Small but mighty: Try this Lassies’ Doughnut Recipe
Last updated on May 25th, 2021 at 12:15 pm
The first Friday in June is always National Doughnut Day, a day to celebrate the fluffy and delicious treat! Unlike most national food holidays, National Doughnut Day actually can trace its origins back to 1938 as a salute to the women who served doughnuts to U.S. soldiers during World War I. The Salvation Army set up a fund raiser in Chicago to help the needy during the Great Depression, and to honor the Salvation Army “Lassies” of World War I, who served doughnuts to soldiers. The Salvation Army still holds this fundraiser to this day.
This is the original Salvation Army doughnut recipe that “Lassies” used to pass out on the front lines of battle!
SALVATION ARMY LASSIES’ DOUGHNUT RECIPE
Yield: 4 dozen doughnuts
5 C flour
2 C sugar
5 tsp. baking powder
1 ‘saltspoon’ salt
2 eggs
1 3/4 C milk
1 T lard
DIRECTIONS
- Combine all ingredients (except for lard) to make dough.
- Thoroughly knead dough, roll smooth, and cut into rings that are less than 1/4 inch thick. (When finding items to cut out doughnut circles, be creative! Salvation Army doughnut girls used whatever they could find, from baking powder cans to coffee percolator tubes.)
- Drop the rings into the lard, making sure the fat is hot enough to brown the doughnuts gradually. Turn the doughnuts slowly several times.
- When browned, remove doughnuts and allow excess fat to drip off.
- Dust with powdered sugar. Let cool and enjoy.
