Apple Loukoumades: Greek style apple doughnuts

​Makes about 20

For the starter:
½ cup lukewarm water
½ cup lukewarm milk
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
½ teaspoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon all-purpose flour

¾ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup corn starch
1 tablespoon sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and chopped

1-quart Vegetable oil for frying
4 cups confectioners’ sugar plus 1-2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon

Combine the starter ingredients in a mixing bowl. Set aside for about 10 minutes until yeast is activated. Once a puffy cloud appears over the liquid, the yeast is active.

Combine the flour, sugar, corn starch, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl and whisk to combine the ingredients.

Pour the flour mixture into the yeast mixture and whisk until the batter is smooth and all of the lumps disappear. Whisk in the vanilla extract.
Cover the bowl and allow to rest and rise at room temperature for 1 hour.
Add the chopped apples to the batter.

Heat the oil to 375 °F.
Drop spoonfuls of the batter into the hot oil and fry until golden on all sides for about 3-5 minutes. A mini ice cream scoop is great for this step.

Transfer the loukoumades onto a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil.

Combine the confectioners’ sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl and whisk to combine.

Toss the apple loukoumades in the cinnamon sugar while still warm and serve immediately.