PACZKI (POLISH "JELLY" DOUGHNUTS)

Steps:

• SPONGE:.
• Dissolve crushed yeast in lukewarm milk, sift in flour, add sugar.
• Mix, cover, and let stand in warm place to rise.
• Beat egg yolks with powdered sugar and vanilla sugar until fluffy.
• Sift flour into bowl, add sponge (yeast mixture), egg mixture, and grain alcohol or rum.
• Knead well until dough is smooth and glossy.
• Gradually add melted lukewarm butter and continue kneading dough until it no longer clings to hands and bowl and air blisters appear.
• Cover with cloth and let rise in warm place until doubled.
• Punch dough down and let it rise again. Transfer dough to floured board, sprinkle top with flour, and roll out about 1/2" inch thick.
• With glass or biscuit-cutter, cut into rounds.
• Arrange on floured board and proceed in either of the following ways:.
• SMALL PACZKI:.
• Place a spoonful of fruit filling (rose-hip preserves, cherry preserves, or other thick jam) off center on each round.
• Raise edges of dough and pinch together over filling, then roll between palms snowball fashion to form balls.
• Let rise in warm place until doubled.
• LARGE PACZKI:.
• Place a spoonful of fruit filling as above on only 1/2 dough rounds, cover each with another round, pinch edges together, and roll between palms to form a ball.
• Let rise until doubled in warm, draft-free place.
• Heat 1 1/2-2 lbs. lard in deep pan so paczki can float freely during frying.
• It is hot enough when a small piece of dough dropped into hot fat immediately floats up.
• Fry paczki without crowding several minutes until nicely browned on bottom, then turn over and fry on other side another 3 minutes or so.
• NOTE:.
• If using electric fryer, set temperature at 360-375 degrees.
• If frying in stove-top pan and fat begins to burn, add several slices of peeled raw potato which will both lower the temperature and absorb the burnt flavor.
• Paczki may also be fried in oil, but lard produces the tastiest results.
• If you are cutting down on animal fats, you can compromise by using a lard and oil combination.
• Transfer fried paczki to absorbent paper and set aside to cool.
• When cool, dust generously with powdered sugar, glaze or icing.
• RECIPES USING EGG WHITES:.
• Fat-Free, Sugar-Free & Cholesterol-Free Banana Bread! Recipe #45394.
• Angel Food Cake Recipe #12591.
• Fruit pies with meringue topping.