My Mom’s Raised Doughnuts

Ingredients
1 teaspoon white sugar
2 quarts of vegetable oil for frying
¾ cup milk, lukewarm
4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
⅓ cup vegetable shortening
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon warm water
1 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
¼ cup white sugar
2 (.25 ounce) packages of active dry yeast
½ cup warm water (100 to 110 degrees F/40 to 45 degrees C)

Directions :
Pour 1/2 cup of heated water into a small bowl, and mix in the yeast and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Let the yeast mixture stand until it forms a creamy foam layer on top, 5 to 10 minutes.

Put milk and vegetable shortening into a small pan over medium-low heat and cook until the shortening has dissolved and the milk has tiny bubbles around the side. Exclude from heat.

Put 1/4 cup of sugar and the salt into the work bowl of a large stand mixer and pour the milk and shortening into the bowl. Mix on low speed just to dissolve sugar, and allow the mixture to stand until warm.

Turn the dough out onto a well-floured work surface and knead until creamy and elastic,3 more minutes.

Form the dough into a ball and place it into a large greased bowl. Grease the top of the dough, and wrap the bowl with waxed paper. Place the bowl into a warm place; allow the dough to rise until doubled in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

In a bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of warm water and vanilla extract, and mix in the confectioners’ sugar to make a glaze. Paint a thin layer of glaze over the warm doughnuts.