County Fair Cinnamon Fried Dough

When my husband Ed and I were first dating, we enjoyed going to carnivals. In typical fashion, he enjoyed winning stuffed animals for me and we always shared a fried dough while we were there. He has always asked if I would make some for him at home. He finally got his wish. Growing up, fried dough was a welcome treat when making pizza at home. My dad would save a bit of the dough to fry up for us and dust with powdered sugar. It was so popular in our Italian American household, that he would often buy extra dough from the local bakery to make fried dough for us. When Bob's Red Mill generously sent us bags of their organic flours, I knew it was the perfect time to fulfill my husband's wish. The recipe is fairly simple, I used my bread machine on the dough cycle to mix up a batch of my favorite pizza dough recipe. The recipe is courtesy of a fellow 37 Cook and foodie, Diana. I added an extra teaspoon of honey to the dough, along with some cinnamon to sweeten things up. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful weekend for my husband and I. It took us back to the early days of dating. I think I'll make it again!

County Fair Cinnamon Fried Dough
by Mary

1 cup cool water
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 teaspoons honey

Mix & let sit for 5 minutes in mixing bowl. 

(I use the bread machine to mix the dough and skip this step. If you're using a bread machine, follow the manufacturer's instructions for adding ingredients and yeast. In my case, I add wet ingredients, then dry ingredients, then yeast.)

3 1/2 cups Bob's Red Mill Organic Unbleached White Flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 Tablespoon olive oil

Add flour, cinnamon and salt to yeast mixture, mix for 3 or 4 minutes on low. Gradually add olive oil. Increase speed to medium and mix for 5 minutes. Refrigerate overnight in a greased plastic bag, punch down if dough begins to rise too much (I did refrigerate after mixing in bread machine.)

Melted Butter
Cinnamon
Powdered Sugar

The dough should have risen to double-size in the refrigerator. Remove dough from refrigerator, punch down and let sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Heat oil in saucepan on stove or deep fryer to 370°F.

Divide dough into four even pieces. Stretch out into round, flat spheres, like you would to make a pizza. Fry in hot oil until floating and golden brown. Turn over and fry the other side until golden. Remove from fryer, drain on paper towels. Brush with melted butter and dust with more cinnamon and powdered sugar. Enjoy!