How to make old fashioned homemade doughnuts

A party in the kitchen

The first time I made homemade doughnuts my son ran into the kitchen and exclaimed "It's like a party in the kitchen!" That alone should convince you to try making your own doughnuts at least once. It's a very easy process and one the whole family can help out with.

Preparation is the key to making doughnuts without it turning into complete chaos. Have all of your utensils, ingredients and especially your coatings laid out, and give yourself plenty of space. If you have a small kitchen, you could set up a card table to put together your "assembly line."

Easy, easy doughnuts
The first time we made our homemade doughnuts we used premade biscuits in the tube. This is so much fun, and it just doesn't get any easier.

You will need:

• 2-4 tubes of buttermilk or homestyle biscuits
  
• Confectioners' sugar
  
• Cinnamon
  
• Granulated sugar
  
• vegetable oil for frying
  
• a candy/oil thermometer (optional, but VERY useful)
  
• tiny round cookie cutter (see below for option)
  
• stainless steel tongs
  
• cookie sheets lightly sprayed with cooking spray
  
• paper towel
  
• plates

Directions:
Remove biscuits from tubes and place on sprayed cookie sheet, one tube at a time works well. Take a tiny 1 inch cookie cutter, or as I used, a clean medicine cup that comes with children's pain reliever (it's the perfect size!). Press down in the middle of each biscuit until it cuts through the dough. Remove hole and set aside on a cookie sheet. This is the "assembly line" part if the kids are helping.

While you are preparing doughnuts, heat your oil in a fryer or on top of the stove in a large pan (cast iron works well for this) until oil is 370 degrees. Place three or four doughnuts at a time in the oil, watching carefully. When the bottom is golden brown, flip over with the tongs, to fry the other side. This happens very quickly! Remove doughnuts to a cookie sheet lined with paper towel. Allow to drain/cool just for one minute or so then drop in coating. When coated remove to a plate. The "holes" can be done last. Be careful, these fry VERY fast because they are so small.

Coatings: We used plain confectioners' sugar, and cinnamon mixed with granulated sugar until light brown in color. Place each coating in a medium size bowl.

Doughnuts from scratch Since that first time I found a recipe in an old cookbook that is easy, and makes a true homemade doughnut. Use the same instructions as above once they are cut out.

Quick Doughnuts

Ingredients:

• 4 cups sifted flour
  
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
  
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
  
• 1 tsp. salt
  
• 3/4 tsp. baking soda
  
• 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
  
• 2 tablespoons shortening
  
• 3/4 cup sugar
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 1 cup sour milk or buttermilk

Directions:
Sift together flour, salt, soda, cream of tartar and spices. Cream shortening and sugar; add eggs and beat until light and fluffy. Add milk and then sifted dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly until smooth. With as little handling as possible, roll dough out on floured board 1/4 inch thick. Let stand for 20 minutes. Cut with 2 1/2 inch cutter or glass bottom, and use a small cutter for the middle. Fry as above. Makes about 3 dozen doughnuts.

Variations:
Chocolate: Add 1 1/2 squares melted bitter chocolate, 1 tsp. vanilla and 1/4 cup more sugar to recipe.

Orange: Add 2 tablespoons finely grated orange rind to recipe. Using all egg yolks with give the dough and orange color.

Molasses: Reduce sugar to 1/4 cup and add one cup molasses, 1 tsp ginger and 1 more cup flour to recipe.

Final notes This is a great cooking project to do with the kids and laughter will fill your kitchen while it's being done, but do be careful around the hot oil. Place the "assembly line" away from the stove, and be sure to let the doughnuts cool slightly before allowing the kids to put them in the coatings. Once you have made them a few times, I am sure you will come up with your own variations!