Old Fashioned Yeast Raised Doughnuts Recipes

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, 1 1/4 teaspoons of the salt and the nutmeg in a large bowl until completely combined. Whisk together 2/3 cup of the buttermilk, the sour cream, eggs, yolks, 1 tablespoon of the vanilla paste and the oil in a medium bowl until completely combined. Fold the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients just until a soft and sticky dough comes together (do not overwork).
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and liberally dust with flour (about 1/3 cup).
• Scrape the dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Dust your hands and the top of the dough with more flour, then gently pat the dough to 3/4-inch thick.
• Working on the baking sheet, punch out as many rounds as you can with a 3 1/4-inch cutter. Then use a 1 1/4-inch cutter to punch out the center of each round. Dip the cutters in flour before each cut to avoid sticking. Gather the dough scraps and gently re-roll without overworking the dough. Repeat cutting until all the dough has been used (you should have 8 doughnuts).
• Set a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet and line a second rimmed baking sheet with several layers of paper towels. Fit a large heavy pot with a deep-fry thermometer and pour in oil to a depth of 3 inches. Heat over medium-high until the thermometer registers 375 degrees F.
• Fry the doughnuts in batches until deep golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to the wire rack and let cool slightly. Fry the doughnut holes until deep golden brown, about 90 seconds per side. Transfer to the wire rack and let drain for 1 minute. Then transfer to the paper-towel lined baking sheet to cool for 10 minutes before glazing. (This two-step process gets a lot more oil out of the doughnuts than using only one method.) Repeat with the remaining dough, making sure the oil returns to temperature between batches.
• Whisk together the confectioners' sugar, the remaining 6 tablespoons buttermilk, the remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla paste and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl until the glaze is smooth and the consistency of honey; add more confectioners' sugar or buttermilk if necessary.
• Dip each doughnut into the glaze on one side (we like the craggy side, it has more texture for an appetizing appearance), letting the excess drip back into the bowl, then return it to the wire rack. Toss the doughnut holes in the glaze to coat completely and return to the wire rack. Let the glaze set for 10 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• To make the glaze: Combine the confectioners' sugar with 2 tablespoons of water in a small bowl. Mix well then add a little more water, if necessary, to make a smooth, creamy glaze. Cover the glaze directly with plastic wrap and reserve. (For tips on making flavored glazes see the Cook's Note below.) To make doughnuts: Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium-heat. When the milk reaches a simmer pour it into a mixing bowl and allow it to cool.
• Meanwhile, measure 1/4 cup of lukewarm water into a small bowl. Sprinkle the yeast into the water then let the mixture stand until the yeast dissolves, about 7 minutes. Stir the yeast mixture into the milk along with 1 tablespoon of the sugar. Mix in 1 1/2 cups of the flour (by hand or with an electric mixer) then cover the dough starter with a clean towel and set it aside to rise and rest in a warm place for 1 hour. When the dough has relaxed, cream the butter with the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar. Beat the butter mixture into the dough a little at a time. Mix in the egg and salt then mix in the remaining 3 cups flour. Work the dough until it is smooth then place it in a well-greased bowl. Cover again with a clean towel and set aside in a warm place until doubled in bulk, at least one hour.
• Turn the dough out onto floured board and roll it out about 1/2-inch thick. Using a floured doughnut cutter, cut out the doughnuts. Transfer the doughnuts to a clean floured board or baking sheet. Cover once again with a clean towel, and set aside to rise until doubled. Heat about 2 inches of oil in a deep pot over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 375 degrees F. Working in batches of 2 or 3, fry the doughnuts until they float. Once they bob to the surface of the oil, carefully flip them over. Continue cooking, turning as necessary, until the doughnuts are uniformly golden-brown.
• Transfer the cooked doughnuts to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. While the doughnuts are still warm, dip 1 side of each into the glaze then set aside to cool until the glaze firms. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Steps:

• Melt butter in milk and cool to lukewarm. Place water in a warm large mixing bowl, sprinkle in yeast, and stir until dissolved; add milk mixture and sugar. By hand, beat 2 1/2 cups flour in until smooth; mix in eggs, salt, and spices. Mix in remaining flour, adding a little extra, if needed, to form a soft but manageable dough. Knead lightly 1 minute on a floured pastry cloth; shape into a ball, place in a greased large bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• Punch dough down, roll 1/2-inch thick on pastry cloth, using a floured, stockinette-covered rolling pin. Cut with a floured doughnut cutter and place 1 1/2-inches apart on un-greased baking sheets. Reroll and cut scraps. Cover with cloth and let double in bulk.
• Meanwhile, begin heating fat in a deep fat fryer. When doughnuts have risen and fat has reached 375 degrees F, ease 4 doughnuts into fat, 1 at a time. Fry about 2 minutes until golden brown all over, using tongs to turn. Drain on paper toweling.
• While doughnuts are warm, roll in topping.
• Jelly Doughnuts: Prepare as directed, but roll dough 1/4-inch thick instead of 1/2-inch. Cut in 2 1/2-inch rounds and put 1 teaspoonful tart jelly in the center of 1/2 the rounds. Top with remaining rounds, moisten touching edges slightly, and pinch to seal. Let rise, then fry as directed. Roll in confectioners' sugar while still warm.
• Crullers: Prepare as directed, but instead of cutting into doughnuts, cut in strips 8-inches long and 1/2 to 3/4-inch wide; let rise, then twist strips several times and pinch ends. Fry at once and roll in topping while still warm.

Steps:

• Place the water in a large bowl or in the bowl of an electric mixer. Sprinkle the yeast over it and stir it in. Add the milk, quarter-cup sugar, salt, egg and three tablespoons vegetable oil and mix. Beat in one cup of the flour until the mixture is smooth.
• Sift another cup of flour with the nutmeg or mace and stir it into the batter mixture with a wooden spoon. Add enough of the remaining flour to make a soft but manageable dough. Cover and set aside to rise until doubled, about one hour.
• Punch the dough down and turn it out onto a well-floured surface. Dust it liberally with flour and knead 8 or 10 times, until elastic and smooth. Cover dough with large inverted bowl and rest for 15 minutes.
• Use a floured rolling pin to roll the dough to one-half-inch thickness. Cut with a floured three-inch doughnut cutter and, using a spatula, carefully place the cut doughnuts on a floured cloth or surface. Reroll the scraps and cut more doughnuts. Cover the cut doughnuts with a cloth and allow to rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, pour at least two inches of oil into a deep pan and bring it to 375 degrees over moderate heat. When the doughnuts have risen, slide them into the oil with a spatula and fry them, two or three at a time a minute or so on each side, until golden brown. Lift them out of the oil with a slotted spoon and place them on several thicknesses of paper towel to drain. Dust them with sugar while they are still warm.

Steps:

• Combine milk, 2 teaspoons sugar, and the yeast in a small bowl, and let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. Whisk egg, water, and vanilla in a bowl.
• Combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and remaining sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. With mixer on low speed, add yeast mixture, egg mixture, and butter, beating until just combined. Switch to the dough hook, and beat on medium speed until dough forms a ball, 18 to 20 minutes. Place dough in a large buttered bowl, and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and coat parchment with cooking spray. On a lightly floured work surface, roll dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out rounds with a 4-inch cutter, then cut out centers with a 1 1/2-inch cutter. Space rings and holes 1 inch apart on prepared sheet. Coat another piece of parchment with cooking spray, and cover doughnuts. Let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
• For the topping: Combine sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl.
• Heat oil in a large pot until a deep-fry thermometer registers 375. Meanwhile, line a baking sheet with paper towels. Working in batches so as not to crowd pot, lower doughnuts (both rings and holes) into hot oil. Fry, turning them as they cook, until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes total. Drain on paper towels for 2 minutes, then roll warm doughnuts in topping to coat. Doughnuts are best the day they are made, but they can be stored in airtight containers overnight.

Steps:

• Melt the butter with the milk in the microwave on low power. Add this to a stainless steel bowl with the warm water, the contents of both yeast packets, and half the sugar. Allow the yeast to bloom for half an hour at room temperature. Add the eggs, flour, spices and the remainder of the sugar to the fermenting yeast. Incorporate thoroughly, then turn out the dough onto a work surface and knead into a ball. Place this ball in a bowl, cover loosely with a towel, and let sit for an hour so the dough can double in size. Heat the oil in a heavy Dutch oven or cast-iron pot on medium high. Retrieve the dough, punch it down, and cut it into rounds with metal donut-cutting rings. Fry in batches of 3-4 doughnuts at a time for about five minutes apiece. Since these doughnuts will float when cooking, you may need to roll them over in the oil with chopsticks or skewers. Read more: How to Make Old-Fashioned Yeast Raised Doughnuts (Donuts) | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4788564_make-yeast-raised-doughnuts-donuts.html#ixzz1mr7lXwSN

Steps:

• Heat the milk until it is warm but not hot, about 90 degrees. In a large bowl, combine it with the yeast. Stir lightly, and let sit until the mixture is foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Using an electric mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, beat the eggs, butter, sugar and salt into the yeast mixture. Add half of the flour (2 cups plus 2 tablespoons), and mix until combined, then mix in the rest of the flour until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Add more flour, about 2 tablespoons at a time, if the dough is too wet. If you're using an electric mixer, the dough will probably become too thick to beat; when it does, transfer it to a floured surface, and gently knead it until smooth. Grease a large bowl with a little oil. Transfer the dough to the bowl, and cover. Let rise at room temperature until it doubles in size, about 1 hour.
• Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface, and roll it to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut out the doughnuts with a doughnut cutter, concentric cookie cutters or a drinking glass and a shot glass (the larger one should be about 3 inches in diameter), flouring the cutters as you go. Reserve the doughnut holes. If you're making filled doughnuts, don't cut out the middle. Knead any scraps together, being careful not to overwork, and let rest for a few minutes before repeating the process.
• Put the doughnuts on two floured baking sheets so that there is plenty of room between each one. Cover with a kitchen towel, and let rise in a warm place until they are slightly puffed up and delicate, about 45 minutes. If your kitchen isn't warm, heat the oven to 200 at the beginning of this step, then turn off the heat, put the baking sheets in the oven and leave the door ajar.
• About 15 minutes before the doughnuts are done rising, put the oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, and heat it to 375. Meanwhile, line cooling racks, baking sheets or plates with paper towels.
• Carefully add the doughnuts to the oil, a few at a time. If they're too delicate to pick up with your fingers (they may be this way only if you rose them in the oven), use a metal spatula to pick them up and slide them into the oil. It's O.K. if they deflate a bit; they'll puff back up as they fry. When the bottoms are deep golden, after 45 seconds to a minute, use a slotted spoon to flip; cook until they're deep golden all over. Doughnut holes cook faster. Transfer the doughnuts to the prepared plates or racks, and repeat with the rest of the dough, adjusting the heat as needed to keep the oil at 375. Glaze or fill as follows, and serve as soon as possible.
• Whisk together 2 cups powdered sugar, 1/4 cup milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth. When the doughnuts are cool enough to handle, dip into the glaze; if you like, flip them so the tops they're completely covered. Put on racks to let the glaze harden.

Steps:

• 1. Activate yeast in the work bowl of a large stand mixer. Add dry yeast to 1/4 cup warm water (about 105° F.) Set aside for 10 minutes.
• 2. Meanwhile, scald milk. Cool to lukewarm.
• 3. With flat beater in place add lukewarm milk, sugar, salt, shortening and eggs to yeast in mixer bowl. Mix on low until ingredients are blended. Switch to dough hook and add flour 1 cup at a time, stirring until mixture forms a ball of dough which follows the dough hook around the bowl.
• 4. Place dough into a lightly greased bowl and cover with a damp tea towel or oiled plastic wrap. Allow to rise in a warm place for about 30 to 60 minutes.
• 5. Punch dough down to exhaust air. Place onto a barely oiled surface. Roll 1/2 inch thick and cut with a doughnut cutter. Re-cover doughnuts with clean tea towels or plastic and allow to rise until doubled in bulk. (45 minutes to 1 hour).
• 6. Using caution, heat oil to 350° F. , in a deep skillet or Dutch oven (I use a Fry Daddy) until a speck of dough dropped into hot fat dances on the surface. Fry doughnuts, three or four at a time, until golden brown, (about 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 minutes per side), turning as necessary. Drain on inverted cooling rack placed over paper towel - lined sheet pan.
• 7. TO PREPARE GLAZE: Mix boiling or very hot tap water with powdered sugar. Beat well until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Glaze doughnuts while still warm. (NOT HOT) !!
• 8. NOTE: You are aiming for a very slightly slack dough because one that is too dry, will make a heavy end product.