Bunuelos - Mini Spanish Fritters

The kids and I first learned about bunuelos watching "Handy Manny" where they visited a lady in the community who was making these tasty treats.  I found this recipe in a magazine years ago and had ripped out the page but never tried to make them.  So I decided one morning after Christmas that this was just the sort of thing to try on a day relaxing at home with the family.  They turned out awesome - the hubster's comment was "These are sooo good they can't be good for you..."  
And he does not have the sweet tooth the kids and I have.  It is a warm batter but was very easy.  I didn't have any oranges left so I substituted 1/2 teaspoon of dried lemon peel at the very beginning when you boil the sugar-water and it worked great.

4 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into pieces

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup flour

4 large eggs

grated peel of 1 orange

vegetable oil, for frying

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup water, the butter, brown sugar and salt over medium-high heat until it just begins to boil.  Using a wooden spoon, stir in the flour until incorporated; remove from the heat.  Stir for a minute, then beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, until the dough is glossy and smooth.  (This one threw me for a loop because at first the dough forms clumpy rocks coated with the egg.  Just keep beating and it will start to incorporate.  Its a good workout for the arm muscles!)  Stir in the orange peel.

Fill a large saucepan with enough oil to reach a depth of 1 inch.  Heat until the oil reaches 350 degrees.  Working in small batches, drop in rounded teaspoons of the dough and fry, turning, until golden (about 5 minutes per batch).  Using a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain.

In a brown paper bag, combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon and shake until combined.  As soon as the next batch is frying, put the draining batch in the bag and shake it a few times to fully coat the bunuelos.