Fried Dough

Fried Dough Recipe by Steve and Rhonda Woodman
Here’s an under-appreciated fun-fact for any “BoSox” fans among us. The next time you come to Boston’s Fenway Park, take a moment to gaze at the old Green Monster scoreboard. If you look closely at the American League Scores section you’ll see that two of the vertical, white columns contain dots and dashes. This is Morse code for “TAY ” and “JRY,” the initials of Thomas Austin Yawkey, the longest team owner in Red Sox history, and his wife, Jean Remington Yawkey, who was the first woman to serve as a director of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Since life is full of surprises, here’s another under-appreciated fun-fact. You don’t need to find a fried dough stand at the ballpark or a beach or carnival to enjoy one of the world’s great “guilty pleasures.” Instead just use this EASY recipe to make it at home. That’s what Steve and Rhonda Woodman’s family like to do on Christmas night when they make six to eight loaves!

Friend Dough Ingredients

1 loaf of frozen bread dough

2 ½ pounds of lard or shortening

2 tablespoons olive oil

How to Make Fried Dough

Rub olive oil over the frozen dough with your hand. Next place dough in a big bowl and cover with a clean, wet dishtowel. Once thawed allow the dough to rise for 3 – 4 hours. Melt the lard or shortening in a 12-inch fry pan and heat the oil to 325˚F (oil should be 1 inch deep in the pan).

After dough has risen take a piece of dough off of the loaf. Pull apart with your fingers. Next stretch dough from the edges rolling it out with your thumbs and fingers until somewhat thin (trying not to make holes in it.). Carefully place (do not drop!) the stretched dough into the pan. Be careful not to spatter hot oil. Cook until golden brown then flip over with tongs and cook the other side until golden brown. Yields 6 to 8 servings per loaf.

Recipe Note: Serve with maple syrup, butter, cinnamon sugar, confectioner’s sugar … individually or all together.

If you’ve enjoyed this recipe for fried dough make sure to check out our new cookbook for more easy and delicious recipes!