Raised Jelly-filled Doughnuts

When we first got the bread machine as newlyweds, we used to love the delay-start feature where we can dump all the ingredients, set the time when we want it ready and forget about it. Usually, we program it on Friday nights to wake up to the delicious aroma of fresh-baked bread to start off the weekend.

Over the years, the bread machine has become sort of a second-class citizen in my kitchen. We still try to use it on and off and some of the breads turn out wonderful as always.

However, D and I have glanced at this recipe for raised doughnuts in the bread machine recipes book on and off but never felt motivated to try it until recently. It uses only ¼ cup sugar for about a dozen doughnuts, plus dusting with powdered sugar when hot makes it juicy and almost glazed, and it is very easy to make.

This here is a bread machine recipe, but, if preferred, can hand-knead it and allow to rise in a warm place before the second rising. We got about a dozen 4-inch doughnuts with this recipe.

Ingredients
2/3 cup milk
¼ cup water
¼ cup softened butter
1 egg
3 cups all purpose flour
¼ cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2½ teaspoon rapid rise yeast
Vegetable oil for frying
Confectioner's sugar for dusting (optional)
strawberry preserves for filling (optional)

Preparation

1. Place all the ingredients in the bread machine, allow it to do its thing in the Dough cycle
2. Roll the dough to about 3/8 inch thick on a lightly floured surface; cut out with a doughnut cutter or into rounds if filling with jelly
3. Cover and let it rise for about 45 mins in a reasonably warm place till slightly raised
4. Heat 2-3 inches of oil in a pan to 375°F
5. Fry 2 or 3 doughnuts at a time, depending on how big you decided to make them, allowing them to rise to the top and turning them to ensure golden brown on both sides (I was distracted by the wee one and let a few of them get from delicate russet to pure bistre)
6. Drain on a wire rack and dust some powdered sugar while warm if desired
7. Also, with an injector or pastry pipe filled with your favorite fruit preserve, gently poke a hole and fill just a bit