Italian Donuts

I saw this recipe on Everyday Italitan with Giada Di Laurentis and have been thinking about it ever since. I love homemade donuts, but I just never feel like waking up early to make them! This seems like the perfect solution.

• Ready In: 12 mins
• Serves: 18
• Yields: 18 donuts

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 cups  vegetable oil, for frying
• 1 1⁄2 cups olive oil, for frying
• 1  lb  prepared  pizza dough
• 3⁄4 cup sugar
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Pour equal parts of vegetable oil and olive oil into a large frying pan to reach a depth of 2 inches. Heat the oil over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 375 degrees F.
2. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/2-inch thickness. Using a floured 2-inch cookie cutter, cut out doughnut rounds. Using a floured 1-inch cookie cutter, cut out a hole in the center of each doughnut. Gather the dough scraps and re-roll to cut out more doughnuts.
3. Whisk the sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl to blend. Set the cinnamon-sugar aside.
4. When the oil is hot, working in batches, fry the doughnuts until they puff but are still pale, about 45 seconds per side. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the doughnuts to paper towels to drain. Cool slightly. While the doughnuts are still warm, add to the bowl with cinnamon-sugar and generously coat each 2 times with the cinnamon-sugar. Serve warm.
5. Alternately, cool the fried doughnuts to room temperature. Stir 3 ounces milk chocolate and 1/4 cup whipping cream in a heavy small saucepan over medium-low heat until the chocolate melts. Set aside until the chocolate sauce comes to room temperature but does not set. Dip 1 side of each doughnut into the chocolate mixture. Sprinkle with finely chopped toasted almonds or crushed espresso beans and set aside until the chocolate is set.