A simple, sinful, and delicious homemade glazed doughnuts recipe. There’s just nothing better than a glazed donut with chocolate and sprinkles.
My love for homemade doughnuts is inexpressible. I have always had a secret not-so-secret obsession for these sweet confections. Whether raised doughnuts with a sweet chocolate glaze, french crullers, cake doughnuts with a crumb topping, churros, or small bite-size doughnut holes tossed in powdered sugar or filled with fruit preserves (or both!), I cannot get enough of doughnuts. And neither can my friend, Lara Ferroni, who wrote an entire cookbook centered around-yes, you’ve got that right- doughnuts!
When my copy of Doughnuts came in the mail. I couldn’t help express my love for the entire book to Lara. My younger sister who can barely boil water was even surprised as to how amazing the book was- the photography, the writing . . . everything (check out the trailer!). I was given permission to share a couple of recipes with you today.
I honestly didn’t know what I wanted to share today. I made three recipes from Lara’s Book and took photos for each recipe. I made the apple cider doughnuts, the French crullers (I have an obsession with these things!), and of course- these lovely glazed doughnuts.
Yesterday, when I decided that posting not-so-nice photos of the first two recipes would not be a good idea at all. Especially when my family didn’t leave a crumb for me to photograph. Jerks. So . . . I decided to try another recipe from the book. Raised doughnuts. And boy, do they pack a lot of flavor and character.
When I rolled out the dough, I made more doughnut holes than regular sized doughnuts because well- I like tossing the freshly fried doughnut rounds in a little powdered sugar. I didn’t share any of those with my family, just in case you were wondering. My stomach thanked me.
Glazed Doughnuts
From Lara Ferroni’s Cookbook, Doughnuts
The dough for this recipe can be made by hand, but expect a nice workout after you’re done making the dough. For a touch that brings you back to your childhood, glaze the doughnuts and immediately place some sprinkles on top. You’ll thank me.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons (14.6 grams) active dry yeast
- ¾ cup of whole milk, heated to 110ºF
- ¾ cup bread flour
- ¼ cup whole milk, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon yeast (7.3 grams)
- 2 tablespoons (30 grams) Superfine Sugar or Granulated Sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 egg yolks, at room temperature
- 1 ¼ cups to 1 ¾ cups bread flour
- ½ stick (4 tblspns / 2 oz) unsalted butter or vegetable shortening, at room temperature
- Vegetable oil for frying
Glazes (Recipes Follow)
- 1 Recipe for Basic Sugar Glaze
- 1 Recipe for Chocolate Glaze
Instructions
1. In a medium bowl, dissolve 2 tablespoons of yeast into ¾ cup of milk. Add ¾ cup of flour and stir to create a smooth paste. Cover the flour mixture and let rest in a warm spot for 30 minutes.
2. Combine ¼ cup of room-temperature milk and 1 tablespoon of yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the rested flour mixture (from step 1) along with the sugar, salt, vanilla, and egg yolks. Mix until smooth. Turn off the mixer and add ½ cup of the remaining flour. Mix on low for about 30 seconds. Add the butter and mix until it becomes incorporated, about 30 seconds. Switch to a dough hook and add more flour, about ¼ cup at a time with the mixer turned off, kneading the dough at medium speed between additions, until the dough pulls completely away from the sides of the bowl and is smooth and not too sticky. It will be very soft and moist, but not so sticky that you can’t roll it out. You may have flour left over. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (and up to 12 hours).
3. 20 minutes before taking the dough out, heat a heavy bottomed pot with at least 2 inches of oil until a deep-fat / candy thermometer registers 360ºF.
4. Line a baking sheet with a lightly floured non-terry dish towel. Roll out the dough on a slightly floured surface to ½ inch thick. With a doughnut or cookie cutter (can use a glass, too) cut out 3-inch-diameter rounds with 1-inch-diameter holes (if you plan on filling the doughnuts with preserves, don’t cut out the holes).
5. Place the doughnuts on the baking sheet at least 1 inch apart and cover with plastic wrap. Let sit in a warm spot to proof until they almost double in size, 5 to 20 minutes (kamran note: it took about 5 minutes for mine to proof), testing at five-minute intervals. To test whether the dough Is ready, touch lightly with a fingertip. If it springs back immediately, it needs more time. If it springs back slowly, it is ready. If it does not spring back at all, it has overproofed; no worries- you can punch it down and re-roll it once.
6. Once the doughnuts have proofed, using a metal spatula, carefully place the doughnuts in the oil. Fry for 1 to 2 minutes per side (for the doughnut holes, it might be less than 30 seconds a side, so keep an eye on them!), or until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon, drain on a wire rack over a paper towel, and let cool before glazing.
7. Prepare the glaze, recipes follow.
8. Glaze the doughnuts, cover them with sprinkles, cover the doughnuts in powdered sugar, or do a mix of each. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
14Serving Size:
1 DoughnutAmount Per Serving: Calories: 130Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 43mgSodium: 89mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 5g
Basic Glaze Recipe
This makes a delightful basic glaze for homemade glazed doughnuts.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (150 grams) confectioners’ sugar, sifted to remove any lumps.
- 3 to 4 tablespoons milk or water
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
Place the sugar in a medium bowl and slowly stir in the milk and vanilla, a little at a time, to make a smooth pourable glaze.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
14Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 6Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 3mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 0g
Chocolate Glaze Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (150 grams) confectioners’ sugar, sifted to remove any lumps.
- 4 tablespoons (27 grams) cocoa powder
- 3 to 4 tablespoons milk or water
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
Sift together the sugar and cocoa powder in a medium bowl . Slowly stir in the milk and vanilla, a little at a time, to make a smooth pourable glaze.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
14Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 6Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 3mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 0g
141 Comments
Megan G
October 18, 2010 at 4:12 pmI like a whip cream filled glaze doughnut. This cookbook looks great!
Allison
October 18, 2010 at 4:46 pmCake doughnuts but a big old smile on my face! I love that they are so different from regular doughnuts! Yum!
heather
October 18, 2010 at 4:57 pmStumbled onto your blog from a comment of yours on another, and glad I did — you have gorgeous photos and recipes! Crullers are very big in Wisconsin, where I’m from, but my favorite doughnut is a hot, plain cake doughnut… maple-glazed doughnuts a close second.
Cheers,
*Heather*
Joan
October 18, 2010 at 6:13 pmMy favorite doughnut is an apple filled one.
Carol C
October 18, 2010 at 7:23 pmlemon filled is so luscious and wonderful….mmmmmmm……
olga
October 18, 2010 at 8:08 pmI am buying that book tomorrow. Tomorrow, you hear? Donuts. Wow. Amazing. Thanks for the inspiration, Kamran – beautiful work.
Stephanie
October 18, 2010 at 8:17 pmPastry cream filled vanilla doughnut. Yum.
Elizabeth
October 18, 2010 at 8:52 pmMy favorite is a chocolate cake donut but these look yummy!!!!
Jayne
October 18, 2010 at 9:00 pmMy fav doughnuts are simple choco glazed ones.. no harm if they have some jelly in them :-)
Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction
October 18, 2010 at 9:24 pmWow… Those doughnuts are absolutely stunning!!
Allix
October 18, 2010 at 11:43 pmMy favorites are 1) cake doughnuts with vanilla glaze and rainbow sprinkles, 2) raised maple bars, and 3) glazed buttermilk bars
Sonia{7spice}
October 19, 2010 at 1:31 amI’m glad that I’ve discovered your beautiful blog, Kamran! You’ve nice recipe collection with amazing pics. Ah! those doughnuts, they looks simply gorgeous! :)
Lindsay
October 19, 2010 at 4:48 amBaking doughnuts is something I’ve always wanted to do, but never been brave enough to try. Your doughnuts look amazing! So I might have to indulge in making some soon. My favourite doughnuts are old school raspberry jam filled and rolled in icing sugar. Tasty tasty!
Sarah
October 19, 2010 at 7:08 amI think my favorite are homemade, fried and covered in cinnamon sugar. Lord help me, I’m drooling :-)
Brittany Elise
October 19, 2010 at 8:31 amBlueberry Cake Doughnuts are my absolute favorite, with chocolate glazed yeast doughnuts in a close second!
Amber
October 19, 2010 at 8:16 amMy favorite is a chocolate glazed doughnut…yum….I would love to be able to make them myself!
Nikki Jean
October 19, 2010 at 9:45 amit changes depending on my mood but I can always go for a plain glazed filled with raspberry jam!
AMI
October 19, 2010 at 10:57 amYou mean there has to be a favorite? I can’t tell you my favorite part, but I can tell you my least favorite part – the empty plate they leave behind and the yearning I am left with for more! Can’t wait to try these!
robin
October 19, 2010 at 11:01 amHi Kam! This is a great post; such beautiful photos. The perfect post to be the first one for me to look at after my big long break from food blogging. Thanks for the congrats about the marriage — we had a great time at the wedding and on our foodie honeymoon. :)
And, as for favorite doughnuts, mine would have to be the cider doughnuts that my local apple orchard sells. Mmm, mmm.
Josh
October 19, 2010 at 12:38 pmMy favorite would have to be just a plain glazed doughnut hole. Perfect to just pop in your mouth on the go.
Candace
October 19, 2010 at 12:45 pmMy favorite doughnut might be a New York Cheesecake doughnut from our local shop but I love doughnuts from our cider mill too.
judy
October 19, 2010 at 2:57 pmmy fav donuts have to be the chocolate donuts with sprinkles!!
Elizabeth
October 19, 2010 at 3:53 pmJust found your site via Joy the Baker, and I can already tell I’m going to be visiting it a lot. My favorite doughnut (I realize this is highly specific) is the maple-iced cake doughnut made at Wall Drug, in Wall, South Dakota. I like maple anyway, but those are the best I’ve had anywhere.
Ashlie
October 19, 2010 at 7:26 pmMy favorite always has been apple fritters, though I am also a sucker for “long johns” – an eclair-like donut filled with vanilla pudding and topped with a chocolate glaze. I haven’t had either in longer than I can remember, and I’ve never made any kind of donuts at home – so I could really use this cookbook!
Kelly
October 19, 2010 at 7:54 pmYeast-raised are my favorite. I have never tried to make them myself…
Mari
October 19, 2010 at 7:54 pmHi Kam, My son is a huge doughnut fan but I’ve been reluctant to try because of fear of failure (lol). But yours look pretty awesome. Congrats!!
jenn (bread + butter)
October 19, 2010 at 10:28 pmOh Kamran, why must you tease me with these doughnuts. Now I want some for a midnight snack.
As for my favorite…I’ve always been a glazed kind of girl, but I do like a custard filled on every once in a while.
ila
October 20, 2010 at 1:32 ammy goodness. donuts!? from scratch!?!?
my favorite donut is a chocolate cake donut with simple sugar icing. with black coffee. mmmm.
Kim
October 20, 2010 at 8:56 amGorgeous photos!
Fresh blueberry donuts are my favorite.
kamran
October 20, 2010 at 9:09 amRobin– Hey there! And thank you for your kind words! I’m glad you like it. Also-what’s the name of the orchard? I’d love to get my hands on some of those cider doughnuts!
Elizabeth– Why thank you!
Jenn– I’m with you on the bavarian cream- they are great every once in a while!
Pepi
October 20, 2010 at 12:59 pmIs there a flavor I don’t like? I Love them ALL. Glazed, Chocolate Covered, Caramel glaze and Chocolate Covered with Bavarian Cream Filling to start. Blueberry ,Maple, I could go on and on. Thanks for the giveaway. Would love to have that cookbook!
Kirsten
October 20, 2010 at 1:46 pmOh my goodness. Those look lovely.
My friend and I were just talking about having a doughnut party!
My favourite would have to be homemade maple glazed doughnuts… like Mama makes.
Katie @ The Boston Marathoner
October 20, 2010 at 2:27 pmMy favorite donut of all time is the plain glazed donut from Donut Villa in Malden, MA – it is a small shop owned and run by a 60 year old Greek man and his family, and they are the most delicious-melt-in-your-mouth-oh-my-god donuts you have ever tried.
Yum.
Kim
October 20, 2010 at 4:40 pmMy favorite kind of donut is a raised custard-filled donut with chocolate frosting/glaze. They remind me of Boston Cream Pie!
A close second would be a fresh glazed donut with a great cup of coffee!
Bell
October 20, 2010 at 5:55 pmI absolutely love this. I am seriously wanting to make 1000 glazed donuts every morning when I wake up.
I NEED THIS BOOK.
Michelle
October 20, 2010 at 5:30 pmOh my goodness….they look divine!
I love chocolate cake donuts!
John W
October 20, 2010 at 6:47 pmMy favorite doughnut would have to be an old fashion or maple bar. Your raised doughnut recipe looks wonderful and I think I will try it this weekend. Maybe I will have a new favorite next week!
Adrianna from A Cozy Kitchen
October 20, 2010 at 7:59 pmJust recently I’ve been craving doughnuts ALL the time. I need to buy this book! Your pictures are so pretty and your doughnuts look fantastic. Wish I was there to try one!
Kat
October 20, 2010 at 10:42 pmOh goodness. At home the local bakery makes the BEST kruellers. I would absolutely die of happiness be able to make them myself.
Nancy Baggett
October 20, 2010 at 10:55 pmI, too, am crazy for doughnuts. With Halloween coming, I think these would be great to serve with apple cider. I’m also thinking I might substitute apple cider for the milk in the glaze. Yum!
Lily
October 20, 2010 at 11:01 pmPlain glazed doughnuts are my favorite. Preferably warm. Mmmm!
Twinkle
October 21, 2010 at 12:53 amYour doughnuts look so yummy! I am way too scared of deep frying things though!
I love cinnamon and sugar doughnuts!
Paula
October 21, 2010 at 9:16 amlooks so delicious!
Have a nice time!
Paula
tiptup
October 21, 2010 at 9:25 amit’s got to be the good ol sugar glazed yeast doughnut! mmm mmmmmm
Cynthia
October 21, 2010 at 10:06 amI love doughnuts. I especially like ones with cinnamon
And sugar and been obsessed with eclairs lately.
I want this book!
Rebecca
October 21, 2010 at 10:14 amI have never made doughnuts before (or deep-fried anything), so this book would be a great step forward for me. My favourite doughnut is a French cruller, hands down. I can’t get enough of the airy interior.
Wendolyn Ramos-Lemert
October 21, 2010 at 11:58 amYour pictures make me want doughnuts!!! I love how sophisticated you make them look….love love love!! Thank you for sharing. I can’t wait to make my husband these wonderful doughnuts. He’s a bit of a Homer Simpson, himself! (But, then again, aren’t we all!!!!)
Tess
October 21, 2010 at 12:34 pmAn old fashion glazed donut can’t be topped except with CHOCOLATE! YUM!!! My next favorite would be a Blueberry Cake Donut.
Cynthia
October 21, 2010 at 1:50 pmYummy. My favorite are the glazed with chocolate topping. I’ve never tried making doughnuts before, but the pictures are inspiring.
Keren
October 21, 2010 at 2:12 pmI love them all!!! But my favorites would have to be: chocolate glazed, lemon curd filled, and spiced cake.