Nothing compares to the taste of soft, warm, freshly fried homemade donuts. This recipe gives you bakery-style donuts with a tender inside, a golden outside, and endless topping possibilities. Whether you like them glazed, sugared, or filled, these donuts will become your new favorite treat!
🌟 Ingredients
For the Donut Dough
3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup warm milk (not hot!)
¼ cup granulated sugar
2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
½ tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
For Frying
Oil for frying (vegetable, canola, or peanut)
Simple Glaze (Optional but AMAZING)
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
2–3 tbsp milk
½ tsp vanilla extract
🍩 How to Make Homemade Donuts
1. Activate the Yeast
In a bowl, mix:
warm milk
sugar
yeast
Let it sit for 5–8 minutes until foamy.
2. Make the Dough
Add:
butter
egg
vanilla
salt
Mix well, then add flour gradually. Knead for about 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
3. First Rise
Cover the dough and let it rise for 1–1.5 hours or until doubled in size.
4. Shape the Donuts
Roll the dough to ½ inch thickness.
Use a donut cutter or two round cutters to shape the donuts.
Place on parchment paper and cover for the second rise—about 30 minutes.
5. Fry to Golden Perfection
Heat oil to 350°F (175°C).
Fry donuts 1 minute per side until golden brown.
Place on paper towels to drain.
6. Glaze or Sugar
Dip warm donuts into glaze OR toss them in cinnamon sugar.
⭐ Donut Variations You’ll Love
🍫 Chocolate Glaze
Add 2 tbsp cocoa powder + 1 tbsp melted butter to the glaze.
🍓 Filled Donuts
Pipe in jam, custard, or Nutella after frying.
🍁 Maple Donuts
Add 1 tbsp maple syrup + a pinch of cinnamon to the glaze.
🍩 Cinnamon Sugar
Mix ½ cup sugar + 1 tbsp cinnamon and coat warm donuts.
💡 Pro Tips for Perfect Donuts
Use warm—not hot—milk to avoid killing the yeast.
Let the dough rise in a warm place for fluffier donuts.
Don’t overcrowd the oil; fry in small batches.
Let donuts cool slightly before glazing so the glaze sets beautifully.
For extra softness, replace 2 tbsp of flour with 2 tbsp cornstarch.
🎉 Enjoy Your Delicious Homemade Donuts!
Crispy on the outside, soft and pillowy on the inside—these donuts will become your go-to recipe any time you’re craving something sweet and comforting.