
A historical dessert from The White House cook book; a comprehensive cyclopedia of information for the home .. (1913).
Preserved exactly as written in the original source
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Warm a teacupful of lard in a pint of milk
when nearly cool add enough flour to make a thick batter and add a small cupful of yeast
beat it well and set it to rise
when light work in gradually and carefully three cupfuls of sugar, the whipped whites of six eggs, half a teaspoonful of soda dissolved in a spoonful of milk, one teaspoonful of salt, a teaspoonful of ground cinnamon and half of a nutmeg grated
then work in gradually enough flour to make it stiff enough to roll out
Modern guidance to help you succeed with this vintage recipe
The combination of yeast and soda creates a dual-leavening system: yeast provides flavor and structure through slow fermentation, while baking soda gives an extra lift when the doughnuts hit hot oil. Warming the lard in milk creates an emulsion that distributes fat evenly throughout the dough, resulting in a tender crumb. The whipped egg whites folded in at the end introduce air pockets that expand during frying, creating the characteristic light, airy texture of raised doughnuts.
The initial batter can be prepared and allowed to rise overnight in the refrigerator after step 3, which actually improves flavor development. Bring to room temperature (about 1 hour) before proceeding with step 4. Shaped doughnuts can also be refrigerated on a parchment-lined baking sheet for up to 8 hours; let them come to room temperature and complete their final rise (30-45 minutes) before frying.
Raised doughnuts are best eaten the day they're made, ideally within 2-3 hours of frying. Store unfrosted doughnuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 24 hours. Do not refrigerate, as this accelerates staling. Glazed or sugared doughnuts should be stored in a single layer to prevent sticking. Day-old doughnuts can be refreshed in a 350°F oven for 3-5 minutes.
AI-generated tips from Chef Cecil's culinary database
The initial batter can be prepared and allowed to rise overnight in the refrigerator after step 3, which actually improves flavor development. Bring to room temperature (about 1 hour) before proceeding with step 4. Shaped doughnuts can also be refrigerated on a parchment-lined baking sheet for up to 8 hours; let them come to room temperature and complete their final rise (30-45 minutes) before frying.
Raised doughnuts are best eaten the day they're made, ideally within 2-3 hours of frying. Store unfrosted doughnuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 24 hours. Do not refrigerate, as this accelerates staling. Glazed or sugared doughnuts should be stored in a single layer to prevent sticking. Day-old doughnuts can be refreshed in a 350°F oven for 3-5 minutes.