Sufganiyot, or jelly doughnuts, have been a customary Chanukah food probably since the days of the Bais Hamikdash. What is the correct brocha that must be made? This actually subject to some controversy. When flour and water is mixed to make a dough which is then baked, the resulting product is bread whose brocha is Hamotzi. What happens when you knead the dough with the intentions of frying it? The Shulchan Aruch 168-13 rules that the brocha is Mezonos. A second opinion is then brought saying that any time dough is kneaded, the brocha should be Hamotzi. The Shulchan Aruch continues that a G-d fearing individual will only eat a doughnut during a seuda, thereby avoiding any problem. This opinion is followed by the Kaf Hachaim. The Rama rules that one maybe lenient.
A problem that has been raised with this idea of only eating a doughnut within a seuda is that according to the second opinion the brocha is mezonos, a brocha would be required even within a seuda! So in reality, the problem has not been avoided.
Another aspect that can be taken into consideration is if the dough was originally kneaded with enough sugar that would effect its taste noticeably, the brocha would then be mezonos according to all opinions. (Adding jelly and confectioners sugar after the frying would not effect the brocha).
Jerusalem Meir Yashiva
Rabbi Tzvi Hyman