My Mom's Raised Doughnuts

Ingredients

• 2 packages active dry yeast , .25 ounce
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 0.5 cups warm water , 100 to 110 degrees F/40 to 45 degrees C
• 0.75 cups milk
• 0.33 cups vegetable shortening
• 0.25 cups white sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs
• 2 quartss vegetable oil for frying
• 1 tablespoon warm water
• 0.5 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar , sifted

Instructions

1. 1

   Dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon white sugar in 1/2 cup warm water in a small bowl. Let stand until it forms a creamy foam layer on top, 5 to 10 minutes.

2. 2

   Heat milk and vegetable shortening in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until shortening melted and tiny bubbles appear around edges. Remove from heat.

3. 3

   Place 1/4 cup white sugar and salt into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; add milk mixture. Beat on low speed until sugar is just dissolved; let stand until warm.

4. 4

   Beat in 1 cup flour, yeast mixture, and eggs on low speed until smooth. Gradually beat in remaining 3 cups flour until forms a soft dough.

5. 5

   Continue beating dough on low speed until it pulls away from the sides of the bowl, 2 to 3 minutes.

6. 6

   Turn out dough onto a well-floured work surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 2 to 3 minutes.

7. 7

   Form dough into a ball; place into a large greased bowl and grease top of dough. Cover the bowl with waxed paper and let dough rise a warm place until doubled in volume, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

8. 8

   Punch down dough; roll out on a floured work surface until 1/2-inch thick. Cut out doughnuts with a 3 1/2-inch round doughnut cutter with a 1-inch center cutter. Let doughnuts rise on the work surface until very light and fluffy, 40 to 60 minutes.

9. 9

   Heat oil in a deep fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

10. 10

    Gently pick up and carefully drop doughnuts into the hot oil in batches of 2 or 3; fry until light golden brown, flipping once, about 2 minutes. Repeat with remaining doughnuts.

11. 11

    Transfer doughnuts to paper towels to drain.

12. 12

    Combine 1 tablespoon warm water and vanilla extract in a bowl; stir in confectioners' sugar to make the glaze. Spread a thin layer of glaze over warm doughnuts.