Homemade Raised Doughnuts

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Gather the ingredients.

2. Step 2

   Dissolve yeast in 1 cup of warm water.

3. Step 3

   Let sit about 5 minutes until the yeast foams a bit (so you know it's active).

4. Step 4

   Beat in 2 cups of the flour, 1/3 cup of sugar, egg, 4 tablespoons of butter, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Add the remaining 1 1/4 cups flour, 1/4 cup at a time until the dough starts pulling away from the sides of the bowl.

5. Step 5

   Cover bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let sit in a warm place until the dough doubles in bulk — about 2 hours.

6. Step 6

   Punch down the dough and turn it onto a floured surface.

7. Step 7

   Roll dough to about 1/2 inch thick. 

8. Step 8

   Use a large round biscuit cutter to cut circles and a smaller round cutter to cut out the holes. Obviously, if you are lucky enough to be in possession of a doughnut cutter, go ahead and use that!

9. Step 9

   Cover doughnuts (and holes) and let rise until puffy looking — about 2 hours.

10. Step 10

    Heat an inch or two of oil or lard in a large heavy pot to 350 F to 375 F. Set a cooling rack over a baking sheet and put them near the pot. Put about a cup of sugar in a medium bowl and have that handy as well.

11. Step 11

    Add 3 or 4 doughnuts (or 8 to 10 doughnut holes) to the oil. They should sizzle immediately as you add them to the fat.

12. Step 12

    Cook doughnuts until light brown on one side. Use tongs or a slotted spoon to flip the doughnuts, cook until the second side is light brown. Transfer cooked doughnuts to a cooling rack and let cool and drain for a few minutes. Dip doughnuts into sugar to coat. Repeat with remaining doughnuts.

13. Step 13

    Serve warm if at all possible.

14. Step 14

    Enjoy!