Recipe: Yeast-raised doughnuts

Yeast-raised doughnuts

Total time: About 1 hour, plus rising and overnight resting times

Servings: Makes about 1 1/2 to 2 dozen doughnuts

1 cup lukewarm milk (no warmer than 110 degrees)

1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) active-dry yeast

2 eggs

2 egg yolks

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 3/4 cups (16 ounces) flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) softened butter, cut into 4 or 5 pieces

Canola oil for frying

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large bowl, drizzle the yeast over the warm milk and stir to combine. Set the mixture aside for a few minutes to moisten the yeast.

2. Add the eggs and egg yolks to the milk mixture and gently beat to combine using the paddle attachment or a sturdy hand mixer. Add the sugar and vanilla and continue to beat until incorporated.

3. With the mixer running, add the flour, a spoonful at a time to incorporate, until three-fourths of the flour is added (if using a hand mixer, you may need to finish by hand as the dough may be too tough for the beaters). Add the salt and butter to the dough, mixing thoroughly to incorporate.

4. Add the remaining flour to the dough, gently but thoroughly beating to combine. The dough will be very soft and sticky, almost like a batter.

5. Grease a large bowl and place the dough inside. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 1/2 hours.

6. Turn the dough out onto a well-floured board and gently roll to a thickness of one-half inch. Using a doughnut cutter or 2 biscuit cutters (a larger one measuring 3 to 3 1/2 inches in diameter, and a smaller one measuring about 1 inch in diameter), cut the dough into doughnuts, spacing the doughnuts as close as possible. Collect the scraps, quickly knead to combine and roll the dough as before, cutting additional doughnuts.

7. Place the doughnuts on a floured sheet of parchment paper set on a baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between each doughnut. Sprinkle a little flour over the tops of the doughnuts, then loosely cover with plastic wrap. Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator overnight.

8. The next morning, remove the baking sheet from the refrigerator and set the doughnuts aside for about an hour to warm slightly. Meanwhile, fill a deep fryer with oil, or fill a large pot to a depth of at least 3 inches, and heat to a temperature of 375 degrees.

9. Gently place the doughnuts in the fryer, being careful not to crowd. Fry the doughnuts on each side until puffed and golden, about 1 minute on each side.

10. Drain the doughnuts on a rack and cool slightly, then frost and decorate as desired.

Each of 24 doughnuts: 248 calories; 3 grams protein; 18 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram fiber; 18 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 44 mg. cholesterol; 4 grams sugar; 60 mg. sodium.