Homemade Potato Donut Recipe

Garage sales, Christmas, and potato donuts!  If you asked me what comes to mind when I think of my Great-Grandma Deml, that is it!  Garage sales, Christmas, and potato donuts!  First of all, I can remember as a child, heading over to her house for her infamous garage sales.  The amount of "stuff" was unbelievable, and I felt so cool when I was able to help her collect money from the customers.  

Secondly, Christmas decorations were no joke to Grandma Deml.  For years, I could tell people just where she lived by referring to the "house with all the Christmas decorations."  And they knew exactly what house I was talking about.  Her lights didn't just light up her house, they lit up that whole side of town.  She always had so much fun around Christmas time and her smile was just as bright as her decorations!  Check out Grandma Deml rocking her new Green Bay Packer Cheese Head back in 2010.

And finally, her potato donuts.  When we heard grandma was coming over with fresh donuts, our mouths would begin to water.  So light and fresh, you had to get one quick before they were gone.  As time passed by, the sad reality hit me that Grandma Deml wouldn't always be there.  I made it my mission to carry on some of her "legacies."  And one of them is her Homemade Potato Donut Recipe.  

Grandma and I made a donut date.  She told me I had to be there by the crack of dawn.  When I walked in, she was already bustling around the kitchen getting things prepared.  She rarely sat down to take break, so I knew I was in for a fun, busy day.  She handed me her hand-written recipe and told me to get started.

I stared at it dumbfounded.  How on earth was I supposed to whip up her Homemade Potato Donut Recipe with a list of eight ingredients and ZERO directions?  She noticed my confusion and immediately got to work.  I, on the other hand, grabbed a notebook and pen and started taking notes.  Clearly, I needed a bit more guidance than her original recipe gave me.  

I still think back on that day and smile.  When we had a moment that we were not tending to the donuts, she had me cleaning a light fixture or folding laundry.  But, as busy as we were, the conversation was always entertaining and the memories made were priceless.  Each time I make these donuts, I picture her small hands kneading the dough and her tireless determination to get every last piece of that dough into the fryer.  I can only hope that she is smiling down from her heavenly home, watching me pass her traditions on to my own children.  After all, it didn't take long for them to fall in love with her donuts too!

Now it is your turn.  Grandma Deml's Homemade Potato Donut Recipe is waiting for you!  But don't worry, I have kindly included my notes to make the process a bit easier : )  I hope you enjoy them as much as we do, and I hope you make memories just as precious as mine!

Ingredients for Homemade Potato Donut Recipe:

• 2 cups mashed potatoes (approximately 4 medium potatoes and 1/2 cup milk)
• 2 cups milk
• 4 tbsp active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 8 1/2 cups flour
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil, plus 2 tbsp

Directions for Homemade Potato Donut Recipe:

• Combine 3/4 cup warm milk with dry yeast. Stir to help dissolve.  Let sit.

• Prepare mashed potatoes by peeling and cutting potatoes into quarters.
• Boil potatoes until tender.
• Using a hand mixture, whipped potatoes with 1/2 cup milk.

• Allow potatoes to cool.
• In a large bowl, combine mashed potatoes, 1 1/4 cups warm milk, sugar, and salt.  Use your hands to mix.
• When combined, add melted butter and mix again.  

• In a small bowl, beat eggs.  Once beaten, add to potato mixture.  Mix together with hands.
• Add milk and yeast mixture and mix together with hands.
• Finally, add flour.  Work flour into dough until well-mixed.  
• Form dough into a large ball and remove it from bowl.
• Pour 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in the bottom of the bowl. Place dough in the oil.  Work the oil through the dough.
• Once again, form dough into a ball and then push it into the bottom of the bowl.

• Cover bowl with a thicker kitchen towel.  Set in a place that is warm and where it will not get disturbed.  Dough will rise, but the exact time that it will take is unknown.  Factors include room temperature and age/quality of yeast.  
• When dough has grown to twice its original size, “punch” it back down. (literally)

• Cover with a towel again until it doubles in size for a second time.  Now it is time to fry!

• In a large skillet, heat 1 1/2 cups oil to about 360-375 degrees.
• While oil is heating, roll a chunk of dough on a floured surface to about 1/2” thick.

• Using a large and small donut cutter, cut donuts out.  If desired, keep the middles to fry as donut holes.

• Place cut out donuts into heated oil.  Fry on each side for about 2 minutes or until golden brown.

• When done, place on a plate that is lined with paper towel.
• Remaining dough can be combined and rolled out again.

Ingredients for Donut Icing:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 1/2-2 tbsp milk

Directions for Donut Icing:

• Whisk powdered sugar and icing together until smooth.  
• • If icing is too thick, add a bit more milk.
• • If icing is too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar.
• Dip donuts into icing and finish them with sprinkles.