KRISPY KREME DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Doughnut Directions:.
• Heat the milk to 100*F. You can do this in the microwave or on the stove top.
• Stir in the yeast until it is dissolved or close to dissolved.
• Transfer to a medium-sized bowl and mix in 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons of the bread flour. Stir until smooth.
• Cover the bowl (I like to use my cloth bowl covers for this) to prevent drying out and place in a warm spot to rise.
• When the batter has doubled in size (about an hour, depending on the temperature of your house), add it to a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.
• Add the egg yolks, superfine sugar, and salt. Mix on low speed until smooth.
• Mix in vanilla extract and butter until smooth.
• With the mixer running, slowly add the rest of the flour (1-1/4 cups + 2 tablespoons). Keep mixing until the batter just comes together into a smooth dough. It will be quite wet and sticky, but should be able to hold together as one "lump" of dough. If not, add a bit more flour, one tablespoon at a time.
• Lift the ball of dough up and brush the bottom of the bowl lightly with vegetable oil.
• Cover the bowl again and place in a warm spot to rise.
• Once the dough has doubled in size (another hour or so), refrigerate it for 15 minutes. This will make it easier to roll out.
• On a well-floured surface, gently roll out the dough to about 3/8" to 1/2" thickness.
• Use cookie cutters to stamp out whatever shapes you like. I used a 3 1/2" circle for the large doughnuts with a 1-1/4" hole. For the minis, I used a 1-1/2" circle with a 15/16" hole (all of these cutters come in the same set). Save the holes to fry up as well, or roll the batter out again to make more doughnuts.
• Place the stamped dough on a parchment- or Silpat-lined cookie sheet, cover with plastic, and allow to rise again in a warm spot.
• Once the doughnuts are almost doubled in size (another hour or so), heat oil in a large pot or deep fryer until it reaches 360*F. I strongly prefer to fry in a deep fryer. It keeps everything so much cleaner and perfectly regulates the temperature.
• Fry the doughnuts in batches until golden brown on each side (you'll need to flip them mid-fry). The total frying time will be under 2 minutes. Use tongs to flip and retrieve them.
• Set hot doughnuts on paper towels to absorb extra oil.
• Glaze Directions:.
• Mix all ingredients in a small bowl until smooth.
• Drizzle over piping hot doughnuts.
• Note: If necessary, to reheat doughnuts in the microwave for about twenty seconds.