Build a holiday brunch around these scrumptious homemade doughnuts. A rich yeast dough is cut into rounds, filled with sweetened cottage cheese or fruit preserves, fried in oil and rolled in confectioners' sugar.
INGREDIENTS (for 2 servings):
- 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 3/4 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 egg yolks
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1/2 cup drained cottage cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
PREPARATION:
Dissolve the yeast and 2 tablespoons white sugar in the warm milk.
Sift flour into a large bowl, make a well in the center and add the yeast mixture, egg yolks, salt, nutmeg, butter and remaining sugar. Stir flour into center. Once combined turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface knead until dough is elastic. Cover and let dough rise overnight in the refrigerator.
Remove dough from the refrigerator and roll on a lightly floured surface to 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into 2 inch rounds. Cover and let rise for about 15 to 20 minutes.
In a medium bowl combine the cottage cheese, egg, 3 tablespoons white sugar and vanilla. Beat until well combined.
Form dough rounds into a ball and insert about 2 teaspoons of cheese filling into half of the rounds and 2 teaspoons of preserves into the other half.
In a heavy pot, pour in oil to about the 2 1/2 inch mark. Heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Drop sufganiot (doughnuts) into the oil, turning when browned. Drain on paper towels and roll in confectioners' sugar.