How to Make Perfect Fluffy Doughnuts at Home
Doughnuts are the ultimate treat; soft, fluffy, and just the right amount of sweet. Making them at home might sound tricky, but this easy doughnut recipe is all you need to get started! It’s a simple, classic base that’s perfect for adding your own twist. Glaze them, dust with sugar, fill them with jam or cream; the options are endless. This doughnuts recipe is so good, you’ll wonder why you didn’t try making homemade donuts sooner!
Understanding The Ingredients:
Granulated Sugar: A small amount of sugar sweetens the dough slightly and helps activate the yeast. It also gives the doughnuts their subtle sweetness, which pairs perfectly with any topping.
Ground Nutmeg or Cinnamon: the classic donut recipe has both nutmeg and cinnamon in it, in my recipe I use the term “or” because I personally do not like nutmeg so I prefer using cinnamon. Feel free to use whichever you want or even both! Also, you’re free to add more or less; these donuts should be made how you like them!
Warm Milk: Warm milk activates the yeast, creating a soft and tender dough. It also adds moisture, helping the doughnuts stay fluffy and light.
Instant Yeast: Instant yeast simplifies the process by skipping the activation step. If you notice in my recipe, I combine all dry ingredients together and then add the wet ingredients. If you only have active dry yeast, you will need to activate it. I’ll explain this in the FAQ section below!
Common Questions I get Asked:
Can I use active dry yeast instead of instant yeast? Yes, as discussed above, you can! Just add the warm milk, sugar, and then sprinkle the dry yeast, cover, and allow the yeast to form a foam (should take 5 to 10 minutes).
Why do I need warm milk for this recipe? Warm milk helps the yeast work properly and makes the dough soft and easy to handle. Cold milk won’t activate the yeast, and hot milk might kill it, so aim for lukewarm!
How long should I let the dough rise? Let the dough rise until it doubles in size, which usually takes about 1-2 hours, depending on the temperature of your kitchen. Be patient, this step is key to fluffy doughnuts.
Can I make the dough ahead of time? Yes! After kneading the dough, cover it tightly and refrigerate overnight. Bring it back to room temperature before rolling and cutting.
How To Make Doughnuts from Scratch?
Making doughnuts from scratch is easier than you think! With the right donut ingredients and a simple step-by-step process, you can whip up soft, fluffy, and golden doughnuts that are perfect for any occasion (I’ve also included a donut glaze recipe in the instructions 👇🏼)
The Best Easy Doughnut Recipe
SERVINGS: 25 small to medium doughnuts
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, ground nutmeg or cinnamon, instant yeast, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, mix warm milk, melted butter, and egg.
- Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients.
- Stir with a wooden spoon, then knead the dough by hand for about 5 minutes or use a stand mixer with a hook attachment.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and a towel, and let it rise for 1 to 1.5 hours until doubled in size.
- Punch the dough to release air bubbles, then roll it out on a floured surface and cut into desired doughnut shapes.
- Place doughnuts on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, cover with a towel, and let them rise for another 30 minutes.
- Heat vegetable oil in a saucepan to 350°F (175°C). Fry 3-4 doughnuts at a time, flipping when golden brown (about 30 seconds per side).
- Once fried, you can coat the doughnuts in a sugar glaze by mixing 225g powdered sugar, 75g melted butter, 3-5 tbsp cold milk, and 1 tsp vanilla, or dip them in melted chocolate.
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Tips To Make The Best Doughnuts
Knead the Dough Well: Knead until the dough is smooth and elastic to develop gluten, which makes the doughnuts soft and fluffy.
Let the Dough Rise Properly: Be patient and let the dough double in size. This ensures light and airy doughnuts. Don’t even fry these if you feel like the dough did not rise properly, if it’s been a few hours, kneed it again and wait another hour or two (I know it’s too much but don’t waste the dough).
Don’t Overcrowd the Oil: Fry only 3-4 doughnuts at a time to maintain the oil’s temperature and ensure even cooking.
Experiment With Flavors: Add a pinch of nutmeg, cinnamon, or cardamom to the dough for extra flavor, or get creative with fillings and toppings!
Sugar Coated Donuts: If you’re using dry coating like a mixture of sugar and cinnamon, make sure you dip the donuts in the sugar mixture while they’re still hot, this will ensure the mixture to stick on the donuts.