Soft & Fluffy Homemade Donuts (Beginner Friendly)
About this recipe
If you've never had homemade donuts, you're in for a treat! This easy recipe from Kikifoodies guarantees soft and fluffy donuts that you can make right in your kitchen. The use of warm milk and a few simple ingredients makes this a beginner-friendly option for anyone looking to satisfy their sweet tooth.
What sets this recipe apart is the careful attention to the dough's development. By mixing the ingredients in a specific order and letting the dough rise properly, you’ll achieve that perfect fluffy texture that makes homemade donuts so irresistible.
Ingredient notes
- You can substitute water for milk if you prefer, but milk adds richness to the donuts.
- The recipe calls for a medium egg (50 g) without the shell.
Tips from Kikifoodies’s video
- Always add the salt on top of the flour and not directly into the yeast mixture to avoid affecting the yeast's activation.
- For soft and stretchy donuts, mix the dough first before adding the butter; this helps develop the gluten properly.
- When cutting out donuts, dip the cutters in flour to prevent sticking and ensure clean edges.
Good to know
- What should I do if my dough springs back too much when rolling it out?
- Let it rest for a few minutes so the gluten can relax.
- How can I tell when the donuts are ready to fry?
- The donuts are ready when they have doubled in size and spring back slowly when pressed.
- What temperature should the oil be for frying the donuts?
- Heat the oil to about 330°F (165°C). You can test it by placing a donut hole in the oil; it should sizzle gently.
- How long should I fry the donuts?
- Fry the donuts for about 2 minutes on each side until golden brown.
No life story here — the video and the recipe are the whole point. All credit to Kikifoodies: watch the original on YouTube.
The recipe
Ingredients
Steps
- 1
Warm the milk in a bowl.
- 2
Add instant yeast and a little sugar to the warm milk, whisk, and let it sit until foamy (about 2-3 minutes).
- 3
Add the remaining sugar, egg, vanilla extract (if using), bread flour, and salt (make sure salt is on top of the flour).
- 4
Using a stand mixer with a dough hook, mix until it comes together. If mixing by hand, follow the same steps in a large bowl.
- 5
Once the dough comes together, add the butter and mix for 5-6 minutes until smooth and stretchy. Check with the window pane test.
- 6
Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let it rest for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- 7
Once risen, transfer the dough to a floured work surface and gently press down to remove air bubbles.
- 8
Roll the dough out to your desired thickness (thicker for fluffy donuts).
- 9
Cut out donuts using a large cutter and a smaller one for the centers. Dip cutters in flour to prevent sticking.
- 10
Place cut donuts on parchment paper or a floured tray to prevent sticking.
- 11
Gather remaining dough, knead, and roll out again. If it springs back, let it rest for a few minutes.
- 12
Cut and shape remaining dough into balls for donut holes or additional donuts.
- 13
Let shaped donuts rise again until doubled in size, about 30-45 minutes.
- 14
Heat oil in a pot to about 330°F (165°C). Test with a donut hole; it should sizzle gently.
- 15
Fry donuts for about 2 minutes on each side until golden brown. Do not overcrowd the pan.
- 16
Remove donuts with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel-lined tray to absorb excess oil.
- 17
Coat warm donuts in sugar or cinnamon sugar, or glaze with powdered sugar and milk if desired.
Heads up — we had to guess a little:
- The quantity for the egg is inferred based on the description of it being medium-sized.
Credit where it’s due: this recipe was transcribed from Kikifoodies’s original video on YouTube. Follow them there — it’s their dish.
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