Homemade Doughnuts

Directions

1. 1
   Dissolve yeast in 1 cup of warm milk along with a tspn of sugar.
2. 2
   Let sit about 5 minutes until the yeast foams a bit (so you know it's active).
3. 3
   Beat in 2 cups of the flour, sugar, butter, and salt.
4. 4
   Add the remaining 1 1/4 cups flour 1/4 cup at a time until the dough starts pulling away from the sides of the bowl.
5. 5
   Cover bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let sit in a warm place until the dough doubles in bulk, about 2 hours.
6. 6
   Punch down the dough and turn it onto a floured surface.
7. 7
   Roll dough to about 1/2-inch thick and use a drinking glass to cut circles and a smaller round cutter or bottle cap to cut out the holes.
8. 8
   Obviously, if you dont have a doughnut cutter yet!
9. 9
   Cover doughnuts (and holes) and let rise until puffy looking, for about 30 minutes.
10. 10
    Heat an inch or two of oil in a large heavy pot.
11. 11
    Set a cooling rack over a baking sheet and put them near the pot.
12. 12
    Add 3 or 4 doughnuts (or 8 to 10 doughnut holes) to the oil.
13. 13
    They should sizzle immediately as you add them to the oil.
14. 14
    Lower the flame.
15. 15
    Cook doughnuts until light brown on one side.
16. 16
    Use tongs or a slotted spoon to flip the doughnuts, cook until the second side is light brown.
17. 17
    Take them out and place on the cooling rack.
18. 18
    Drizzle the glaze of your choice, or dip in chocolate sauce.
19. 19
    Repeat with remaining doughnuts.
20. 20
    Transfer the doughnuts to cooling rack and let cool/drain for a few minutes.
21. 21
    Serve warm.