How To Make Your Own Old-Fashioned Cake Doughnuts

There aren’t too many people who don’t love a good doughnut. They can easily make an early morning meeting or exam for your cooking classes seem like much less of an offense to your daily schedule. Whether you prefer them filled with jelly or dipped in your coffee, these rounded cakes are a fabulous treat. Wouldn’t it be great, though, if you could make your own doughnuts rather than having to run out to the supermarket or bakery every time you had a taste for these fried cakes? While you learn to cook new recipes, you can whip up your own dozen and impress your friends and coworkers with these delicious homemade doughnuts!

Basic homemade doughnuts
When it comes to cooking doughnuts, simple recipes like this one from allrecipes.com make for delicious homemade cake doughnuts.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 dash ground nutmeg
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 quart cooking oil

Preparation:

  1. In a large bowl, first mix together the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add melted butter and stir until the mixture becomes crumbly. Stir in the milk and egg until the dough is smooth.
  2. Using your hands, lightly knead the dough and then turn it out on a lightly floured countertop. Roll out the dough until it is 1/4 inch thick.
  3. Heat oil in a deep fryer or in a large stock pot on the stove to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  4. Cut the dough using a doughnut cutter, or with two cookie cutters of different sizes for the main shape of the doughnut and its signature hole.
  5. Using a slotted spoon, carefully submerge a few doughnuts into the hot oil. After a few moments, your doughnuts will float to the surface and fry on one side. After 1 1/2 minutes, turn the doughnuts over and let them sit for another 1 1/2 minutes or until golden. Use the slotted spoon to remove the doughnuts and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain.

Here are a few secrets that can help to improve your cooking experience:

  • If you are having difficulty working with your batter, stick it in the fridge to chill so that it is a little more firm.
  • Know where your kitchen’s fire-extinguisher is so that if the cooking oil comes into contact with the stove’s flame you’ll be able to put the fire out. Remember: Water cannot extinguish a grease fire.
  • Add oil to the deep fryer or pot before turning it on to prevent splattering.
  • Look for neutral cooking oils, such as canola or vegetable. Other oils with stronger flavors may affect the taste of the doughnuts.
  • Use a thermometer to measure the temperature of the oil. If it’s too hot, the doughnuts’ crusts will burn before the inner dough is cooked; but if it’s too low, the dough won’t fry at all and will soak up the oil.

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