Fast nachts, Faschtnachts, Fashnachts

"FAST NACHT KUCHEN" (DOUGHNUTS)
3 tablespoons honey.
3/4 quart milk.
2 quarts flour.
1 yeast cake.
1/2 cup butter.
2 eggs.
Without fail, every year on Shrove Tuesday, or "Fast Nacht," the day before the beginning of Lent, these cakes were made. Quite early in the morning, or the night before, the following sponge was set to rise: The lukewarm, scalded milk, mixed into a smooth batter with 1 quart of flour; add 1 Fleischman's yeast cake, dissolved in a very little water. Beat well together, set in a warm place to rise over night, or several hours, and when light, add the following, which has been creamed together: eggs, butter and lard, a little flour and the honey. Beat well, and then add the balance of the flour, reserving a small quantity to flour the board later. Set to rise again, and when quite light roll out on a well-floured board, cut into circles with a doughnut cutter, cut holes in the centre of cakes, let rise, and then fry in deep fat; dust with pulverized sugar and cinnamon, if liked. These are regular German doughnuts, and are never very sweet If liked sweeter, a little sugar may be added. From this batter Mary- made 18 "fried cakes,' or "Fast Nacht Kuchen," as the Germans call them. She also made from the same dough one dozen cinnamon buns and two Dutch cakes. The dough not being very sweet, she sprinkled rivels composed of sugar, flour and butter, generously over the top of the "Dutch cakes." The dough for doughnuts, or fried cakes, should always have a little more flour added than dough for "Dutch cakes" or buns; baked in the oven. If too soft, they will absorb fat while frying.
MARY AT THE FARM AND BOOK OF RECIPES COMPILED DURING HER VISIT AMONG THE "PENNSYLVANIA GERMANS" By Edith M. Thomas, 1915

Picture of the month: Faschtnacht making at Landis Valley Museum
Fashnacht Day Donuts
Mary at the Farm by Edith M. Thomas

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