Super Chewy Donuts

One of the things I miss most about Maryland is the FOOD!  Don't get me wrong - Texas definitely delivers when it comes to good food as well.  It's just a different kind of food I miss.  Above all, the crabs!  Second to that is the delicious Italian food found all over Baltimore.  My in-laws are amazing enough to overnight Maryland crabcakes to us in a FedEx ice-packed cooler.  As far as Italian donuts?  I make my own - and they're JUST as good as I remember in Maryland.

It's a very simple recipe.  I found a basic pizza dough recipe and instead of covering it with sauce and cheese, I deep fry hunks of the dough and roll it in sugar.  Oh sweet heavens!  These are the chewiest, most delicious donut! 

Here's what you need:

Pizza Dough:

(from my Fleishman's Best-Ever Breads Cookbook)

3-3.5 C Flour

1 Pkg Active Dry Yeast

3/4 tsp Salt

1 C warm water

2 T Olive Oil

Place 1/4 cup of the warm water in a large warm bowl.  Sprinkle in the yeast; stir until dissolved.  Add remaining water, salt, oil, and 2 cups of flour; stir well.  Stir in enough remaining flour to make soft dough. 

Knead on a lightly floured surface (or in a mixer with the dough attachment) until smooth and elastic, about 4-6 min.  Cover; let rest on floured surface 10 min. 

To make donuts:

Measure about 1/2 cup of sugar into a shallow bowl.  Line a large plate with several paper towels. 

Fill a saucepan with 3-4" of Canola oil.  Using a frying/candy thermometer, heat the oil to 370 degrees.

While the oil is heating, cut and roll the dough into small balls, about the size of a large gumball.  When the oil is ready, use a metal slotted spoon (or in my case, metal tongs) to place the dough into the oil. 

Once the dough is deep golden brown, remove it from the oil and place it on a paper towel.  Quickly toss the dough in the bowl of sugar and ENJOY!