Applejack Donuts

Description: When I was little, my Dad would do my Mom a favor and run to the local bakery and pick up donuts and pastries for the kids so she wouldn't have to deal with breakfast; did he ever think about the sugar rush? Never mind; the teachers had to deal with that! The bakery he went to served donuts they called applejacks, and I always loved them way more than the chocolate covered cream filled yeast donuts! They also served superb bear claws and apple fritters! This is as close as I can come to their "applejack" recipe. They were always still warm when we got them from Daddy's truck into our stomachs! Yummy breakfast treats for weekends or vacations!

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon shortening
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1 large egg
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Steps:

1. Beat the shortening and brown sugar at medium speed of an electric mixer until blended.
2. Add the applesauce and egg; beat well.
3. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon.
4. Add to the shortening mixture. Beat well.
5. Roll the dough to 1/2 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.
6. Cut the dough with a floured 2-1/2 inch doughnut cutter.
7. Pour the oil to a depth of 2 inches in a large Dutch oven.
8. Heat oil to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
9. Drop in 3 to 4 doughnuts at a time.
10. Cook 1-1/2 minutes on each side.
11. Drain on paper towels.
12. Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon.
13. Roll the doughnuts in cinnamon-sugar mixture.
14. Cool on wire racks.