4 c. sifted all-purpose flour
5 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg or mace
1/4 c. butter (softened)
3/4 c. sugar
2 eggs
3/4 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla flavoring
Vegetable oil for frying

Sift flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg onto wax paper. Beat butter, sugar and eggs in large bowl with electric mixer until well mixed. Beat in milk and vanilla. Beat in about 1/4 cup of flour mixture.

Stir in remaining flour mixture with spoon until mixture forms soft dough. If too sticky, sprinkle with flour. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; chill 2 hours or overnight. Roll dough on lightly floured surface to a 1/3-inch thickness; cut out with lightly floured 3-inch doughnut cutter.

Fill a large saucepan 1/3 full of oil. Heat to 370 degrees on a deep-fat thermometer. Transfer doughnuts to hot oil with a flexible spatula. Fry 2 or 3 at a time. Turn only once and fry about 3 minutes. Drain on paper towel.