Glazed Doughnuts

Growing up, we often made doughnuts together as a family. My dad was usually the one who seemed to be in charge of the project, although I think my mom was probably the one who made the dough. A few weeks ago I brought up the idea of making doughnuts and my husband seemed shocked that you could even make them at home. He had never done it before! So this was a really fun activity for us. It is a really good recipe too - these are the light and fluffy, melt in your mouth kind of doughnuts and I really liked the vanilla flavored glaze as well. I am excited to have friends over to make these again in the future. With a large doughnut cutter, we made 6 doughnuts and doughnut holes.

Doughnuts:

1 envelope active dry yeast

1/8 cup warm water

3/4 cup lukewarm milk

1/4 cup white sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg

3 Tbsp shortening

2 1/2 cups flour

canola oil for frying

Glaze:

3 Tbsp butter

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2-3 Tbsp hot water (or as needed)

In a large mixing bowl, combine water and yeast and let stand about 5 minutes or until yeast has activated. Stir in remaining ingredients, adding flour 1/2 cup at a time. Knead for 5 minutes. Place the dough in a greased bowl and let rise until double in size. 

Gently roll out dough to 1/2-1" thickness. Cut with a doughnut cutter and place on a greased cookie sheet. Allow to rise again until double in size.

Prepare glaze by melting butter and stirring in powdered sugar and vanilla. Mix in hot water, stirring, until the glaze is thin but not watery.

Heat oil in a deep fryer or a large pan until it is 350° and fry doughnuts on each side until they are golden brown. Remove from oil and drain on a wire rack. Dip doughnuts in glaze while they are still hot and return to wire rack.