Batter-Fried Chicken

Ingredients :

For the fried chicken brine

•  1 quart (4 cups) cold water
•  1/4 cup kosher salt
•  1/4 cup granulated sugar
•  4 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces (halve each breast crosswise and separate leg quarters into thighs and drumsticks)

For the fried chicken batter

•  1 cup all-purpose flour
•  1 cup cornstarch
•  2 to 5 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
•  1 teaspoon paprika
•  1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
•  2 teaspoons baking powder
•  1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
•  1 3/4 cups cold water
•  3 quarts (12 cups) peanut or vegetable oil, for frying

Directions :