Russian Donuts With Love

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups whole milk

1 cube unsalted butter

2 tablespoons dark rum, brandy or vodka

2 tablespoons vanilla

1 teaspoon orange rind

1 teaspoon lemon rind

2 cups flour, divided

1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt

1/2 cup sugar

1 package dry yeast

3 eggs

1 pint cooking oil

Preparation

Heat milk in a saucepan. Add butter, brandy, vanilla and zests.

In a mixing bowl place 1 cup flour, salt, sugar and yeast. Add warm milk mixture to flour mixture and beat for 3 minutes. Add remaining flour and beat. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. If necessary, add a little flour to make a thick batter that drops off the spoon in sheets.

Turn dough into a warm bowl; cover with a damp cloth and let rise for one hour. Beat again, cover and let rise a second time for 30 minutes.

Fill a 2-quart saucepan with 1 pint oil and heat to frying temperature. Drop dough by teaspoons; when brown on underside, turn over and brown on second side. Drain on paper towels.

Sprinkle with brown sugar or powdered sugar.