Fried Day: Homemade Donuts

2 eggs | 1/4 cup white sugar | 1 teaspoon salt | 1 tablespoon warm water | 1/2 cup warm water  | 4 cups sifted all-purpose flour | 2 packages  dry yeast | 1 teaspoon white sugar | 3/4 cup lukewarm milk | 1/3 cup vegetable shortening | 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract | 1 cup confectioners sugar | 2 quarts vegetable oil for frying

 

1. Pour 1/2 cup of warm water into a small bowl, and stir in the yeast and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Allow the yeast mixture to stand until it forms a creamy foam layer on top, 5 to 10 minutes.
2. Place milk and vegetable shortening into a small saucepan over medium-low heat and cook until the shortening has melted and the milk has tiny bubbles around the edge. Remove from heat.
3. Place 1/4 cup of sugar and the salt into the work bowl of a large stand mixer and pour the milk and shortening into the bowl. Mix on low speed just to dissolve sugar; and allow mixture to stand
4. Beat in the yeast mixture, eggs, and 1 cup of flour on low speed until smooth. Gradually beat in remaining flour to make a soft dough.
5. Continue beating the dough on low speed until dough 2 to 3 minutes.
6. Turn the dough out onto a well-floured work surface and knead 2 to 3 minutes.
7. Form the dough into a ball and place into a large greased bowl. Grease the top of the dough, cover the bowl with waxed paper. Set in a warm place; let the dough rise 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
8. Punch down the dough and roll out on a floured work surface to 1/2 inch thick. Cut doughnuts out of the dough with a 3 1/2-inch round doughnut cutter with a 1-inch smaller cutter in the center. Let the doughnuts rise on the work surface until  fluffy, 40 min to 1 hour.
9. Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
10. Gently pick up and drop the doughnuts into the hot oil, working in small batches of 2 or 3 at a time, and cook until the doughnuts are light golden brown, turning once, about 2 minutes.
11. Drain the doughnuts on paper towels to absorb oil.
12. In a bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of warm water and vanilla extract, and stir in the confectioners' sugar to make a glaze. Spread a thin layer of glaze over the warm doughnuts. 

Malia