Easy Homemade Jelly Donuts

I never attempted making donuts at home because I thought they were difficult to make.  When I found out how easy they were to make, I just had to try them.  My first effort was strawberry filled donuts.  Delicious and hot, right out of the fryer is the best way to eat them, but they're good any time.  Here's the easy recipe.  You can try different combinations as you become more comfortable working with yeast and frying food.

Ingredients

1 Cup warm water
2 1/4 tsp yeast
3 T. sugar
1T. brandy
1egg
lemon zest
1 1/2 tsp oil
3 cups flour

Dissolve the yeast in water, add all the other ingredients.  I did the whole thing in a zip lock bag, which made it super easy.  Seal the bag, then use your hands to mix (knead) the mixture.  (The dough is inside the bag at this point.  Place the bag of dough in a bowl of warm water for 30 minutes.  Then, take the dough out and place on a floured board.  Roll out and us glass or cutter to cut the doughnuts.  Do not cut a hole in the middle.  Just cut circles.  Let the cut dough circles rest for 20 minutes.  Then, put some oil in a fry pan, and place the dough in the pan, frying for about 1 minute, or until golden brown, on one side, then turn and do the other side.  Remove from pan and drain.  Then, put jam or other filling in a bottle with a plastic tip on top, and make a small hole in each donut and squeeze in the filling.  Dust with powdered sugar, and voila, you have delicious homemade donuts in no time at all.