The other day my girls were begging to make donuts so we decided to give it a go. Since it is close to Valentine’s Day we did it with a love twist. I had heart shaped cookie cutters. We used the large one to cut out the donut and then used a smaller one to cut out the donut hole in the center.

I found this Dunkin Donuts copy cat recipe in one of my cookbooks called “A Treasury of Top Secret Recipes.” I think we are going to try this one next since we all love Dunkin Donuts around here.

Donuts:

One ¼ oz package active dry yeast

2 tbsp warm water(98F)

¾ cup warm milk(about 30 seconds in microwave)

2 ½ tbsp margarine or butter

1 egg

1/3 granulated sugar

1 tsp salt

2 ¾ cups all purpose flour

Instructions:

In medium bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water

Add milk, margarine/butter, egg, sugar and salt. Blend with electric mixer until smooth

Add half the flour and mix for 30 seconds

Add remaining flour and knead the bread with flour dusted hands until smooth

Cover bowl of dough and leave in warm place until the dough doubles in size, about 1 hour.

Roll out dough on floured surface until it is about ½ inch thick.

Use cookie cutters of choice to cut out donuts and holes

Place on a cookie sheet and cover. Let stand in warm place until they double in size, about 30-45 minutes.

Heat vegetable oil in large frying pan over medium heat. Bring oil to about 350 degrees.

Fry each donut for about 30 seconds per side or until light golden brown.

Cool for about 5 minutes

Sprinkle with sugar or try the glaze

Glaze:

5 1/3 tbsp(1/3 cup) margarine or butter

2 cups powdered sugar

½ tsp vanilla extract

1/3 cup hot water

Instructions:

Combine margarine/butter with powdered sugar in medium bowl and blend with electric mixer

Add vanilla and hot water. Mix until smooth.

Dip top of cooled donuts into mixture and place on a plate until glaze firm, about 15 minutes

Enjoy!

By Jo Dempsey, busy mom of 3 girls and co-owner of Spiffymoms.com