Best 5 Grandmas Doughnuts Recipes

THE BEST OLD-FASHIONED DOUGHNUTS

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.

POTATO DONUTS, GRANDMA'S RECIPE

Steps:

• 1. In a large mixing bowl combine mashed potatoes, sugar, buttermilk, and eggs, mix well. Stir in butter, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt. Then add enough flour to make a soft dough (6 1/2 to 7 cups).
• 2. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead a few times until smooth. Pat dough out to a rectangle about 3/4 inch thick. Cut doughnuts with a 2 1/2 inch floured doughnut cutter. (Or use a 2 1/2 inch circle cutter and cut center hole with a 1/2 inch round cutter.) Save holes to fry. Pat out other scraps of dough again into a 3/4 inch thick rectangle. Continue cutting out doughnuts and holes until all dough is used.
• 3. Heat 1 inch of oil in a large heavy skillet. Temperature should be 375 degrees. Use a thermometer if possible or try frying a doughnut hole to ascertain correct temperature like Grandma did. Fry doughnuts 2 minutes on each side or until a nice golden brown color. Drain on paper towels. Allow to cool slightly and then frost or sprinkle with powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar.
• 4. For powdered sugar frosting use 3 cups powdered sugar, a pinch of salt, 1/2 teaspon vanilla, and 4 tablespoons of milk. Mix well. Frosting should be quite thin and runny. Drizzle heavily over warm doughnuts on a wire rack. Allow extra frosting to drip off doughnuts and then flip them over and repeat on second side. Let frosting dry before storing in a sealed container like a cookie tin or plastic dish.

GRANDMA'S CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Heat about 1 quart oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Mix sugar, eggs, and 2 tablespoons oil together in a mixing bowl.
• Pour milk, vinegar, and baking soda into a liquid measuring cup; milk will become foamy. Add to sugar mixture; mix well. Mix in flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg.
• Drop batter by teaspoonfuls into the hot oil until golden, about 1 minute per side, working in batches. Drain doughnuts on paper towels.

GRANDMA'S BAKED DONUTS

Steps:

• 1. Sift together the flour , baking powder , salt , nutmeg and sugar.
• 2. Mix together beaten eggs with milk and the oil ; Add ALL at once to the flour mixture and blend well.
• 3. Add raisins to the dough mixture.
• 4. Turn out onto a floured surface , knead lightly.
• 5. NOTE : If the dough is sticky , add small amounts of flour until the right consistency to roll , but not to much you don't want a stiff dough.
• 6. Roll to 1/2" thickness and use a donut cutter ' Place on a greased cookie sheet ; brush with the melted butter.
• 7. Bake @ 375° for 10-15 minutes . Cool and roll in powdered sugar.

GRANDMA'S ZEPPOLE ITALIAN DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Add 2-inch oil to a large pot and heat to 375˚F (190˚C).
• In a medium saucepan on medium-low heat, add water, butter, sugar and salt. Cook until butter melts completely.
• Lower the heat and add flour. Use the wooden spoon to mix vigorously until well combined.
• Transfer the dough into a large mixing bowl. Let it cool off slightly, about 3-5 minutes, then add eggs, one at a time. Mix the eggs with the dough using a hand-mixer or wooden spoon. (Make sure your dough is not too hot, otherwise the eggs will scramble when added to the dough.)
• Check the temperature of the oil, if it's ready, it's time to fry the donuts. Use a small spoon to spoon out the batter, and then use another spoon or spatula to scrape the batter into the oil. Make sure to lower the spoon into the oil very gently so that you won't splash the oil onto yourself.
• Cook in batches and fry 10-12 donuts at a time. Fry for 4-5 minutes for each batch until they turn golden brown. You'll need to turn them over from time to time to make sure all sides get cooked properly.
• Remove cooked zeppole from the oil using a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel lined plate.
• Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm.