Raised Donuts

My mom made the best raised donuts.  And she put mashed potatoes in them.  So when I was a kid and we had leftover mashed potatoes I always asked her if she was going to make donuts.  Of course once she started working full time, we didn't see too many homemade donuts.  This makes 55-60 donuts, and they do not keep well.  So I have made a half of batch and it worked.  Also the funny thing in the recipe is for the yeast, she used cake yeast and it says "about 12 cents worth of Bakers yeast".

Raised Donuts

Ingredients

1 cup mashed potatoes
4 eggs, well beaten
1 cup milk, scalded and cool
1 cup warm water
2 Tbsp active dry yeast (the recipe originally calls for 3 squares yeast)
9 cups flour
1 cup shortening
5 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla

Directions

Add sugar to scalded milk, cool, add warm water.  When temperature is 105-110 degrees add the yeast.  Let set about 5 minutes.

In the meantime beat eggs and add the mashed potatoes, shortening and 2 cups flour.  Add this to the liquid mixture.  Add the salt, vanilla and remainder of the flour.

Roll out on a floured surface to about 1/2 inch thick.  Can lay on a lightly floured board or dishtowel to raise.  Cover with dishtowel.  Raise about 1 hour.

Fry in hot oil (about 360-370 degrees)  turning once to brown on both sides.

These donuts can be glazed with the following glaze or dipped in sugar.

Glaze
1 lb. powdered sugar
1 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup melted butter
Hot water

Mix everything except hot water.  Add water to make a cream like glaze.

Glaze donuts while hot.