Granny’s Doughnuts: A Taste of Tradition
I might turn down a slice of blueberry cheesecake or even a decadent chocolate cake, but I can never resist a warm, classic doughnut.
My husband always finds this amusing since he’s more into rich desserts. But deep down, I’m just a doughnut lover. As a child, one of my favorite tasks was delivering eggs to our next-door neighbor, Mrs. Dewey. Since my brother and I were terrified of backyard chickens, we were the perfect candidates for the egg delivery. Mrs. Dewey, who reminded me of my grandmother, always made the best doughnuts, and she would sneak me one every time I stopped by. My brother, knowing this, would occasionally tag along just for a bite.
But no doughnut could ever top my mom’s. She had perfected the recipe passed down from my grandmother. I recently found a recipe online that brought back all those nostalgic flavors of my childhood. If you’re looking to discover more classic recipes, you can explore a whole collection here.
Ingredients You’ll Need
To recreate these delicious doughnuts, you’ll need a few simple ingredients:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon shortening
- 1 cup sour milk (see note)
- 6 cups flour
Each of these ingredients plays a crucial role in achieving that perfect soft, moist doughnut texture. For example, using sour milk can make a big difference. Learn more about why it’s essential to baking here.
Easy Step-by-Step Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, nutmeg, baking soda, salt, eggs, sour milk, and shortening.
- Gradually add enough flour to form a dough that can be easily rolled out.
- Roll the dough on a floured surface and cut with a doughnut cutter.
- Heat shortening to 375°F and fry the doughnuts, turning occasionally, until golden brown.
- Drain the doughnuts on crumpled paper towels and cool slightly before dusting with powdered sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, or glazing (see recipe below).
Note: To make sour milk, add 1
tablespoon of vinegar to 1 cup of fresh milk and let it sit for a few minutes. This will help achieve the right texture for your doughnuts.
White Doughnut Glaze
For the perfect finish, here’s a simple glaze recipe:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 to 6 tablespoons milk
Mix the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until you reach your desired consistency. If it’s too thick, add a little more milk; if it’s too thin, thicken it up with extra powdered sugar. Drizzle over cooled doughnuts for that classic sweet coating.
Making doughnuts at home is a wonderful way to recreate the warm, nostalgic flavors of childhood. Whether you choose to dust them with sugar or drizzle them with glaze, these doughnuts are bound to become a family favorite.
For more inspiration on classic recipes or to dive deeper into baking techniques, check out this amazing guide on baking essentials here. Happy baking!