Krofne (Bosnian Donut)

All over the Balkans krofne are made with slight differences, depending if your are In Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia or Croatia but the idea is the same - deep dried dough covered in sugar. This recipe works every time, but makes SO MANY krofne.. not that is a problem or anything/

What you need:

4 cups flour

2 tablespoons active dry yeast

3 tablespoons caster sugar

1 cup warm milk 

2 egg

4 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla sugar

1 teaspoon salt

Zest of one lemon

Vegetable oil (for frying)

Icing sugar for decorating

How to make it:

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the yeast and 1 teaspoon caster sugar in ½ cup (150 ml) warm milk and let it foam for 15 minutes.

In another large bowl, whisk the eggs, remaining caster sugar, oil and vanilla sugar until fluffy.

Add the flour to the yeast mixture and add the lemon zest.

Using the dough hook, start kneading the dough at low speed.

Gradually add the rest of the warm milk. 

Knead for 1 minute and finally add the salt.

Increase the speed of the stand mixer and knead at medium to high speed for 5 minutes.

At this stage, the dough should be sticky but compact and must come off the edges of the bowl.

Transfer the dough to a floured work surface and continue kneading by hand while rolling the dough.

If necessary, add a little flour to obtain a smooth, non-sticky dough.

Cover the dough with a cloth and let it rise for one hour at room temperature and away from drafts.

Cut 2-inch (5 cm) circles with a cookie cutter and place the circles, spaced, each on a circle of floured parchment paper.

Assemble the rest of the dough and form new donuts until all the dough is used.

Let the donuts rise for 15 minutes at room temperature and away from drafts.

Add about 6 cups of oil into a medium-sized deep-frying pan and heat to a temperature of 350 F (170 C).

Slide each circle of dough into the hot oil and fry the donuts on both sides while maintaining the oil at a temperature of 350 F (170 C) until they are golden brown.

Place the fried donuts on paper towels.

Generously sprinkle icing sugar onto the donuts.