YEAST- RAISED REFRIGERATOR DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• place shortening, sugar, salt, mace, lemon zest (if using) in a small bowl and pour over boiling water.
• Stir until sugar dissolves and shortening melts.
• Mix in evaporated milk and cool until warm (110-115°F).
• Sprinkle yeast over very warm water in large bowl.
• Stir until yeast is dissolved.
• Mix in the cooled shortening mixture into the yeast; beat in eggs.
• Add 4 cups of flour and beat hard with electric mixer at high speed 1-2 minutes or until smooth.
• SLOWLY beat in enough of the remaining 3 1/2 cups of flour to make a very soft dough (IT WILL BE STICKY).
• Place dough in large, well-buttered bowl, then turn dough in bowl to grease all over.
• Lay a piece of buttered wax paper on top of dough, then cover bowl with a lid.
• Place in refrigerator for 4-5 hours or until needed (it will rise as it stands in refrigerator).
• Add enough oil into deep fat fryer to a depth of 3 inches and heat to 360°F.
• BE CAREFUL PLEASE.
• Take out whatever amount of dough you need (1/3 of the dough should yield about 10 doughnuts) and roll out on floured board with floured rolling pin.
• Cut with 3" doughnut cutter and let stand at room temperature for 15-20 minutes.
• Fry doughnuts in oil, no more than 2-3 at a time (with their holes).
• Cook for 1 1/2 minutes per side (the holes will cook faster) or until they are rich caramel brown.
• Drain on crumpled paper towels as they come from the hot oil.
• Cool to almost room temperature and if desired, dip quickly in glaze (for the glaze: blend together confectioners sugar, boiling water, and lemon juice).
• Let them drip-dry on wire rack set over waxed paper.
• •or roll in sugar or cinnamon sugar.
• **if you don't have a doughnut cutter, use a 3-inch biscuit cutter and a smaller biscuit cutter to make the center hole.