Prepare Potato

The first step in making these donuts is to make the mashed potatoes or use left over mashed potatoes. Place peeled and sliced russet potato in a medium pot covered with water and boil until potatoes become fork tender. Drain water from potatoes, place potatoes back into pot and mash until smooth. Remove one cup of mashed potatoes and place into a large bowl.

Make Donut Dough

Add beaten eggs, softened butter, and sugar to mashed potatoes and blend together. I used my stand mixer with the paddle. Slowly add scalded milk to mixture and slowly beat until thinned. Add yeast to mixture and stir to combine. Allow to rest for a minute or two. Then add salt and slowly add a cup of flour at a time until the mixture begins to thicken. Then remove paddle from the mixer and replace with the dough hook. Continue adding up to a total of 4 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour. The mixture will be very sticky. If desired add up to 1/4 cup additional flour. When all ingredients are combined mix for about 3-minutes. Turn mixer off and remove dough hook and cover mixing bowl with a damp towel and allow dough to rise to about double in size. Then punch dough and prepare for a second rise.

Prepare For Second Rise

Place 1 Tablespoon olive oil on counter top or smooth surface and spread out. Remove dough from mixing bowl and knead on counter for about one minute. Prepare a bowl with olive oil and then place dough in bowl and cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise until doubled.

Roll Out Dough

Remove dough onto floured surface. Spread dough out with fingers to gently remove air bubbles. Sprinkle top of dough with flour and roll dough out to about 1/2-inch thickness. Cut into round shapes with a donut/biscuit cutter. Carefully lift up and separate cut out dough and holes and place on a sheet of parchment paper. Then cut parchment around each donut and set aside.

Deep Fry Donuts

Prepare a cookie sheet with cooling rack and set aside. Place peanut oil into a 6-Quart Dutch oven about 3-inches deep and place pot onto a portable induction cooktop. Heat oil to 360 degrees Fahrenheit. I like using the induction cooktop when heating oil as the temperature will hold at desired temperature of 360 degrees Fahrenheit without having to use a cooking thermometer. Fry two donuts at a time. Take a piece of dough on parchment and carefully dip parchment into hot oil to release sticky dough, remove and discard parchment and allow dough to fry until golden brown on both sides. Carefully remove golden brown donuts with a stainless steel slotted spoon and transfer to the cookie sheet with cooling rack. Tip: dipping parchment with dough into hot oil helps donut to keep its shape.