#StayAtHome and Make Doughnuts

Staying at home during COVID-19 has really been an eye-opener. One thing the #StayAtHome order has done, other than scared us, worry us, and keep us home from work and school, is it has taught us to find new hobbies.

One good thing is many of us are becoming better at sewing, baking, and cooking and many more of us are getting even better at cleaning out closets and organizing!

If you’re one of those people who have gotten better at baking since the stay at home order, here’s a delicious doughnut recipe to try. Let us know how they turn out!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 2 eggs
• 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 stick butter, melted and cooled
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 quarts of oil

Directions:

1. Warm milk. Using a large bowl, combine milk with the yeast and gently stir until foamy.
2. Using an electric mixer with a dough hook, beat eggs, butter, sugar, and salt into the yeast mixture. Add 2 cups & 2 tablespoons of flour and mix well. Once mixed, then mix in the rest of the flour until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. If the dough becomes too thick to beat; transfer the dough to a floured surface and gently knead it until smooth. Grease a large bowl with coconut oil. Place dough into the bowl and let rise at room temperature until it doubles in size. Set your timer for about 1 hour. This is when you’ll see full results.
3. After one hour and the dough has fully risen, place dough onto a well-floured surface, and roll it to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut out the doughnuts with a doughnut cutter. Use a drinking glass if you don’t have one.
4. Put the doughnuts on floured baking sheets and cover to let rise in a warm place. Wait until they are puffed and ready which will be 40-45 minutes. The best place to warm them is in the oven at 200 degrees at the beginning of this step. Turn off the heat, & place them in the oven with door ajar. Remember, you’re warming them, not cooking them.
5. After 15 minutes, put the oil in a heavy-bottomed pot and place over medium heat to approximately 375 degrees.
6. Carefully add the doughnuts to the oil. Use a metal spatula to protect hands and fingers and to ensure the doughnuts do not fall apart during the transition. Flip doughnuts after 45 seconds to a minute.
7. Transfer the doughnuts to cooling racks.
8. Once fully cooled, glaze or frost to your liking and enjoy!