Yeast- Raised Refrigerator Doughnuts

Total Time: 5 hrs 20 mins Preparation Time: 5 hrs Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup vegetable shortening
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon mace (or nutmeg)
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest, finely grated
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 2 (1/4 ounce) envelopes active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup very warm water
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 7 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour, divided (about)
• vegetable oil (for frying)
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

Recipe

• 1 place shortening, sugar, salt, mace, lemon zest (if using) in a small bowl and pour over boiling water.
• 2 stir until sugar dissolves and shortening melts.
• 3 mix in evaporated milk and cool until warm (110-115°f).
• 4 sprinkle yeast over very warm water in large bowl.
• 5 stir until yeast is dissolved.
• 6 mix in the cooled shortening mixture into the yeast; beat in eggs.
• 7 add 4 cups of flour and beat hard with electric mixer at high speed 1-2 minutes or until smooth.
• 8 slowly beat in enough of the remaining 3 1/2 cups of flour to make a very soft dough (it will be sticky).
• 9 place dough in large, well-buttered bowl, then turn dough in bowl to grease all over.
• 10 lay a piece of buttered wax paper on top of dough, then cover bowl with a lid.
• 11 place in refrigerator for 4-5 hours or until needed (it will rise as it stands in refrigerator).
• 12 add enough oil into deep fat fryer to a depth of 3 inches and heat to 360°f.
• 13 be careful please.
• 14 take out whatever amount of dough you need (1/3 of the dough should yield about 10 doughnuts) and roll out on floured board with floured rolling pin.
• 15 cut with 3" doughnut cutter and let stand at room temperature for 15-20 minutes.
• 16 fry doughnuts in oil, no more than 2-3 at a time (with their holes).
• 17 cook for 1 1/2 minutes per side (the holes will cook faster) or until they are rich caramel brown.
• 18 drain on crumpled paper towels as they come from the hot oil.
• 19 cool to almost room temperature and if desired, dip quickly in glaze (for the glaze: blend together confectioners sugar, boiling water, and lemon juice).
• 20 let them drip-dry on wire rack set over waxed paper.
• 21 •or roll in sugar or cinnamon sugar.
• 22 **if you don't have a doughnut cutter, use a 3-inch biscuit cutter and a smaller biscuit cutter to make the center hole.