Apple New Years Cookies (Portzelky)

My neighbor Deb sent over some of her New Years Cookies with her son who gathers eggs for us.  What a treat!    They were light and delicious and filled with apples with a hint of cinnamon.   This year I made her recipe for the non-raisin lovers in our family.   If this recipe is too large for your family, it can easily be halved.

• 1 tablespoon dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 3 cups warm water
• 3 cups milk
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 4 eggs
• 10 cups flour
• enough apples to make 4 cups peeled, cored and diced
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
•  vegetable oil for frying 

1. Sprinkle yeast and sugar over warm water in a large bowl.
2. Warm together milk, butter and water until it is lukewarm and then add it to the yeast mixture.
3. Beat the eggs and stir into the liquids with sugar. 
4. Stir in the flour, one cup at a time to make a stiff dough.
5. Divide into several containers if necessary and let rise until doubled.   
6. Combine apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
7. When the dough has risen, heat oil to 375 F or 190 C.
8. Add apples over the top of the risen batter. 
9. Take a scoop of dough, add about a teaspoon of apple mixture,  and then use another tablespoon to scrape the dough into the hot oil. Fry until golden brown, turning over once.
10. Toss with regular white sugar or powdered sugar.