South Asian Style Doughnuts - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups sugar
8 None cardamom pods, bruised
2 None cinnamon sticks
3 None star anise pods
1 tsp rosewater
2/3 cup self-rising flour
1/4 cup whole milk powder
5 oz cream cheese
24 None raisins
None None vegetable oil, for deep-frying

Preparation

For the syrup, stir the sugar, spices and 2 cups water in a medium saucepan over low heat, without boiling, until sugar has dissolved. Boil uncovered, without stirring, 5 mins. Remove from heat, stir in rosewater and cool.
For the batter, combine flour, milk powder and cream cheese and mix into a soft dough. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead 10 mins. Roll a heaped teaspoon of dough around each raisin.
Heat oil in a wok and deep-fry balls, in batches, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Add to syrup and let sit 1 hour before serving.