Quickie Doughnuts

[Granny Smith]

I threw these together this morning and they turned out nice, light and crisp, so I'm posting the recipe.

Quickie Doughnuts

1 cup flour
1 t. baking powder
1 t. shortening or soft butter
1 egg
milk
deep fat for frying
cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar

Heat oil to 375 degrees.

Mix flour and baking powder. Cut in shortening or butter. Beat egg and add, along with enough milk to make a soft dough.

Knead lightly a few times, adding more flour, if necessary, so the dough isn't sticky. Pat or roll to about 1/4" thick and cut into small squares (about an inch or two) I used a pizza cutter.

Fry, a few at a time, turning once when the bottom browns lightly. Drain on paper towels and dust with cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar.

This made about 2 dozen 2-bite size doughnuts.

[Valerie]

Thanks, Gayle! I'll try these on Sunday! My biggest problem with doughnut recipes is that they always make a ton, and then I have to eat 'em all!

[Granny Smith]

Valerie, if you wanted to, you could get fancy with these and cut them in circles or sticks. I just threw them together, though, so squares were the fastest. I was trying to get them done before the kids finished eating breakfast. They made enough for the 4 of us, with a few leftover for a mid-morning snack (lawnmowing is hard work!) They were just as good cold.

[christy]

I have a terrible time with doughnuts...they always turn out greasy and if I raise the temp of the oil they burn.
I really want to make something different tomarrow so I may try again. I just hope the bad doughnut fairy dosen't pay me a visit.

[Granny Smith]

Christy, I have a deep fryer, but, when I didn't, I would heat the oil, then throw in a 1" cube of bread and count slowly to 15 - you know, 1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi... Then I'd take out the bread. If it was crispy, I knew the oil was ready. If not, I'd let it heat a while longer, then check it again. If it browned before the time was up, I knew I had to reduce the heat.