts with vivid descriptions and wonderful characters. I’ve enjoyed watching Emily progress over the course of the series (and while this can be read as a standalone, if you love character development, then start with the first book) and I was so excited to finally “see” her walk down the aisle. I also liked how her former in-laws and her parents were prevalent throughout the story and, of course, her feline, Deputy Donut, steals each scene she inhabits. In fact, Dep helps discover the victim and points to a vital clue!
Upon the discovery of the pesky bagpiper’s body, Emily gets pulled into the investigation. With her fiancé, Brett, being one of the detectives investigating the crime, Emily knows to be careful and to turn over any uncovered clue to law enforcement. I enjoy how Brett relies and trusts the information Emily finds and how he’s happy for her to call for backup anytime she feels the need. With suspects galore, there’s many people to question, and Emily is just the gal to do it with donuts in hand. People have a way of opening up to her that they wouldn’t with the police. The pacing was good, interspersed with running the donut shop and enjoying the cute festivities, especially the skits put on by the kids in town. As the suspects dwindle and clues point to a specific person, Emily tries to play it safe, but in the end takes some risks alongside her employee. The surprising twist at the reveal provided a heart stopping moment, and I couldn’t turn pages fast enough. When all was said and done though, the pieces fell into place and my questions were answered… just in time for Emily and Brett’s wedding!
Running a donut shop means there are lots of delectable yummies to read about. Ms. Bolton provides a couple recipes at the back of the book for the home cook to try out. I couldn’t wait to make the Double Fudge Donuts and put my donut baking pan to use! Even with a couple surprise (healthy) ingredients in the recipe, these were decadent and no one would ever know. Rich and moist, and no need to clean up frying oil. The cooked fudge frosting is scrumptious all on its own, but eaten with the double fudge donuts, it’s like having a sinfully delicious breakfast!
Amazon Synopsis
When the Fallingbrook Arts Festival rolls into town weeks before she’s set to tie the knot, Emily expects talent and friendly competition at the week-long summer series to go together like coffee and double fudge. But the fun crumbles fast after a lively bagpiper takes first place on day one and turns heads for the wrong reasons—all before Emily and her tabby cat find him dead in a clear case of murder. Along with a distinctive weapon at the crime scene, several strategically placed items leave disturbing clues about the killer’s identity, including a broken piece of a Deputy Donut mug . . .
While detectives aren’t sure who silenced the bagpiper’s music, they don’t trust Emily or her family to tell the truth. With her nuptials and career on the line, Emily launches an unsettling investigation to save herself from trouble and bring a dangerous figure to justice. The search not only brings too many suspects into the picture, but also leads to a strange discovery on Deputy Donut’s rooftop. A discovery that tells Emily she better get cooking, because someone may be watching her every move . . . and carefully plotting to turn a wedding into a funeral!
A special thanks to Ginger Bolton for offering a print copy of DOUBLE GRUDGE DONUTS to one lucky winner! Contest ends February 25, 2024 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to Canadian and U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
These donuts are baked in specially formed donut pans. The Fallingbrook Arts Festival and Emily's wedding take place in August, a time when many of us have an abundance of a certain vegetable. You won't taste it, but it will make your donuts extra fudgy.
Makes 6
- Extra refined coconut oil for greasing the donut pan
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
- 3 tablespoons water
- 5/8 cup all-purpose flour - no need to sift first
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder, sifted
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 ounce unsweetened baker's chocolate
- 1/4 cup refined coconut oil, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup grated unpeeled zucchini and/or yellow summer squash - don't drain or squeeze
- 1 cup sugar
- 3/8 cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
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Preheat the oven to 325 degrees (F). Grease the wells of a six-donut full-sized (not mini) donut pan.
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In a small bowl, stir flaxseed and water. Set aside.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
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In a small microwavable bowl, heat the baker's chocolate and refined coconut oil together in 30-second bursts of medium heat in your microwave oven, stirring between bursts until the oil and chocolate are melted and blended. Microwave ovens vary; times are approximate.
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In a large bowl, whisk together the melted and blended chocolate and coconut oil, the vanilla, and the flaxseed and water mixture. Stir in the zucchini and/or yellow summer squash.
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Add the dry ingredients to the zucchini mixture and stir to blend. Allow to sit for a minute to allow the zucchini to dampen the mixture, and then stir until the batter is uniformly moist.
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Carefully spoon the batter into the wells in the donut pan.
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Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean (but possibly fudgy).
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Invert the pan to release the donuts. You may need to use a small silicone spatula to ease them out.
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Frost the rounded tops of the donuts with the fudge frosting.
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Place sugar, milk, corn syrup, and cocoa powder into a heavy-bottomed saucepan.
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With a wooden spoon, stir gently over moderate heat until blended, then stir only to keep frosting from burning-lower the heat if necessary.
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Cook until the mixture reaches 233 degrees (F).
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Remove from heat. Place butter on top. Do not stir. Set aside until pan has cooled to "warm" to the touch.
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Add vanilla. Beat until the frosting thickens. Immediately frost the donuts.
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From the author: Leftover frosting can be spread onto aluminum foil. When cool, slide off the foil and cut into square of delicious fudge.
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From Cinnamon & Sugar: I substituted almond milk and vegan margarine in the frosting for the dairy products to keep the donuts and frosting vegan. The frosting is also more of a thick glaze. I found I needed to refrigerate it to thicken after cooking, then beat it with a handheld mixer before spreading on the donuts.
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I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Such a fun series! Great setting too!
Thank you!
The double chocolate fudge donuts sound wonderful! I need to get a donut pan so I can make them!!!
Thank you for the wonderful recipes you share, and the chance to win great cozy mysteries.
Thanks for reading!
Those donuts look delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Thank you!
Thank you for the yummy recipe!
I’m super excited about DOUBLE GRUDGE DONUTS by Ginger Bolton! Can’t wait for the opportunity to read and review it.
Thank you!
Am I right in thinking the flax and water are an egg replacement? How many eggs would one use instead?
Yes, the flax is an egg replacement. You can substitute one egg instead, if you wish.
Great question!
This series is one of my favorites!! Love the cover and the recipe! I am a BIG chocolate addict lol.
Thank you!
I could use some chocolate donuts. Theses ones sound, very fudgey. I would love to read that book!
Thank you!
Oh goodness me, these donuts 🍩 now.
How delightfully delicious they sound and look! Fabulous Series- Spectacular cover 📔
Congratulations and blessings for much success 🥳
Thank you!
Looks so very delicious! Thank you for the chance the book sounds fun to read.
Thank you!
This series is one of my favorites.
Thank you!