Italian Doughnuts

Nana Lee's Note:

Talk about easy...this couldn't be easier, unles, of course, you bought them! And who doesn't like homemade doughnuts. Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis, Episode#: SR0101. See this recipe on air Sunday Nov. 27, 2005 at 5:00 PM ET/PT.

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 9

• 1 lb prepared pizza dough
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• vegetable oil, for deep-frying
• olive oil, for deep-frying

Directions:

1. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/2-inch thickness.
2. If you have a donut cutter useit, at least 2 inch diameter.
3. If no donut cutter,use a floured 2-inch cookie cutter, cut out doughnut rounds.
4. Then use a floured 1-inch cookie cutter, cut out a hole in the center of each doughnut.
5. Gather the dough scraps and reroll.
6. Cut out more doughnuts.
7. Whisk the sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl to blend.
8. Set the cinnamon-sugar aside.
9. Pour equal parts of vegetable oil and olive oil into a large frying pan to reach a depth of 2 inches.
10. Heat the oil over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 375ºF.
11. Working in batches, fry the doughnuts until they puff but are still pale, about 45 seconds per side.
12. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the doughnuts to paper towels to drain.
13. Cool slightly.
14. While the doughnuts are still warm, generously coat each 2 times with the cinnamon-sugar.
15. Serve warm.
16. Alternately, cool the fried doughnuts to room temperature.
17. Stir 3 ounces of milk chocolate and 1/4 cup of whipping cream in a heavy small saucepan over medium-low heat until the chocolate melts.
18. Set aside until the chocolate sauce comes to room temperature but does not set.
19. Dip 1 side of each doughnut into the chocolate mixture.
20. Sprinkle with finely chopped toasted almonds or crushed espresso beans and set aside until the chocolate is set.

Reviews

[SugarBritches22]

I was so hunkering for some doughnuts this evening, but DID NOT the hassle of making the dough. Found this recipe and decided to try it. I used a canned pizza dough I had and just cut the roll in 1/2 inch slices, poked a hole in the middle, threw them in the deep fryer for a few minutes, and VOILA...DOUGHNUTS! I would have taken a picture, but they were eaten as fast as I could make them! I would have never quessed pizza dough could come out so good! Thanks for the recipe...even my husband was amazed! LOL