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by sanna last updated December 13, 2020 posted March 5, 2020 34 Comments

Basic Fried Donuts

Go to the Recipe

This recipe for basic fried donuts yields soft and fluffy donuts that can be glazed, dipped or eaten plain. 

Three donuts stacked on small plate.

Hi Guys! All I can say right now is thanks goodness for pre-drafted posts! If you are a little confused, I posted my current life situation on Instagram. Pregnancy, you guys. It drains everything out of me. So while it is such a great thing and a very big blessing to be pregnant, it is not my favorite time. 

It makes me truly sick and it seems it wants me to move to the toilet as my new bedroom. But then I am keeping my eyes fixed on the price-a new baby! 

Donuts rolled in sugar on a serving plate.

And since I can’t really bake or cook right now, I am glad that I had a few things made up before I left for the Philippines, where I learned I am expecting. 

So here is one of them- Basic fried donuts. You will love this as your base recipe for all other kinds of glazes and toppings. Let’s begin!

Basic Fried Donuts

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine warm water, yeast and 1 tsp of the sugar. Stir and let stand for 5 minutes, until the mixture is frothy.
  2. Add the remaining sugar, milk, butter, egg and salt.Proofing the yeast for basic fried donuts recipe.
  3. Start to add the flour gradually while stirring, adding only enough just until the dough gathers in the center of the bowl. Mixing the dough for the doughnuts.
  4. Turn the dough over onto a floured board and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic. To knead, use your palms to push the dough down and away from you, then fold it inwards. Push out the dough again then fold. Repeat until the dough is adequately kneaded. The dough for donuts before and after kneading.
  5. Shape the kneaded dough into a ball. Place it in a bowl and cover with a clean towel. Let it rise for 1 and 1/2 hours until doubled in size. The risen donuts dough.
  6. After rising, divide the dough into 2 equal portions. On a floured board, roll out one portion until it is 1/4 inch thick. Use a donut cutter that is 3 inches in diameter to cut out as many donuts ( and holes) as you can from the dough. Place cut-out donuts, together with the holes on individual pre-cut parchment papers, and set them on a large tray or plate. Fold the scrap and re-roll, then cut out more donuts as possible. Repeat with the other half of the dough. The cut out donuts shapes.
  7. On a medium, heavy-bottomed pan, heat about 2-3 inches of oil to 375 F. Carefully lower a few donuts at a time into the oil, peeling them off from the parchment paper before cooking. Cook on one side for 2-3 minutes, or until golden. Then cook on the other side for 1 minute or less, until golden. Drain fried donuts on a wire rack set over a large tray, or on paper towels.Freshly fried donuts on a baking pan.
  8. If you are glazing or dipping the donuts, allow them to cool first. If you wish to roll them in sugar and/or cinnamon, roll them while they are still hot but has cooled down a bit to be handled.

Now I am thinking how many donuts will be actually left for serving because you have been eating them all along….😜. I know, I understand. 

They are pretty hard to resist as soon you roll them out in sugar!

Top view of basic fried donuts on a plate.

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Continue to Content
Three donuts stacked on small plate.

Basic Fried Donuts

Yield: 26-30
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 2 hours

This recipe for Basic Fried Donuts yields fluffy and soft fried donuts that can be glazed, dipped or eaten plain, rolled in sugar.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup warm water (105- 115 F)
  • 2 and 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 3/4 cup warm milk
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 4 and 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • canola oil, for frying the donuts
  • sugar, for rolling the fried donuts

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine warm water, yeast and 1 tsp of the sugar. Stir and let stand for 5 minutes, until the mixture is frothy.
  2. Add the remaining sugar, milk, butter, egg and salt.
  3. Start to add the flour gradually while stirring, adding only enough just until the dough gathers in the center of the bowl.
  4. Turn the dough over onto a floured board and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic. To knead, use your palms to push the dough down and away from you, then fold it inwards. Push out the dough again then fold. Repeat until the dough is adequately kneaded. New to kneading? Check out How to How to Knead Bread Dough with Video.
  5. Shape the kneaded dough into a ball. Place it in a bowl and cover with a clean towel. Let it rise for 1 and 1/2 hours until doubled in size.
  6. After rising, divide the dough into 2 equal portions. On a floured board, roll out one portion until it is 1/4 inch thick. Use a donut cutter that is 3 inches in diameter to cut out as many donuts ( and holes) as you can from the dough. Place cut-out donuts, together with the holes on individual pre-cut parchment papers, and set them on a large tray or plate. Fold the scrap and re-roll, then cut out more donuts as possible. Repeat with the other half of the dough.
  7. On a medium, heavy-bottomed pan, heat about 2-3 inches of oil to 375 F. Carefully lower a few donuts at a time into the oil, peeling them off from the parchment paper before cooking. Cook on one side for 2-3 minutes, or until golden. Then cook on the other side for 1 minute or less, until golden. Drain fried donuts on a wire rack set over a large tray, or on paper towels.
  8. If you are glazing or dipping the donuts, allow them to cool first. If you wish to roll them in sugar and/or cinnamon, roll them while they are still moderately hot.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 30 Serving Size: 1 piece (plain)
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 94Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 84mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 0gSugar: 3gProtein: 2g
© sanna
Cuisine: American / Category: baking diaries
This recipe for basic fried donuts yields soft and fluffy donuts that can be glazed, dipped or eaten plain. #doughnuts #frieddough #sweetbread

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Filed Under: All Baked Goods Tagged With: dough, doughnuts

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nancy says

    December 6, 2020 at 8:34 am

    Hi! I am wondering if you can substitute instant yeast for active yeast and if so what are the recommendations?

    Reply
    • sanna says

      December 6, 2020 at 11:05 am

      Hi Nancy! Yes, you can use instant yeast.Just follow the recipe as is and sub the active dry yeast with instant yeast.

      Reply
  2. T says

    November 8, 2020 at 4:28 pm

    Do you cook in oil on stove top or in the oven

    Reply
    • sanna says

      November 8, 2020 at 7:03 pm

      Hi! I deep fry them in oil in the stove. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Marie says

    October 26, 2020 at 7:14 am

    Hi! I’m looking to make these donuts and they look amazing! Do you think I could substitute the milk or half of the milk in this recipe with apple cider to give it more of a fall flavor? If not, how else could I incorporate it? Thank you so much!!

    Reply
    • sanna says

      October 27, 2020 at 8:36 pm

      Hello, Marie! I honestly cannot guarantee the result if you were to sub apple cider for a part of the milk. Unfortunately, I have not tested that.

      Reply
  4. z says

    October 9, 2020 at 5:46 pm

    Approximately how many donuts does this recipe produce?

    Reply
    • sanna says

      October 9, 2020 at 5:56 pm

      26-30 donuts 🙂

      Reply
  5. Khatera says

    September 12, 2020 at 11:05 pm

    Made this today with my 4 yo daughter and they turned out amazing. I really couldn’t stop eating them as I was getting f them out and I’m not a big fan of donuts. Can you store them in the fridge or freeze so they don’t dry out?

    Reply
    • sanna says

      October 9, 2020 at 5:57 pm

      Hello! I think think they will dry out in the fridge or freezer. These are so airy that they may dry out easily when refrigerated. I am so happy you loved them!

      Reply
  6. Sally says

    September 3, 2020 at 10:12 pm

    Can you use a kitchen aid mixer with dough hook or is it better to do by hand?

    Reply
    • sanna says

      October 9, 2020 at 5:58 pm

      Hi Sally! Yes you can knead the dough on a stand mixer 🙂

      Reply
  7. Kathryn says

    July 30, 2020 at 3:31 pm

    Have you ever used this recipe to make a filled donut?

    Reply
    • sanna says

      August 19, 2020 at 2:46 pm

      Hello Kathryn! I have not filled this but you definitely can 🙂

      Reply
  8. Robin says

    July 30, 2020 at 1:09 pm

    If you made the dough could you store it for a bit later or do you have to cook it right away?

    Reply
    • sanna says

      July 30, 2020 at 1:57 pm

      Hi Robin! I always cook it right away. If you want, you can let the dough do its rising on the fridge overnight after kneading 🙂

      Reply
  9. Maggie Adan says

    July 4, 2020 at 4:35 am

    Also, is the bowl lightly greased?

    Reply
    • sanna says

      July 11, 2020 at 4:04 pm

      You can grease if you prefer but not neccessary 🙂

      Reply
  10. Maggie Adan says

    July 4, 2020 at 1:33 am

    Is the butter salted or unsalted? The recipe doesn’t say. Thank you!

    Reply
    • sanna says

      July 11, 2020 at 4:04 pm

      Hi Maggie. It is unsalted.

      Reply
  11. Vasantha says

    June 18, 2020 at 8:09 am

    Thank you for sharing , seems like a great recipe . Going to try it . Looks so yummy

    Reply
    • sanna says

      June 19, 2020 at 1:16 pm

      I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  12. Gloria says

    June 6, 2020 at 8:04 pm

    Can I let the dough rise overnight?

    Reply
    • sanna says

      October 27, 2020 at 8:36 pm

      Hello! Yes you can, in the fridge. 🙂

      Reply
  13. Oluwatosin says

    May 9, 2020 at 7:02 am

    The recipe is so perfect The doughnuts turned out really good. I can’t wait to make it again. Thank you so much for sharing.

    Reply
    • sanna says

      May 11, 2020 at 7:23 pm

      Hello! I am so glad you loved them!

      Reply
  14. Piz Goode says

    April 14, 2020 at 4:03 pm

    Yum, these look delicious. I love homemade donuts.

    Reply
    • sanna says

      October 27, 2020 at 8:37 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  15. Piz Goode says

    April 14, 2020 at 3:59 pm

    Yum, donuts these look delicious!

    Reply
    • sanna says

      October 27, 2020 at 8:37 pm

      Thanks a lot!

      Reply
  16. Maria says

    April 7, 2020 at 10:50 pm

    Are you still going to let the donut shaped rise or after cutting out, fry it immediately? Thanks

    Reply
    • sanna says

      April 8, 2020 at 12:22 pm

      Hello Maria! By the time the oil heats up, they have puffed up a bit and I just go ahead and fry them already 🙂 Enjoy these!

      Reply
  17. JoAnn C. says

    March 6, 2020 at 8:06 am

    Congratulations! And prayers to you for a healthy baby and an easier pregnancy too. Thanks for sharing your news.

    Reply
    • sanna says

      March 12, 2020 at 12:11 pm

      Hi JoAnn! Thank you so mo much for your wishes! I really appreciate it!

      Reply

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Hi! I am sanna. A mom, wife, a pastry lover, a bread nerd and so in love with yoga. Read More…

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Sanna is a wife and mother of three, living in Manitoba Canada. Her passion for baking, making good food and writing sparked her desire to start Woman Scribbles.

She loves yoga, pastries, reading books and camping during the summer. She loves cilantro, avocado toast, and a real crispy fried chicken.

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