Blue Ribbon Doughnuts Recipes

MY MOM'S RAISED DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Pour 1/2 cup of warm water into a small bowl, and stir in the yeast and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Allow the yeast mixture to stand until it forms a creamy foam layer on top, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Place milk and vegetable shortening into a small saucepan over medium-low heat and cook until the shortening has melted and the milk has tiny bubbles around the edge. Remove from heat.
• Place 1/4 cup of sugar and the salt into the work bowl of a large stand mixer and pour the milk and shortening into the bowl. Mix on low speed just to dissolve sugar; and allow mixture to stand until warm.
• Beat in the yeast mixture, eggs, and 1 cup of flour on low speed until smooth. Gradually beat in remaining flour to make a soft dough.
• Continue beating the dough on low speed until dough leaves the sides of the bowl, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Turn the dough out onto a well-floured work surface and knead until smooth and elastic, 2 or 3 more minutes.
• Form the dough into a ball and place into a large greased bowl. Grease the top of the dough, and cover the bowl with waxed paper. Set the bowl into a warm place; let the dough rise until doubled in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Punch down the dough and roll out on a floured work surface to 1/2 inch thick. Cut doughnuts out of the dough with a 3 1/2-inch round doughnut cutter with a 1-inch smaller cutter in the center. Let the doughnuts rise on the work surface until very light and fluffy, 40 minutes to 1 hour.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Gently pick up and drop the doughnuts into the hot oil, working in small batches of 2 or 3 at a time, and cook until the doughnuts are light golden brown, turning once, about 2 minutes.
• Drain the doughnuts on paper towels to absorb oil.
• In a bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of warm water and vanilla extract, and stir in the confectioners' sugar to make a glaze. Spread a thin layer of glaze over the warm doughnuts.

BLUE-RIBBON DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat eggs for 5 minutes. Gradually add sugar; beat 1-2 minutes longer (mixture will be thick and light in color). Add cream, milk, vanilla, 2 cups flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt and nutmeg; beat until smooth. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth, 8-10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours. , On a floured surface, roll dough to 1/2-in. thickness. Cut with a lightly floured 2-1/2-in. doughnut cutter. , In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°. Fry doughnuts, a few at a time, until browned, about 2 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels.

APPLE CIDER DONUTS

Steps:

• 1. Boil apple cider in small saucepan until it is reduced to 1/4 cup, 8 to 10 minutes; cool.
• 2. Beat sugar with shortening until smooth. Add eggs and mix well, then add buttermilk and reduced cider.
• 3. Stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg in another bowl.
• 4. Add to liquid ingredients; mix just enough to combine. Transfer dough to lightly floured board and pat to 1/2-inch thickness.
• 5. Cut with 2 1/2- to 3-inch doughnut cutter; reserve doughnut holes and reroll and cut scraps.
• 6. Add enough oil or shortening to fill a deep pan 3 inches; heat to 375'F. Fry several doughnuts at a time, turning once or twice, until browned and cooked through, about 4 minutes.
• 7. Remove to paper towels with slotted spoon.
• 8. While still warm, shake a few at a time in a paper bag containing cinnamon sugar. Cool on a rack.

MOM'S RAISED DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• 1. SOAK yeast in 1/2 cup warm (not hot) water - 5 minutes. TIP: I throw about 1 tsp. sugar in with this to kick it in the butt to get it going.
• 2. SCALD the milk and melt shortening. (I always remember Mom melting the Crisco in the warm milk first, so that's how I do it.)
• 3. POUR milk over sugar and salt in a bowl. Stir until dissolved. Make sure this mixture is warm, not hot.
• 4. ADD 1 cup of flour, eggs and yeast mixture. Beat until smooth. ADD remaining flour to make a soft dough. When dough leaves sides of bowl, turn out onto lightly floured board. (Recipe calls for 4-4 1/2 cups flour, but every time I make it, it only takes me 4 cups to achieve the right consistency.)
• 5. KNEAD until dough becomes smooth and elastic. Place in lightly greased bowl. Grease top of dough and cover with waxed paper. Allow to rise in warm place (80-85°) until doubled (1-1/2 hours).
• 6. ROLL OUT dough to 1/2 inch thickness and cut-with a #2 can that has been opened with a tadpole can opener to leave a sharp cutting edge. Use a pill bottle or the center of doughnut cutter to make the center hole. Remove centers.
• 7. LET RISE on the board until very light (40-60 minutes).
• 8. DROP into deep hot fat (325° - 350°) and turn when doughnuts are just barely brown. Turn once again when browned sufficiently.
• 9. DRAIN on absorbent paper. While still warm, glaze with glaze (ingredients above) or dust each doughnut with granulated or confectioners sugar. NOTE: This recipe is not recommended for use with self-rising flour.