This has been a recipe in my family for years! I remember going to grandma’s and eating these. My family loves them! I took them to work once and everyone loved them too. They taste like mini donuts at the fair with frosting. We have powdered sugared or cinnamon sugared them, but simple powdered sugar icing is my favorite (mostly because that’s what I grew up with).
You do need a little bit of specialized equipment for this. It uses a donut dropper. I’ve used this one from NorPro, but my original well-used one is all metal (I just ordered a new one on Amazon and will update with a link if it’s decent=see update below). My only complaint with the NorPro one is that I don’t like the way it comes apart for cleaning. There is one TINY nut you remove at the bottom of the plunger, I’m always afraid I am going to lose that! On my original, the top piece of the plunger unscrewed so it’s harder to lose. *Note: I make nothing off of these links.
UPDATE: Here is the dropper I ordered, I really like it! It’s slightly different shaped than my original, but it’s sturdy and well built. The ‘grips’ are slightly different (where your other fingers grip that aren’t pushing the plunger down), but I’m sure I’ll get used to it. It comes apart very similar to my original one for cleaning (by removing the top piece on plunger)
Also, they are fried-I tend to use a Fry Daddy and fry around 3 of them at a time. Toward the end as I cannot get any full donuts out I dump all of the batter onto a plate and use my cookie scoop to drop the dough in for donut ‘holes’. My grandma uses a square electric skillet (with sides). I am guessing she sets the temperature around 350 but I don’t know for sure. She fries 4-6 donuts at a time but usually makes a double batch so there are enough when everyone one comes to visit. 🙂
Grandma Clark's Fried Donuts
A tasty donut that is better than mini donuts and easy.
Ingredients
1 cup granulated sugar
1 3/4-2 tsp nutmeg
1 1/4 tsp salt
3/4-1 tsp cinnamon
3 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp liquid shortening or vegetable oil
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs beaten
1 cup milk
3 cups flour
Icing
2 cups powdered sugar
1-2 Tbsp milk
Directions
1. Mix sugar, spices, salt, and baking powder
2. Add shortening and vanilla; mix
3. Add milk and flour; mix
4. In a separate bowl, whisk powdered sugar. Add 1-2 Tbsp of milk until desired thickness (I have mine on the thin side as it thickens as it sits)
5. Heat oil in fryer (I use a Fry Daddy but my grandma used a small square electric frying pan set to around 350)
6. Drip into hot oil using donut dropper (if mixture is too thick-add a bit of milk… if mixture is too thin-add a bit of flour)
7. Fry in oil turning just after first cracks start to appear-be careful not to crowd (I use a metal tongs to turn but I know some use a chopstick or skewer)
8. Fry until brown.
9. Remove and place on either a drying rack or brown paper bag to drain oil.
10. Ice while warm (but not too hot!) with powdered sugar icing (I use a spoon to drizzle on icing) or once mostly cooled coat with powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar.
11. Enjoy!!!
Redheaded baker 