Applesauce Doughnuts/donuts

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup applesauce
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons shortening
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• vegetable oil, for frying
• cinnamon-sugar mixture

Recipe

• 1 beat 1-1/3 cups of the flour and remaining ingredients (except oil and cinnamon/sugar mixture)with an electric mixer on low speed, until just blended.
• 2 stir in remaining flour and beat on medium speed for an additional 2 minutes.
• 3 cover dough and refrigerate for about 1 hour (dough should be stiff after refrigeration).
• 4 heat 2 to 3 inches of vegetable oil in a fryer or heavy (3 quart) saucepan to 375°f (for perfect doughnuts use a themometer).
• 5 divide dough in half and roll each half out on a well floured pastry board to 3/8" thick. cut with a well floured doughnut cutter, or use a 3" cup and a clean pop bottle lid for the center.
• 6 carefully slide cut doughnuts into hot oil, using a wide spatula. cook 2 or 3 doughnuts at a time, so as not to lower the tempeture of the oil too much. fry 1 to 1-1/2 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
• 7 carefully remove from the oil (do not prick) and drain on papertowels.
• 8 if desired, sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar mixture while still hot.