Apple Cider Donuts

Apple Cider Donuts - delicious hot on a cold day!

INGREDIENTS~

1 cup apple cider

1 cup sugar

1/4 vegetable shortening

2 eggs

1/2 cup buttermilk

3.5 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp nutmeg

vegetable oil

STEPS~

Boil 1 cup of cider in sauce pan until reduced to 1/4 cup, then set aside to cool about 10 min's

In large bowl, beat sugar with shortening until smooth

Add eggs to sugar mixture, mixing completely

Add buttermilk and room temperature cider to sugar mixture, mixing completely

In medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt

Add dry ingredients into wet ingredients bowl, mix well

Lightly flour a cutting board

Cover cookie sheets with wax or parchment paper

Transfer your dough to the floured cutting board and gently pat to 1/2" thickness

Cut out donuts using a 3" donut cutter. Put them onto waxed cookie sheets

Collect donut holes and excess dough. Rework to 1/2" thick and cut out more donuts

Store donuts in refrigerator at least 20 minutes to harden them up

Set out some plates lined with paper towels

Fill a frying pan 3/4ths full with cooking oil

Heat until it starts to bubble. Maintain minimum heat to keep it bubbling. Don't go any hotter.

Using a spatula, gently drop some donuts into the oil. Flip them over at 2 minutes to cook the other side. Remove from heat when browned and cooked thoroughly, about another 2 min's

Lift donuts out of pan and set onto paper towel lined plates.

Start up another batch and keep going until the dough is all used up.

Put some cinnamon and sugar into a ziplock bag. Add a few warm donuts and gently shake. Put donuts onto wire rack for further cooling.

You've got to try one while it's still hot! Oh, boy, they are good!