Portzelky (New Year'S Cookies) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup lukewarm water
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1/2 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups raisins (or as many as you would like)
3 egg yolks
3 egg whites, beaten
3 cups flour
oil (for deep frying)

Preparation

Dissolve sugar in lukewarm water in a small bowl. Sprinkle with yeast and let stand.
Combine milk, water, salt, sugar, baking powder, and raisins in a large bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer.
Beat in egg yolks and yeast.
Stir in flour to make a heavy (rather stiff) batter.
Fold in egg whites.
Cover and set in a warm place until well risen (at least double in bulk). This should take about 2 hours. The end result is a fairly sticky dough.
Drop by tablespoonfuls into hot oil (375F) and fry until golden brown.