Buying donuts. Just say no.

So, today I decided to try making donuts, something I'd always wanted to do, had done once back in the 5th grade, and seemed like the perfect Sunday late morning treat.

So...easy...

You really should try it.

(Don't these guys to the right look yummy? Oh, they are...)











Three (or 4) steps and 10 minutes of effort. First,  take a cup of warm water (about 110 deg. ... any higher and you risk killing the yeast), toss in a tablespoon or 2 of sugar depending on how airy/sweet you want the dough (yeast eat sugar ... more sugar = more dough expansion), and a teaspoon of yeast. Mix that up until the yeast dissolves.


Pour this over a mixture (in a large mixing bowl) of 2 cups of flour (I used all purpose, but I've heard a combination of cake flour and all-purpose gives you a more Krispy Kreme type texture ... ours were kind of chewy which we liked quite a bit) and 1.5 teaspoon of salt (or, alternatively, go with 1 tsp. and add a bit of salt to whatever you're putting on top of them later on... powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, etc.) ... cover with plastic wrap and let sit for an hour and a half to two hours in a warm spot in your house.

Find your deepest pot (I used an electric wok) and fill it up with enough oil (2 inches deep or so... canola or soybean) that the doughnuts will have room to float around, heat it to approx. 375 degrees (small bit of dough will turn brown in about a minute when the temperature's right) and drop tablespoon amounts of dough in. They'll end up being kind of round blobby shapes, although you could employ a biscuit cutter of some other round cutting implement if you want perfection... and you can use a plastic lid from a bottle to cut holes out if you like... I wouldn't bother.

Anyhow, let them float around in the oil, using a slotted spoon to keep them from sticking to each other while still doughy, until you see that the part in the oil is golden-brown. Flip, and cook the other side to the same level.

While they're cooking, toss some powdered sugar in one paper bag, and some cinnamon sugar (about 4 to 1 ratio sugar to cinnamon) in another. Or make glaze. Or get out the ketchup! Just kidding. Please don't.

Pull them out with a slotted spoon and let them drain on paper towels. While still hot, toss them into the paper bags, close 'em up and shake to coat.

Devour with your morning coffee or beer.

50 cents (maybe) worth of ingredients. 10 minutes of your time. Wayyyy better than store bought.

Happy Sunday everyone! Hope Christmas was merry :-)

Ciao,
Brian