Homemade Doughnuts
There’s nothing quite like the taste of freshly made doughnuts, warm, fluffy, and customizable to your liking. This recipe provides a simple yet versatile doughnut base that can be transformed into a variety of delicious treats, from classic sugar-coated doughnuts to creamy, jam-filled, or even coffee-glazed delights. Whether you’re a fan of simplicity or love experimenting with flavors, this recipe has something for everyone.
The process of making doughnuts from scratch is both fun and rewarding. With a soft, yeasted dough and a few basic ingredients, you can create doughnuts that rival those from your favorite bakery. Follow the steps below to make your own batch of homemade doughnuts, and don’t forget to get creative with the toppings and fillings!
Ingredients
- 3 cups cake flour
- 1 or 2 cups warm milk
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons yeast
- 65 grams butter
- 6 teaspoons sugar
Method
Start by making a soft dough with all the ingredients. Combine the cake flour, warm milk, egg, salt, yeast, butter, and sugar in a mixing bowl. Mix until a soft dough forms. Adjust the amount of milk as needed to achieve the right consistency.
Knead the dough for 10-15 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a dish, cover it with cling film, and let it rise for a couple of hours until it doubles in size.
Oncethe dough has risen, roll it out to your desired thickness. Use a doughnut cutter to cut out classic doughnut shapes, or roll the dough into long strips for cream doughnuts or small balls for jam doughnuts. Let the shaped doughnuts rise again for about an hour or two until they puff up.
Heat oil in a deep pan or fryer to medium-high heat. Fry the doughnuts until they are golden brown on both sides. Be careful not to fry them on low heat, as this can make them greasy. Remove the doughnuts from the oil and let them cool slightly before decorating or filling.
Cream Doughnuts
Once the doughnuts are fried and cooled, cut them in half without cutting all the way through. Pipe fresh whipped cream into the center and decorate with a glazed cherry and a sprinkle of icing sugar.
Sugar Doughnuts
Mix sugar and cinnamon powder in a bowl. Toss the freshly fried doughnuts in the sugar mixture while they are still warm, ensuring an even coating.
Glazed Doughnuts
Mix icing sugar and water together to create a smooth glaze. Add a few drops of vanilla essence or food coloring if desired. Dip half of each cooled doughnut into the glaze and decorate with sprinkles or 100s & 1000s.
Jam Doughnuts
Toss the freshly fried doughnuts in the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Make a small hole at the bottom of each doughnut and fill it with your favorite jam using a piping bag.
Coffee Doughnuts
Mix icing sugar, butter, coffee, and melted chocolate together to create a rich coffee glaze. Dip half of each cooled doughnut into the glaze and drizzle with white chocolate for an extra touch of indulgence.
Tips for Success
- Use warm milk: Warm milk helps activate the yeast, ensuring a good rise.
- Don’t overheat the oil: Fry the doughnuts on medium-high heat to achieve a golden brown exterior without burning.
- Let the dough rise properly:Allowing the dough to rise twice ensures light and fluffy doughnuts.
- Customize your toppings:Experiment with different glazes, fillings, and toppings to create your favorite combinations.
- Serve fresh: Doughnuts are best enjoyed fresh, but they can be stored in an airtight container for a day or two.