We've made these a few times and really like them. I finally bought a cookie-cutter type donut cutter online (What did we do before amazon?) which makes them a little prettier, but you can use a cup and a little lid to cut them too.
One thing that I found that helps is to only cut out the donuts you are about to fry. When I tried to cut a bunch at once they ended up being harder to get out, and I had to re-roll the dough. Re-rolling the dough made it tough and hard to work with and much less pretty. It still tasted fine though. Just if you can, try to get as much from the first time you roll the dough out.
-Good luck!
INGREDIENTS
Doughnuts
- 2(1/4 ounce) packages yeast
- 1⁄4cup water (105-115)
- 1 1⁄2cups lukewarm milk (scalded, then cooled)
- 1⁄2cup sugar
- 1teaspoon salt
- 2eggs
- 1⁄3cup shortening
- 5cups all-purpose flour
- canola oil
Creamy Glaze
- 1⁄3cup butter
- 2cups powdered sugar
- 1 1⁄2teaspoons vanilla
- 4 -6tablespoons hot water
Chocolate frosting
- 1⁄3cup butter
- 2cups powdered sugar
- 1 1⁄2teaspoons vanilla
- 4 -6tablespoons hot water
- 4ounces milk chocolate chips or 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
DIRECTIONS
- Dissolve yeast in warm water in 2 1/2-quart bowl.
- Add milk, sugar, salt, eggs, shortening and 2 cups flour.
- Beat on low for 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly.
- Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
- Stir in remaining flour until smooth.
- Cover and let rise until double, 50-60 minutes.
- (Dough is ready when indentation remains when touched.) Turn dough onto floured surface; roll around lightly to coat with flour.
- Gently roll dough 1/2-inch thick with floured rolling pin.
- Cut with floured doughnut cutter.
- Cover and let rise until double, 30-40 minutes.
- Heat vegetable oil in deep fryer to 350°.
- Slide doughnuts into hot oil with wide spatula.
- Turn doughnuts as they rise to the surface.
- Fry until golden brown, about 1 minute on each side.
- Remove carefully from oil (do not prick surface); drain.
- Dip the doughnuts into creamy glaze set on rack then when slightly cooled spread chocolate frosting on top.
- Dip in sprinkles or other toppings after chocolate if desired.
- Creamy Glaze: Heat butter until melted.
- Remove from heat.
- Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
- Stir in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency.
- Chocolate Frosting: Heat butter and chocolate over low heat until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat.
- Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
- Stir in water 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency.
