Gogoși (Romanian doughnuts)

Ingredients

• 1 kg flour
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 40 g fresh yeast
• 250 ml milk
• 120 g powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 eggs
• 120 g butter
• zest of 1 unwaxed lemon or 2 vials vanilla essence
• 1500 ml oil for frying
• 60 g sugar or powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Preparation

1. Warm 30 ml milk in the microwave for 15 seconds, until lukewarm. Mix it with the yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar, cover the bowl and leave the yeast mixture for 10 minutes, until foamy. 2. Melt the butter in the microwave for 30 seconds, until liquid. 3. Put the flour in a large bowl and make a well in the middle. Add the eggs, powdered sugar, salt, lemon zest or vanilla essence, the remaining 220 ml milk, melted butter and yeast mixture. Knead for 10 minutes, until the dough comes together. 4. Cover the bowl with a clean towel and leave the dough to rise for 60 minutes, until doubled in size. 5. Dust the work surface with flour and roll out the dough to about 1.5 cm thick. Cut out rounds with a glass and leave them on a board, covered, for 20 minutes. 6. Heat the oil in a saucepan to 170°C. Fry the doughnuts in batches, for about 2 minutes on each side and 24 minutes in total, until golden brown. 7. Transfer them to paper towels to drain. Dust with sugar or powdered sugar mixed with cinnamon.