Plain Doughnuts

Name: Plain Doughnuts
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H50M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT3H5M0.000S
Yield: 16 doughnuts
Ingredients: 1 cup whole milk; 2 tablespoons sugar; 1 teaspoon salt; One 1/4-ounce package active dry yeast (2 1/2 teaspoons); 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more for oiling and frying; 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest; 2 large eggs, lightly beaten; 3 1/2 to 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for sprinkling and flouring

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Level: Intermediate

Total: 3 hr 5 min (includes rising and standing time)
Active: 50 min

Yield: 16 doughnuts

Level: Intermediate

Total: 3 hr 5 min (includes rising and standing time)
Active: 50 min

Yield: 16 doughnuts

Ingredients

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1 cup whole milk

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

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

2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more for oiling and frying

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

3 1/2 to 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for sprinkling and flouring

Directions

Special equipment:

1-inch and 2-inch round cutters

Bring the milk to a simmer in a 1-quart heavy saucepan, then remove from the heat and stir in the sugar and salt. Pour into a large bowl and let cool slightly.
While the milk is cooling, dissolve the yeast in 2 tablespoons warm water in a small bowl, stirring. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Stir the yeast mixture into the milk mixture along with the oil, lemon zest and eggs. Stir in 2 1/2 cups of the flour with a wooden spoon to make a very soft dough. Spread 1 cup of the flour on a work surface and put the dough on top, scraping it from the bowl with a rubber spatula. Knead the dough for about 5 minutes, incorporating all of the flour from the work surface and adding just enough additional flour (if necessary); the dough should be slightly sticky. Transfer the dough to an oiled large bowl and sprinkle lightly with additional flour. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let the dough rise in a warm draft-free place until doubled in bulk, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and roll out with a floured rolling pin until 1 inch thick. Cut out rounds with a 2-inch cutter. To make ring shapes, cut out doughnut holes with a 1-inch cutter. Place on a baking sheet, cover the doughnuts with another kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.
While the doughnuts rise, heat about 10 cups vegetable oil in a deep 4-quart pot until it registers 365 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer. Fry the doughnuts 2 at a time, turning once or twice, until puffed and golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per batch. Transfer to paper towels to drain.