Monday, December 6, 2010

Homemade Doughnuts

 I got this recipe from our family cookbook from my Aunt Carol.  It's their family tradition to make doughnuts on the first snowfall every year.  I have been wanting to create some family traditions of my own, so I thought I would adopt theirs and try it out. My sister tried them and loved them and I am so glad I did too, because they are delicious! 

These have a wonderful texture and I am guessing it comes from the potato flakes they have in them.  I know... potato flakes in doughnuts?  Strange, but good. 

Homemade Doughnuts

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup instant potato flakes
2/3 cup instant powdered milk
2 1/2 cups hot water
1 Tbsp. Yeast
2 eggs, beaten
5 1/2-6 cups flour
cooking oil
In a large bowl, mix together butter, sugar, salt, potato flakes and powdered milk.  Pour in hot water.  Sprinkle in yeast over top and allow to get foamy.  Mix in beaten eggs.  Mix in flour (just enough to make a stiff dough).  Cover bowl with clean towel and let rise until doubled in size.  When it's double in size punch it down.  Let stand at room temperature for about 30 minutes.  Roll out dough onto a well floured surface to about 1/2 inch thick.  Cut out with doughnut cutter or do like I did and find things to use as a doughnut cutter like these....

  an ice cream sundae cup and a baby bottle for the hole!  It worked perfect!
 Let dough rise again uncovered.
Heat cooking oil to about 375 degrees.  I happen to have an electric deep skillet and it tells me exactly what temperature it is, but you can just use a pan on the stove.  You can test to see if the oil is hot enough by dropping in a small amount of dough.  It should float if it's ready and should brown in about 60 seconds. 
Only fry 2 doughnuts at a time.  Fry in hot oil until golden on both sides, turning once.  

I would suggest doing a test run with your first doughnut to make sure you are cooking them how you like them.  I didn't really do this at first and so the first few doughnuts weren't cooked to my liking as you can see below some of them were kind of burned!  If the oil is too hot they will be doughy on the inside, if the oil temperature is too low than they can be really greasy.

When the doughnut is golden on both sides, take it out with some tongs and allow the excess oil to drain back into the skillet.  Place on a plate with several layers of paper towels underneath to help soak up the extra oil. 
 Now for the fun part...icing the doughnuts.  You can frost them however you would like. We made a vanilla glaze, chocolate frosting, and also added some toasted coconut on some and sprinkles on the others...yummy!  The vanilla glaze recipe came from my Aunt and the chocolate frosting I think I found from allrecipes.com.  Both recipes couldn't be more simple.

Chocolate Satin Frosting

1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 Tbsp. light corn syrup
6 tbsp. buttter
1/2 tsp. vanilla.

I just put everything in a pyrex bowl (big enough to dunk the doughnuts in) and microwaved it in 30 second intervals, stirring in between until it was smooth...easy, easy, easy!

Vanilla Glaze
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup water
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix together and pour over doughnuts.  Easy, easy, easy!

I'm all about making food look pretty if I can.  I know, I'm crazy and if you are crazy like me then make sure you just dunk your doughnuts into the chocolate frosting rather than using a knife to spread it on so you have that pretty smooth finish!  :)
 Once the chocolate cooled a bit I then dunked them into a pile of toasted coconut.  If you want sprinkles then add it while it's still warm so they'll stick.
 ooooh doughnuts....
 The vanilla glaze I just poured over top.  I am usually a chocolate girl but I think these were actually my favorite!  So simple but so good!
Aren't they pretty?  These would be fun to make them for the neighbors and take them over while they're still warm.  It's a good thing the first snowfall only happens once a year otherwise these things could be lethal.  I believe in all things in moderation....including doughnuts!

I'll be linking to some of these places.  Check them out for more fun ideas.

17 comments:

MisAdventuresofMomof3 said...

Those look absolutely amazing! Thank you for sharing and yes, I will be making these!

Katie @ This Chick Cooks said...

These look delectable. I am so making these :) How deep is the oil that you boil them in?

Bobbi & Noe said...

I was totally looking for a good donut recipe lately! These look delish! I have to try them!

Kelli said...

Thanks guys! I hope you like them.

Katie-
I am guessing I used a couple of inches worth of oil. Sorry I don't remember exactly. The doughnuts should float so you don't need a ton of oil.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

Jodi Nelson said...

These look so good! I've never made donuts. Now I want to try!

Erin said...

Oh my gosh! I should NOT be looking at these right now because now i want them!!! I love donuts. Yours look fantastic!!!

Amanda said...

I love this! I featured it today on my blog Today's Top 20! I'd love if you could stop by! While your there please click on my water widget on the top right. For each click p&g will donate 1 day's worth of clean water! :) Thanks!

Amanda
todaystoptwenty.blogspot.com

Amnah said...

Um, hello!! Those look so delicious. Doughnuts are my total weakness. I just might have to give homemade ones a try.

Toasted coconut? Someone send a paramedic, I think my heart just stopped.

Lisa said...

Ahhh! Hide these from me! I would eat them all : )

YUM!

Jessica said...

I wish I could just reach through the screen and eat them all! They look so delicious! Thanks for sharing how you made them. I just might have to try this out.

justenoughstyle.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Uh, YUM!! Thanks for sharing!!

craftymamablog said...

Your blog always catches my eye at the link parties!
These look delicious!

Tru said...

OOOOO! These look so yummy. I can feel the pounds creeping on now!

Anonymous said...

Those look MARVELOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nikki said...

Those look delicious! I'll have to try these. Thanks for sharing!!

Unknown said...

Those look really good! I'm going to try this recipe out. We don't usually get snow, so I'll have to make up a new excuse to make some.

Anonymous said...

those donuts look super tasty. I am going to have to try your recipe.And I love your blog and its name "Pretty lil Posies".

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