Here is a fun and affordable activity to do with the kids. That’s right,  make doughnuts! We have made them in our home for quite some time, but recently I came across a really good recipe. They taste kinda like crispy cremes! We rolled some into small balls, and we used cookie cutters for the rest. It was affordable, fun, and the doughnuts were delicious!

What you need:

Deep fryer, or skillet with oil

Doughnut cutter, Cookie Cutters or A Cup

Ingredients:

2 packs of dry yeast

1/4 cup hot water

1 1/2 cup warm milk

1/2 cup granulated sugar

pinch of salt

2 eggs

5 cups of all purpose flour

1/3 cup shortening

Glaze:

1/3 cup butter

2 cups powdered sugar

1 1/2 t vanilla ( or substitute with almond, orange, strawberry flavoring)

4 t hot water, or as needed

Directions:

1. Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water, and let stand for 5 minutes, or until foamy.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the yeast mixture, milk, sugar, salt, eggs, shortening, and 2 cups of the flour. Mix for a few minutes at low speed, or stirring with a wooden spoon. Beat in remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough no longer sticks to the bowl. Knead for about 5 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Place the dough into a greased bowl, and cover. Set in a warm place to rise until double. Dough is ready if you touch it, and the indention remains.
3. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and gently roll out to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut with a floured doughnut cutter. Let doughnuts sit out to rise again until double. Cover loosely with a cloth.
4. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in confectioners’ sugar and vanilla until smooth. Remove from heat, and stir in hot water one tablespoon at a time until the icing is somewhat thin, but not watery. Set aside.
5. Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large heavy skillet to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Slide doughnuts into the hot oil using a wide spatula. Turn doughnuts over as they rise to the surface. Fry doughnuts on each side until golden brown. Remove from hot oil, to drain on a wire rack. Dip doughnuts into the glaze while still hot, and set onto wire racks to drain off excess. Keep a cookie sheet or tray under racks for easier clean up.

If you do not have a doughnut cutter, all cutters will work. We used Christmas cookie cutters and rolled small balls for doughnut holes. We also used a cup and just punch out the center with our finger, and did it the old fashioned way.

You can glaze them, ice them, add sprinkles, roll them in powdered sugar, or roll them in a cinnamon sugar mixture.

This is a fun recipe, and it makes about two dozen doughnuts if using cookie cutters.