Recipe: Old Fashioned Jelly Doughnuts

OLD FASHIONED JELLY DOUGHNUTS

2 packages dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
2 tsp sugar
1 c milk, scalded and cooled
4 Tbsp shortening
2 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
2 egg yolks
1/2 tsp lemon zest - grated fine
3 1/2 to 4 cups flour
1 1/2 cups jam or jelly for filling (strawberry or raspberry)
oil for frying

Mix the yeast, water and 2 tsp. sugar together. Let foam 10 minutes.

Scald the milk and add the shortening. Let mixture cool then add egg and yolks, sugar, salt and lemon zest. Stir well and pour in yeast mixture. Add flour and stir to form a soft dough. Knead 5-8 minutes, adding a bit of flour as needed to form a firmer dough. When dough is smooth and elastic, place in a greased bowl and cover with a damp cloth. Let rise in a warm place (in a turned off oven with only the oven light on is a good place) or let rise overnight in the refrigerator.

Punch down and pinch off pieces of dough to form small balls (about the size of golf balls). Cover and let sit 15 minutes.

In a deep fryer or heavy Dutch oven, heat 4 inches of oil to 375 degrees F.

Add the doughnuts a few at a time and fry until the undersides are deep brown. Gently turn over once and finish frying the other side. Lift doughnuts out using a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

Fill with jam or jelly. Make a small hole in the side and, using a pastry bag with a plain tip, pipe jelly or jam into doughnuts.

Sprinkle with confectioner's or granulated sugar.

Makes 24-36 doughnuts
Source: NLB