Portzelky (new Year's Cookies)

Total Time: 3 hrs Preparation Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 cup lukewarm water
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 cups raisins (or as many as you would like)
• 3 egg yolks
• 3 egg whites, beaten
• 3 cups flour
• oil (for deep frying)

Recipe

• 1 dissolve sugar in lukewarm water in a small bowl. sprinkle with yeast and let stand.
• 2 combine milk, water, salt, sugar, baking powder, and raisins in a large bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer.
• 3 beat in egg yolks and yeast.
• 4 stir in flour to make a heavy (rather stiff) batter.
• 5 fold in egg whites.
• 6 cover and set in a warm place until well risen (at least double in bulk). this should take about 2 hours. the end result is a fairly sticky dough.
• 7 drop by tablespoonfuls into hot oil (375f) and fry until golden brown.