Glazed Yeast Donuts

These tender, melt-in-your-mouth Glazed Yeast Donuts can be enjoyed on their own or with a million different fillings, glazes, or toppings.

Donuts may seem like a strange recipe to master, since there are shops to buy them everywhere. But I’m here to tell you that one bite of these glazed yeast donuts will convert you instantly. They’re tender and will melt in your mouth, with a thin, shattering glaze that tops any donut shop around.

Not only can you make amazing glazed donuts, this recipe is a gateway to countless other flavors and fillings. There are a few ideas at the bottom of this post, but you can also get creative and do whatever fillings and toppings you want!

To Make Glazed Yeast Donuts

• Start by warming your milk to between 100 and 110F, then stir the sugar into it in a stand mixer bowl fitted with a dough hook. Add the yeast and let it sit for 5-10 minutes, or until it’s bubbly and frothy. If you don’t have a thermometer, just make sure that the milk is warm but not too hot, since too much heat will kill the yeast.
• Mix in the eggs and melted butter on medium-low speed. Again, make sure the butter isn’t hot, since you don’t want to destroy the yeast activity.
• While the mixer is still running, add the flour and salt and continue to mix and knead until it’s all completely combined, for about five minutes.
• Allow the dough to rest for about ten minutes, then move it to an oiled bowl. It will seem too soft to work with, but some time in the fridge will help it firm up a bit.
• Cover with plastic wrap and place the dough in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. I like to make mine the day before I’m frying the donuts and chill it out over night.
• When cutting the donuts, be sure to flour your surfaces well. Be sure to not cut a center hole in the donuts, since they’ll be sliced and filled. To let them rise, place them on a well floured sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet.
• After cutting them out the donuts need to rise. You want them to rise until puffy, but not too soft or they will create air holes and fill with oil when frying. If you want a quicker rise, turn on your oven for 2 minutes. Then, turn it off and your oven has become a nice, toasty proving drawer.

How to Fry Donuts Without a Deep Fryer

If you’re wondering if you can fry donuts without a deep fryer, the answer is a resounding YES! It just takes a little patience, practice, and protective hand gear. Oh, and a good thermometer

• Start by using a fairly deep pot. You won’t be using more oil that way, just providing protection from splatters. For example, I put about 2″ of oil in a pot that’s 4″ deep (it’s about 8″ across, just to give you a better idea of dimensions). That way, if oil pops it doesn’t splatter all over me and the kitchen.
• Heat your oil to 350F/176.6C over medium heat. It’ll seem like it’s taking an eternity to get there, but be patient! Once oil gets hot, it stays that way for a while and you don’t want to have to wait for it to cool down again. Also, you’ll need to monitor your burner temp and adjust as needed.
• Once the oil is up to temperature, use a metal slotted spoon to carefully lower 2-3 donuts into the oil–if you add more, it’ll lower the oil temperature too dramatically. They may sink at first, but should float after a few seconds. Allow them to cook for about 2 minutes, or until they are a deep golden brown. Flip, and allow it to cook for the same amount of time on the other side. Once the donuts are completely cooked, remove them to a tray lined with paper towels to absorb the extra grease.

Other Donut Recipes You May Enjoy:

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