Description
Homemade Donuts are soft, fluffy, and perfectly golden fried treats coated with a smooth vanilla glaze. Made from scratch using yeast-leavened dough, these donuts are fried to perfection and glazed for a sweet finish, making them an irresistible classic dessert or snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour (sifted)
- 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (one packet)
- ¾ cup warm milk (around 110°F)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter (melted)
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Frying
- 4 cups vegetable oil (for deep frying)
Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a small bowl, combine warm milk and active dry yeast, then let it sit for 5 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Mix Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine sifted flour, granulated sugar, and salt. Add the eggs, melted butter, vanilla extract, and the activated yeast mixture. Knead the dough thoroughly for 8-10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Cover the bowl with a clean cloth or plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
- Shape Donuts: Roll out the risen dough on a floured surface to approximately ½-inch thickness. Use a donut cutter or two round cutters to cut the dough into donut shapes. Place the cut donuts on a floured surface and let them rest for 30 minutes to rise slightly.
- Heat Oil and Fry: Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan or fryer to 350°F (175°C). Carefully fry the donuts for 1-2 minutes on each side, or until they turn golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to remove them from the oil and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Prepare Glaze: Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a bowl until the mixture is smooth and slightly runny.
- Glaze Donuts: While still warm, dip each donut into the glaze, allowing the excess to drip off. Place the glazed donuts on a wire rack to let the glaze set.
- Serve: Enjoy the donuts fresh for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Ensure the milk is warm but not hot to avoid killing the yeast.
- Kneading is key for developing gluten which makes the donuts fluffy.
- Maintain oil temperature at 350°F to avoid greasy or undercooked donuts.
- For extra flavor, you can add cinnamon or nutmeg to the dough mixture.
- Allow glaze to set properly before stacking or storing to prevent sticking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: homemade donuts, yeast donuts, fried donuts, glazed donuts, classic donut recipe, sweet fried dough
