How to Make Donuts So Good You May Never Buy Them Again 🍩
There’s nothing quite like biting into a warm, freshly made donut — light, fluffy, slightly crisp on the outside, and perfectly sweet. Once you learn how to make donuts at home with this easy guide, you might just skip the store-bought ones forever!
Ingredients You'll Need
- 2 ¼ teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
- ¾ cup warm milk (about 110°F/43°C)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 3 cups all-purpose flour (plus more for dusting)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Vegetable oil (or canola oil)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Activate the Yeast
In a large bowl, mix the warm milk and sugar. Sprinkle the yeast on top, stir gently, and let it sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy. (If it doesn’t foam, your yeast might be dead — time to start over!) - Make the Dough
Add the melted butter, vanilla extract, and eggs to the yeast mixture. Stir until combined. Gradually add the flour and salt, mixing until a soft dough forms. - Knead the Dough
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5–7 minutes, until smooth and elastic. You can also knead with a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook for about 4 minutes. - Let It Rise
Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a clean towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size — about 1 to 1½ hours. - Shape the Donuts
Once risen, punch down the dough. Roll it out on a floured surface to about ½-inch thickness. Use a donut cutter (or two different-sized round cutters) to cut out donuts and holes. - Second Rise
Place the cut donuts on a floured baking sheet. Cover and let rise again for about 30–45 minutes, until slightly puffy. - Heat the Oil
In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or deep fryer, heat oil to 350°F (175°C). Make sure you use a thermometer — temperature control is key! - Fry the Donuts
Carefully lower a few donuts into the hot oil. Fry for about 1–2 minutes per side, until golden brown. Don’t overcrowd the pot. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. - Glaze and Enjoy
While the donuts are still warm, dip them into the glaze. Set them on a wire rack over parchment paper to catch drips. Enjoy immediately for the best flavor and texture!
Pro Tips for Perfect Donuts
Don’t overwork the dough. Gentle kneading keeps donuts light and airy.
Maintain oil temperature. Too hot and they’ll burn, too cool and they’ll get greasy.
Use fresh oil. Old oil can make donuts taste off.
Customize! Add sprinkles, chocolate glaze, cinnamon sugar, or stuff with jam or cream.
Variations to Try
Cinnamon Sugar Donuts: Toss warm donuts in a cinnamon-sugar mix instead of glazing.
Filled Donuts: Skip the hole and fill fried donuts with custard, jam, or chocolate.
Chocolate Glaze: Replace some powdered sugar with cocoa powder for a rich chocolate topping.
