My girls love going to the Oregon Zoo more than any other place. We go often, and it’s a great place for homeschooling since we can spend so much time learning about different animals, and also jobs at the Zoo. Last time we were there I got the girls an elephant ear to share for a special treat. A Zoo employee was cleaning off some tables by us and I thanked her for her work in keeping the Zoo so clean. My 6 year old Lucy then bursts into “Thank you, for everything you do-OO!” (If you are a parent, then you probably recognize the Daniel Tiger song!)
I think it made her day. I think these little ladies are going to turn out all right.
After a long rough week I thought I would make some homemade elephant ears for a super special treat. I am now dubbed the “best mommy ever”. I’ll take it. 😉
These were actually really quick and easy to make and I think they’d be very fun for a carnival themed birthday party… or a Monday… or a Wednesday. 🙂
We don’t like alot of fried foods, but these weren’t greasy at all and such a fun treat to make at home.
HOMEMADE ELEPHANT EARS
Makes 16 (6 to 10 inch ears)
For dough:
1 1/2 cups milk (I used fat free with great results)
1 tsp kosher salt
2 T sugar
1/3 cup plus 1 T shortening
2 T active dry yeast
4 cups flour
oil, for frying
For coating:
3 T ground cinnamon
6 T sugar
Heat milk, salt, 2 T sugar, and shortening in a small pot over medium heat until shortening melts.
Remove from heat and cool to lukewarm, about 110 degrees.
Sprinkle in yeast and let sit for a few more minutes.
Place flour in a large bowl and add yeast mixture to it.
Stir until dough comes together, then knead just until smooth.
Cover, let rise for 30 minutes.
In a large shallow bowl, combine coating ingredients. Set aside.
Heat a couple inches of oil to 375 degrees.
While oil is heating, cut dough in half, then each half into 8 pieces (you could make larger or small depending on preference). You should have a total of 16 pieces. Cover with plastic wrap.
Roll out dough into 6 to 10 inch circles (don’t worry about being perfect- make them thicker or thiner depending on preference) using a rolling pin on an unfloured surface. Stack and keep covered with plastic wrap as you go.
When oil is hot, fry one at a time for 1-2 minutes per side.
Remove from oil and place on a paper towel lined tray. Either dip each side of ear in coating or sprinkle on while still warm, making sure to coat well.
Repeat until finished.
Recipe slightly adapted from All Recipes
Ingredients
For dough:
- 1 1/2 cups milk (I used fat free with great results)
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 2 T sugar
- 1/3 cup plus 1 T shortening
- 2 T active dry yeast
- 4 cups flour
- oil, for frying
For coating:
- 3 T ground cinnamon
- 6 T sugar
Instructions
- Heat milk, salt, 2 T sugar, and shortening in a small pot over medium heat until shortening melts.
- Remove from heat and cool to lukewarm, about 110 degrees.
- Sprinkle in yeast and let sit for a few more minutes.
- Place flour in a large bowl and add yeast mixture to it.
- Stir until dough comes together, then knead just until smooth.
- Cover, let rise for 30 minutes.
- In a large shallow bowl, combine coating ingredients. Set aside.
- Heat a couple inches of oil to 375 degrees.
- While oil is heating, cut dough in half, then each half into 8 pieces (you could make larger or small depending on preference). You should have a total of 16 pieces. Cover with plastic wrap.
- Roll out dough into 6 to 10 inch circles (don't worry about being perfect- make them thicker or thiner depending on preference) using a rolling pin on an unfloured surface. Stack and keep covered with plastic wrap as you go.
- When oil is hot, fry one at a time for 1-2 minutes per side.
- Remove from oil and place on a paper towel lined tray. Either dip each side of ear in coating or sprinkle on while still warm, making sure to coat well.
- Repeat until finished.
