Basic Fried Donuts Recipes

SIMPLE HOMEMADE DONUTS (FRIED)

Steps:

• Stir vinegar into milk and let stand for a few minutes until thick.
• Cream together sugar and shortening (and add melted chocolate if using that).
• Add eggs and vanilla and stir until blended.
• Sift together flour, salt, and soda (and cocoa if using that). Stir into sugar mixture, alternating with milk mixture to incorporate both thoroughly. ( I had to add about 1 1/2 cups extra flour to get a dough consistency myself.)
• Roll dough out thick, about 1/3 inch and cut into doughnut shapes with a doughnut cutter. I used a large cup for the donuts and a narrow shot-glass for the holes. Roll excess dough into small balls and flatten to make more donut
• Heat oil until it makes noise ( about 375°F ) and fry doughnuts.

THE BEST OLD-FASHIONED DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, 1 1/4 teaspoons of the salt and the nutmeg in a large bowl until completely combined. Whisk together 2/3 cup of the buttermilk, the sour cream, eggs, yolks, 1 tablespoon of the vanilla paste and the oil in a medium bowl until completely combined. Fold the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients just until a soft and sticky dough comes together (do not overwork).
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and liberally dust with flour (about 1/3 cup).
• Scrape the dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Dust your hands and the top of the dough with more flour, then gently pat the dough to 3/4-inch thick.
• Working on the baking sheet, punch out as many rounds as you can with a 3 1/4-inch cutter. Then use a 1 1/4-inch cutter to punch out the center of each round. Dip the cutters in flour before each cut to avoid sticking. Gather the dough scraps and gently re-roll without overworking the dough. Repeat cutting until all the dough has been used (you should have 8 doughnuts).
• Set a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet and line a second rimmed baking sheet with several layers of paper towels. Fit a large heavy pot with a deep-fry thermometer and pour in oil to a depth of 3 inches. Heat over medium-high until the thermometer registers 375 degrees F.
• Fry the doughnuts in batches until deep golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to the wire rack and let cool slightly. Fry the doughnut holes until deep golden brown, about 90 seconds per side. Transfer to the wire rack and let drain for 1 minute. Then transfer to the paper-towel lined baking sheet to cool for 10 minutes before glazing. (This two-step process gets a lot more oil out of the doughnuts than using only one method.) Repeat with the remaining dough, making sure the oil returns to temperature between batches.
• Whisk together the confectioners' sugar, the remaining 6 tablespoons buttermilk, the remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla paste and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl until the glaze is smooth and the consistency of honey; add more confectioners' sugar or buttermilk if necessary.
• Dip each doughnut into the glaze on one side (we like the craggy side, it has more texture for an appetizing appearance), letting the excess drip back into the bowl, then return it to the wire rack. Toss the doughnut holes in the glaze to coat completely and return to the wire rack. Let the glaze set for 10 minutes before serving.

BASIC FRIED DONUTS

Steps:

• 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.
• Add the remaining sugar, milk, butter, egg and salt.
• Start to add the flour gradually while stirring, adding only enough just until the dough gathers in the center of the bowl.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

SUPER EASY DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Stir the vinegar into the milk, and let stand for a few minutes until thick.
• In a medium bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla until well blended. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the sugar mixture alternating with the vinegar and milk. Roll dough out on a floured surface to 1/3 inch thickness. Cut into doughnuts using a donut cutter. Let stand for about 10 minutes.
• Heat the oil in a large deep skillet to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Fry doughnuts in the hot oil until golden, turning over once. Drain on paper towels. Dust with confectioners' sugar while they are still warm, and serve immediately.

YEAST DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl combine 1 3/4 cups flour with yeast. In a saucepan heat milk, sugar, butter and salt until butter melts. Stir milk mixture into flour along with eggs, beating with a heavy-duty electric mixer on low for 30 seconds, just to combine. Increase speed to high and beat 3 minutes. Add the remaining flour, a little at a time, stirring with a spoon to make a firm but pliable dough. Knead dough on lightly-floured work surface 4 to 5 minutes until smooth and supple. Transfer to an oiled bowl. Cover and let dough rise until it doubles in size, about 1 hour.
• Turn dough out onto floured surface, punch down and roll out to 1 /2- inch thickness. Cut out doughnuts with a floured doughnut cutter; re roll trimmings and cut them into doughnuts as well. Transfer doughnuts to baking sheets, cover and let rise 45 minutes.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer to 360 degrees F (180 degrees C). Fry doughnuts, in batches, turning several times, until golden all over. Using a slotted spoon remove doughnuts to a rack to drain. Let doughnuts cool and dredge in confectioners' sugar.

BEST HOMEMADE FRIED DONUTS: THE EASY AND DELICIOUS HOMEMADE DONUT RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, add the milk, 2 tablespoons sugar, yeast, salt, egg, flour, and butter.
• Use your hands to mix all ingredients and knead the dough.
• Cover and allow to rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes.
• Remove the dough from the ball, flatten slightly, and divide into 12 equal parts.
• Use your hands to create round balls of dough.
• Roll out the ball into a long, thin sausage shape. Fold the ends over each other.
• Continue to fold to form a plaited donut.
• Cover and allow to rest for about 30 minutes.
• Heat enough oil for shallow frying in a cast-iron pan over medium heat. Add the donuts and fry until golden.
• Flip the donuts and fry the other side until golden and cooked through.
• Sprinkle with sugar.

NO-FRY DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add milk and shortening; stir for 1 minute. Add sugar, eggs, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon and 2 cups flour; beat on low speed until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (do not knead). Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Punch dough down. Turn onto a floured surface; roll out to 1/2-in. thickness. Cut with a 2-3/4-in. doughnut cutter; place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Brush with butter. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes., Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Meanwhile, for glaze, melt butter in a saucepan. Add the confectioners' sugar, water and vanilla; cook over low heat until smooth (do not boil). Keep warm. , Dip warm doughnuts, one at a time, into glaze and turn to coat. Drain on a wire rack. Serve immediately.