When was the last time you made breakfast for dinner? I’ve been trying to make it more often, just because it’s quick, simple, and budget friendly. I usually make eggs, bacon, biscuits, and potatoes. This week I decided to make doughnuts.
You heard me.
I made doughnuts for dinner. No eggs, no bacon. Just doughnuts. My children think I am the best mother ever. Or, at least they did, while they were eating, but then I shouted at them to clean their rooms not too long after dinner and I went back to being mean mommy. It was nice while it lasted, though.
Doughnuts definitely take a bit of time and effort, but that first delicious bite you take makes it all worth it. These aren’t difficult, by any means, just a bit more involved than I usually like. There was the rising, the flouring, the rolling, the cutting, the rising, the frying, the topping, and then, finally, happily, thankfully, the eating.
I know a lot of people are scared of yeast, but don’t be. If I can make yeasty treats, so can you. Besides, watching my flat little doughnuts magically puff up made me feel like some sort of superhero. A Superhero of Yeast.
The hardest part was getting the risen doughnuts into the hot oil without deflating them. Deflating. Is that the right word?
I found that it was best to stick my thumb through the hole and gently lift them up. It took me quite a few tries before I really got it.
I like variety, so I made glazed doughnuts, cinnamon and sugar doughnuts, and doughnuts with chocolate frosting. I’ll share the frosting recipe with you tomorrow. It’s the frosting my mama puts on brownies and I’ve been wanting to share it with you since the day I started this blog. It’s good. It’s real good.
Anyway, the glaze recipe that I used was bit chunky for some reason. They still tasted good, but they looked kinda funky.
I snapped this picture, shouted for my kids that their dinner was ready, and then, in just a matter of seconds, this is what my plate full of doughnuts looked like:
Crispy and Creamy Doughnuts
Recipe from allrecipes.com
- 2 (.25 ounce) envelopes dry active yeast
- 1/4 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees)
- 1 1/2 cups lukewarm milk
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup shortening
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 quart oil, for fying
Pour the warm water into the bowl of your mixer and sprinkle in the yeast. (I always add a pinch of sugar to feed the yeast at this point. Not sure if that actually does anything or not, but I like to think it helps.) Let the yeast mixture stand for 5 minutes or until foamy.
Pour in the warm milk, sugar, salt, eggs, shortening, and 2 cups of the flour. Mix on low for a few minutes. Beat in remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time until the dough no longer sticks to the sides of the bowl. Knead for 5 minutes or until smooth and elastic.
Put the dough into a greased bowl and allow to rise until doubled in a warm place (your turned off oven works great for this!).
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently roll out to about 1/2 inch thick. Cut with a floured doughnut cutter. Cover with a towel and let rise until double.
Heat oil in a deep fryer or large pan until it reaches 350 degrees. Carefully place doughnuts into the oil and fry on each side until they are golden. Drain on a wire rack.
Glaze
- 1/3 cup butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 4 tbsp hot water (as needed)
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Remove from heat and add water, as needed, to thin the icing out.
| Tags: bread, breakfast, yeast 16 comments »
February 28th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Oh, yummy. I still haven’t ventured into doughnut-making, but that would make for a tasty dinner…
February 28th, 2010 at 11:24 pm
I’ve never thought of making donuts at home! Your donuts look so beautiful! I bet they are delicious!!
March 1st, 2010 at 10:02 am
you ARE the best mom ever, I don’t think I’ve ever had donuts for dinner…but now I want to
March 1st, 2010 at 1:01 pm
i had breakfast for supper just last night, but unfortunately, doughnuts weren’t involved. your diverse collection looks great, but i’d be making a beeline for the cinnamon sugar variety. no surprise there.
March 1st, 2010 at 1:26 pm
My grandma used to make donuts. Or should I say fried cakes? Because that’s what they were. Delicious. The kind you eat with apple cider. No frosting. I’m never going to make those or any other kind ’cause I would positively eat them all. Kids are gone and I’d have to give them all to the neighbors!
Can you just sent me one?
March 1st, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Some lucky children…
I don’t fear yeast, but for some reason I fear donuts. But after seeing these gorgeous creatures I think it’s time to face my fear!
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:45 am
They must have been really good that they disappeared so quickly..lol… Lucky kids indeed to have their mom make them donuts for dinner!! I would love some, but I have never tried to make donuts… Maybe I should as yours just look so tempting!
March 2nd, 2010 at 6:28 pm
I want you to adopt me.
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:13 am
Brinner!! One of my favorite meals. We had it just last night: waffles, bacon, sausage, and strawberries. Sometimes a sweet brinner is just what the end of the day calls for. We’ve made donuts once…but we cheated and just bought a package of biscuits, cut holes in them, and dropped them into the hot oil. Delicious. However, I’m sure yours made from scratch put those to shame. Can’t wait to try them!
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:31 am
you are my kids hero, donuts for dinner?!?
Yours look beautiful!
I have never made yeasty ones, mainly out of fear
March 4th, 2010 at 9:52 am
I haven’t made donuts in what seems like forever. They are slated for spring break. You know what else makes you a hero at dinner? Ice cream. They reeeeaallly love you then.
March 4th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
When I was growing up we used to have waffles for dinner – but doughnuts, wow! How fun. =) I looooooove the third photo (of the doughnuts rising on the sheet). They look so puffy and beautiful!!
March 8th, 2010 at 12:23 am
I want to be adopted, too!!! As long as you promise to make doughnuts at least twice a week haha. These doughnuts are gorgeous and oh so tempting.
March 8th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
how long did it take your dough to rise (the first time before you rolled it out)??
May 16th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
I love sugared doughnuts but can’t find them anywhere! They’re basically the only reason I’ve ever wanted to make doughnuts
August 11th, 2010 at 4:45 am
Wow. Your feeding your children doughnuts for dinner? Americans are so fat… Your children probably are or will be too.. it’s unhealthy lady. Feed them protein and veggies.