Italian Doughnuts

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 9
• 1 lb prepared pizza dough
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• vegetable oil, for deep-frying
• olive oil, for deep-frying

Recipe

• 1 roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/2-inch thickness.
• 2 if you have a donut cutter useit, at least 2 inch diameter.
• 3 if no donut cutter,use a floured 2-inch cookie cutter, cut out doughnut rounds.
• 4 then use a floured 1-inch cookie cutter, cut out a hole in the center of each doughnut.
• 5 gather the dough scraps and reroll.
• 6 cut out more doughnuts.
• 7 whisk the sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl to blend.
• 8 set the cinnamon-sugar aside.
• 9 pour equal parts of vegetable oil and olive oil into a large frying pan to reach a depth of 2 inches.
• 10 heat the oil over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 375ºf.
• 11 working in batches, fry the doughnuts until they puff but are still pale, about 45 seconds per side.
• 12 use a slotted spoon to transfer the doughnuts to paper towels to drain.
• 13 cool slightly.
• 14 while the doughnuts are still warm, generously coat each 2 times with the cinnamon-sugar.
• 15 serve warm.
• 16 alternately, cool the fried doughnuts to room temperature.
• 17 stir 3 ounces of milk chocolate and 1/4 cup of whipping cream in a heavy small saucepan over medium-low heat until the chocolate melts.
• 18 set aside until the chocolate sauce comes to room temperature but does not set.
• 19 dip 1 side of each doughnut into the chocolate mixture.
• 20 sprinkle with finely chopped toasted almonds or crushed espresso beans and set aside until the chocolate is set.