INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 170 F
Once oven reaches temp, turn off and leave door closed.
Combine yeast with warm water in a glass measuring cup and let sit at room temperature while you proceed with the recipe.
Place butter, sugars, vanilla, and salt in bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment and cream together on medium speed until combined, light, and fluffy.
Add eggs (I find it useful to crack all three into a bowl or measuring cup and add while the mixer is running on low).
Add yeast/water mixture and one cup of flour and mix until fully combined.
Switch from the paddle attachment to a dough hook.
Add remaining flour and mix on low speed for 5 minutes until thoroughly combined and you have a soft, sticky dough. It will cling to the bowl a bit, but it should be almost in a ball. Add a bit more flour if it is extremely sticky, but be careful, you don’t want it as firm and smooth as bread dough.
Remove dough hook, and remove bowl from mixer. Cover bowl with a damp towel or plastic wrap. Allow to rise in warmed oven for 1 hour. *(This is a good time to get your frying, cooling, filling, and rolling stuff set up.)
After dough has been rising for one hour, lightly flour work surface and top of dough. Roll dough to ½ inch thickness.
Cut rounds (or any shape you like) and place onto floured cookie sheet to rest for 10 minutes while oil heats. I use a 2 inch wide biscuit cutter and get about 20-22 doughnuts.
OPTIONAL:
Using the wide end of a metal pastry tip, cut as many tiny doughnuts out of the remaining dough scraps as you can. These will make the cutest little doughnut “holes.” You won’t want to waste any of this gorgeous dough.
TO FRY THE DOUGHNUTS:
Heat oil over medium-high heat to 375 degrees in heavy, large pot, I prefer cast iron.
Once oil is hot, carefully place doughnuts in oil, about 5-6 at a time depending on your pot, and fry for 2 minutes per side, just until they are golden brown and puffed.
Remove with slotted spoon to sheet tray with rack.
Repeat until all doughnuts are fried.
Finally, add your little baby dough balls all in one batch and stir gently until golden.
Remove with slotted spoon to rack with other doughnuts.
Poke pastry tip into the middle of each doughnut and fill with your choice of fillings.
Roll each filled doughnut in granulated sugar.
Roll baby doughnuts in plain sugar, powdered sugar, or cinnamon sugar. You can even fry the dough scraps and give them the same treatment.
Enjoy while fresh and warm!
