Fried Doughnuts.

In our house.....donuts are our thing.

They are THE thing.

While I like to think that I maintain a pretty decent diet, we make donuts to celebrate special occasions......sometimes, making it thru Monday, is a special occasion that requires donuts....you know, since they are our thing and all. 

Anyhoo, i've been asked a few times to share the recipe I use for our donuts and i've just never gotten around to it. So here it is folks. Enjoy. 

I found the original recipe on Pinterest and had to track down the owner.

Wannabe Famous Donuts

Original recipe from all recipes.com

adapted by From FromCupboardtoCupboard

2 (.25 ounce) envelopes active dry yeast (or 2 Tablespoons)

1/4 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees)

1 1/2 cups lukewarm milk

1/2 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1/3 cup shortening 

5 cups all-purpose flour

1 quart vegetable oil for frying

Now, I substitute the shortening for butter but, you do whatever you prefer.

I also make a very simple glaze with powdered sugar and water, nothing fancy. 

What you do:

1. Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water, and let stand for 5 minutes, or until foamy. 
2. In a large bowl, mix together the yeast mixture, milk, sugar, salt, eggs, shortening, and 2 cups of the flour. Mix for a few minutes at low speed, or stirring with a wooden spoon. Beat in remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough no longer sticks to the bowl. Knead for about 5 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Place the dough into a greased bowl, and cover. Set in a warm place to rise until double. Dough is ready if you touch it, and the indention remains. 
3. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and gently roll out to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut with a floured doughnut cutter. Let doughnuts sit out to rise again until double. Cover loosely with a cloth. 
4. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Remove from heat, and stir in hot water one tablespoon at a time until the icing is somewhat thin, but not watery. Set aside. 
5. Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large heavy skillet to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Slide doughnuts into the hot oil using a wide spatula. Turn doughnuts over as they rise to the surface. Fry doughnuts on each side until golden brown. Remove from hot oil, to drain on a wire rack. Dip doughnuts into the glaze while still hot, and set onto wire racks to drain off excess. Keep a cookie sheet or tray under racks for easier clean up.

Now, when I make these they are delicious but i'm not going to lie, sometimes you need a quick donut fix.

In come the pillsbury biscuit donuts to the rescue. 

These are honestly my favorite things to make. They take like, 5 minutes and are super delicious. If i'm being completely honest, I can hardly taste a difference between the homemade donuts and the biscuit donuts.

Ingredients:

1 Can Pillsbury original or flaky biscuits.

1 quart vegetable oil.

For the glaze:

2 cups powdered sugar.

1tsp vanilla extract.

2 tsps water ( or more if it is too thick.)

Here is what you do.

Now, this one is super complicated so listen up:

heat your oil. 200-400 degrees should be fine. 

Fry a few minutes on each side, until golden brown 

take them out, cool slightly on a paper towel. 

Make glaze while cooling.

If you are doing a glaze, use a wire rack with a paper towel under to catch the excess glaze. 

Dip your donuts in your glaze while still warm, I like to double glaze mine. I dip them and then let them set for a minute, then dip again. 

Enjoy!

Xo, Jeanice.