National Doughnut Day and my grandmother's doughnut recipe.

Did you know that the first Friday in June is always National Doughnut Day?  It commemorates a time when the Salvation Army delivered coffee and doughnuts to our soldiers in WWI.  

You can find out more about the history of National Doughnut Day along with some fun Doughnut Day facts here. 

I have wonderful memories of my grandmother and  my aunt making doughnuts.  How nice it was to sit at the kitchen table and share a home made doughnut and a cup of coffee!  The smell is something I'll never forget....fresh doughnuts covered in sugar and cinnamon.  Steaming hot coffee or a glass of cold milk.  I long for those days.

Following is that special recipe from Grandma's kitchen.  It's rather simple.  You'll notice I didn't use my electric mixer.  Neither did Grandma.

 

 The recipe calls for "fat".  I remember Grandma using shortening so that's what I used.

 Of course I used one of our local eggs.

 Look at that gorgeous yellow!

 A cup of cold milk from a glass bottle.  There's nothing like it.

 Mix the dry ingredients before adding to the wet.

I found that although the recipe calls for you to roll out the dough 1/4 inch thick, I made it just a bit thicker.  You can use a doughnut cutter if you have one.  Or you can do what I did and use a cup or glass.  Use a smaller one for the hole.

While you're cutting out the first doughnuts, begin heating your oil.  Don't let it get too hot.  Medium heat worked well for me.  I used canola oil because that's what I had in the cabinet.

 The first doughnut hits the pan!

The recipe calls for two minutes.  I cooked them for about two minutes per side or until golden brown.

 It's actually quite easy.  Keep an eye on them at all times.

Use a slotted spoon or spatula to remove them from the pan.  Set them on a paper towel in order to absorb the grease.  I never said these were a healthy snack!

 

I have vivid memories of Grandma doing this.....take a paper lunch bag and put some sugar and cinnamon into it.  Add a doughnut and shake.  You can use confectioner's sugar if you'd like.

 Shake, shake, shake.

 My husband was the first to get one this morning!

 Even better with a cup of coffee.

 I was able to get 22 doughnuts from this recipe.  Of course it depends on how thick you cut the dough.

 Delicious!

If you don't have time to make your own doughnuts today, check with your local doughnut establishment today, 6/5/2015, to see if they are giving away free doughnuts.  Both Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts are, as long as you buy a beverage.  Check their websites for details.  Entemanns has partnered with the Salvation Army on National Doughnut Day this year.  Go here to find out how you can win free doughnuts for a year and help the Salvation Army!

Enjoy!