Homemade donuts are one of the most delicious and easy desserts to make at home. If you love enjoying a freshly made, soft and fluffy donut, this article will teach you everything you need to know to make them. From the basic recipe to some creative variations, you can enjoy this delicious treat in the comfort of your own home. Plus, I’ll explain how to make homemade donuts step by step, without complications.
What Are Homemade Donuts?
A homemade donut is a round pastry, usually fried, characterized by its airy texture and ring-shaped shape. You can make donuts in different flavors, fillings, and with all kinds of glazes. While commercial donuts are usually a quick option, making them at home allows you to control all the ingredients and enjoy a much fresher product.
Advantages of Making Homemade Donuts
There are many reasons to make homemade donuts instead of buying them. Some of these reasons include:
- Ingredient Control: You can choose fresh and natural ingredients, avoiding preservatives and additives that are usually present in commercial donuts.
- Customization: You can experiment with different flavors, frostings, and fillings.
- Freshness: Homemade donuts will always be fresher than those you buy in the store, which improves their flavor.
- Economics: Preparing homemade donuts in large quantities is much cheaper than buying them.
Basic Ingredients for Making Homemade Donuts
To make homemade donuts, you don’t need many ingredients. Here are the basics:
Ingredients for the Dough:
- 500 grams of wheat flour
- 75 grams of sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 7 grams of dry yeast
- 250 ml of milk
- 2 eggs
- 50 grams of butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Frying:
- Vegetable oil (enough to dip the donuts)
Frosting Options:
- Melted chocolate
- Powdered sugar
- Fresh fruits
- Sprinkles or chocolate chips
How to Make Homemade Donuts: Step by Step
Making homemade donuts is not as complicated as it seems. Follow these simple steps and you will enjoy fresh and delicious donuts.
Step-1: Prepare the Dough
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, and salt.
- In another container, heat the milk in the microwave or in a saucepan until warm (not hot).
- Add the dry yeast to the warm milk and let it sit for about 10 minutes. This will activate the yeast.
- Once the yeast is active, add it to the flour mixture along with the eggs, melted butter and vanilla.
- Mix all the ingredients well until you get a soft, sticky dough. If the dough is too wet, add a little more flour.
Step-2: Knead the Dough
- On a clean, floured surface, turn the dough out and begin kneading for about 8-10 minutes. If you have a stand mixer, this step will be much easier.
- Kneading the dough will help develop the gluten, which will make the donuts fluffy.
Step-3: Let the Dough Rest
- Place the dough in a lightly floured bowl and cover with a clean cloth.
- Let the dough rest for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size. This is important because the yeast needs time to do its job and make the dough rise.
Step-4: Form the Donuts
- Once the dough has rested, turn the dough out onto a floured surface.
- Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough until it is about 2cm thick.
- Use a donut cutter (or a large glass) to cut out the dough circles. If you don’t have a donut cutter, you can use a small glass to make the hole in the center.
- If you have any dough left over, you can re-roll it and cut out more donuts.
Step-5: Fry the Donuts
- Heat the oil in a deep frying pan or deep fryer to about 180°C. The oil should be hot enough for the donuts to fry quickly without absorbing too much oil.
- Carefully place the donuts into the hot oil. Don’t put too many in at once to avoid lowering the temperature of the oil.
- Fry the donuts for about 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden and crispy.
- Remove the donuts and place them on absorbent paper to remove excess oil.
Step-6: Decorate the Homemade Donut
One of the best parts of making homemade donut is decorating. Here are some ideas for topping your donuts:
- Chocolate Frosting: Melt chocolate and dip them in it. You can sprinkle with colored sprinkles, nuts or shredded coconut to add texture.
- Powdered Sugar: Sprinkle powdered sugar over the still-warm donut for a sweet, classic touch.
- Creative Fillings: You can make holes in the donut and fill them with pastry cream, jam or Nutella.
Variations for Homemade Donuts
If you want to change up the basic homemade donut recipe a bit, here are some ideas you can try:
Cream Filled Donuts
To make filled donuts, simply fry the donut as directed in the recipe and then, once cooled, make a hole in the center and fill with pastry cream or any other filling of your choice.
Baked Donuts
If you prefer to avoid frying, you can also make homemade donut in the oven. Preheat the oven to 180°C and place the donut on a baking tray. Bake for about 12-15 minutes, or until golden and cooked through.
Apple Donut
You can add apple pieces to the batter to create homemade apple donut. Just chop the apples into small cubes and add them to the batter before letting it rest. These donut will have a delicious fruity touch.
Tips for Making the Best Homemade Donut
- Use good quality flour: Flour is the main ingredient in dough, so make sure you use good quality flour to get a smooth texture.
- Don’t overload the dough with extra flour: If you add too much flour to the dough, the donut may turn out dry. Make sure the dough is slightly sticky.
- Let the dough rest long enough: Resting is key to giving the donut a light and airy texture. Don’t rush this step.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I make homemade donut without yeast?
Yes, you can make doughnuts without yeast. Instead of yeast, use baking powder to help the doughnuts rise while they bake or fry. Although they won’t be as fluffy as those made with yeast, they will still be delicious.
How long can I store homemade donuts?
Homemade donut are best when eaten fresh, but you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. You can also freeze them and reheat them in the oven.
Can I make homemade donut without frying them?
Yes, you can bake them instead of frying them. In fact, baked donut are a healthier option. Just make sure you preheat your oven and bake them at the right temperature.
Can I make homemade vegan donuts?
Sure, you can make homemade vegan donut by replacing butter with margarine or vegetable oil and using almond or soy milk instead of cow’s milk. Just make sure the yeast you use is vegan.
What kind of oil should I use to fry donuts?
Vegetable oil, such as canola or sunflower oil, is ideal for frying donut because it has a neutral flavor and can withstand high temperatures without burning.
Conclusion
Making homemade donuts is a great way to enjoy a delicious and personalized treat. With these simple steps and a few basic ingredients, you can surprise your friends and family with a homemade recipe full of flavor. Whether you prefer them classic or with fillings and glazes, homemade donut will always be a great option!