What makes this homemade donut recipe so easy and delicious? Puff pastry dough plus two simple ingredients!
This post is all about how to make this Fried Donut Recipe.
Who can resist homemade FRESHHH donuts?! Not me. And because there’s nothing quite like this homemade Fried Donut Recipe, you may make them on a whim because they’re incredibly delicious and easy!
To keep things simple, you’ll need three ingredients: puff pastry dough, oil for frying, and a sugar coating. Once the flaky, doughy layers of pastry are deep-fried, then glazed or rolled in powdered sugar, you’ll have mouthwatering donuts that no one can resist!
The origin of the fried donut is heavily debated and mostly unknown. However, the Dutch are historically credited with making “oil cakes,” which were balls of dough fried in pork fat as early as the mid-19th century. The donut’s infamous shape was credited to Hansen Gregory in 1847 because he punched a hole in the dough balls before frying them.
This donut recipe might make you think of a trendy cronut because of its crispy layers, but its taste will remind you of an old-fashioned donut. The primary puff pastry ingredient keeps things simple and incredibly yummy.
Fried Donut Recipe
How Do You Make Perfect Fried Donuts?
Getting the oil temperature to 375 degrees F is KEY for perfect fried donuts. If the oil is underheated, more oil will seep into the donuts, making them overly greasy. Use a thermometer to check the oil’s temperature before adding the donuts to the pot.
Be sure to only add two to three donuts at a time and for no longer than 1 to 2 minutes. Lastly, allow the oil to drain off the fried donuts by lining a wire rack with paper towels before coating them in sugar or with a frosted topping.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- 1 Package of Puff Pastry Dough Sheets – One store-bought package comes with two sheets which make eight regular-sized donuts and eight donut holes.
- 3 cups of Peanut Oil or Vegetable Oil – Peanut oil is popular for frying food because it has a high smoke point and a neutral taste compared to vegetable oil. Although, you can use vegetable oil if you prefer.
- All-Purpose Flour – You’ll need to lay the thawed puff pastry sheets onto a lightly floured surface and rub a bit onto a rolling pin.
Optional Recommended Fried Donut Coating Ingredients:
- White Granulated Sugar – Roll the warm donuts in sugar.
- Powdered Sugar – Roll the warm donuts in powdered sugar.
- Cinnamon and Sugar Mixture – Add one tablespoon of ground cinnamon and 1/2 cup of sugar to a bowl and mix. Roll the warm donuts in the mixture. Double the ratios if you need more.
- Glazed Topping – Whisk together 2 cups of powdered sugar, 1/4 cup milk (whole milk preferred), and one teaspoon of vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth. Dip the donut into the glazed topping on both sides or one side. Allow the glazed donut to dry on a wire rack for about five minutes. BONUS: Add a couple of drops of food coloring to the glazed topping for color if you wish.
Equipment Needed For This Fried Donut Recipe:
- Donut Cutter or a 3-inch cookie or biscuit cutter for the circle and a 1-inch cookie cutter for the holes. You can use a mason jar lid for the 3-inch circle, and I used a twist-off wine screw cap for the middle 1-inch hole (it worked perfectly, btw!).
How To Make This Basic Fried Donut Recipe, Step-By-Step
Step 1: Thaw two sheets of puff pastry dough. One box contains two sheets. Once thawed, the sheets will unfold effortlessly, and you can remove the inner papers.
Step 2: After removing the inner papers, fold the sheets of dough back to how they were originally folded in the box. Place one folded sheet of dough onto a lightly floured surface. Using a rolling pin, gently roll each sheet to just over 12 inches long (lengthwise).
Step 3: Using a 3-inch cutter, make four circles with each dough sheet. Use the 1-inch cutter to make smaller holes in the middle of the 3-inch circles. You should get eight regular-sized donuts and eight donut holes from two sheets of puff pastry dough. (With the scraps left over from each sheet, you could roll the dough and make two or three more donuts.)
Step 4: Place the cutouts of donuts and donut holes onto a plate and set them in the refrigerator while you heat the oil.
Step 5: Line a wire cookie rack with paper towels and prepare your donut toppings. Whether you’re using sugar, powdered sugar, cinnamon and sugar, or a glaze, it’s best to have those ready so that you can dip the warm donuts into the topping of your choice.
Step 6: Add three cups of oil to a dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot. Over medium-high heat, begin heating the oil until it reaches 375 degrees F. Please use a candy thermometer to check the oil’s temperature. It’s crucial the oil is heated correctly, or the donuts will absorb more oil if underheated, making them taste greasy.
Step 7: Now that the oil is heated correctly, drop no more than two to three donuts into the pot at a time. They’ll need to cook for about one to two minutes or until golden brown. Use the slotted spoon to turn them over in the pot so both sides of the donut are golden.
Step 8: Remove the donuts and place them onto the wire cookie rack lined with paper towels so the excess grease can drain. After a couple of minutes, dip the warm donuts into the sugars or glaze topping. You can dip both sides of the donut so it’s covered, or just coat one side.
Step 9: Continue cooking the rest of the donuts and donut holes. The donut holes will only need to cook for about 30 seconds to one minute.
SERVE IMMEDIATELY and enjoy!
FAQs And Tips For This Simple Recipe
Is It Better To Fry Or Bake Donuts?
A fried donut always tastes better! But baked donuts are healthier because they’re not fried with oil.
What Should I Fry My Donuts In?
You can use peanut or vegetable oil. Peanut oil is popular for frying because of its neutral taste and high smoke point.
Is It Better To Fry Donuts In Lard Or Oil?
Some would say using a hard fat like lard is better than oil. I prefer to use peanut oil for this donut recipe.
Is This A Fried Donut Recipe Without Yeast?
This recipe does not call for yeast because the store-bought puff pastry dough is already prepared.
How Do You Make This Fried Donut Recipe With Biscuits?
You can purchase a can of biscuits at the grocery store and then make one-inch holes in the middle of each one. Follow the frying instructions in this recipe. For this version, you may need to fry the biscuit dough a bit longer.
Do These Donuts Taste Like Old Fashioned Bakery Donuts?
Yes! Even though they’re made with puff pastry dough, they taste just like the cake donuts found at a traditional donut bakery.
How Do You Make Deep Fried Mini Donuts With This Recipe?
While donut holes aren’t mini donuts, they’re just as good! This recipe will give you eight donut holes and eight regular-sized donuts.
Can I Use An Air Fryer Instead To Make These Donuts?
You can, but they won’t taste as sinful as traditional fried donuts. If you prefer to use the air fryer, bake them at 350 degrees F for five to eight minutes or until golden brown. If choosing this option, I would go with the glaze topping since it would be hard for sugar to stick to the donuts since they won’t be fried in oil.
How Do I Store These Fried Donuts?
Store these fried donuts in an airtight container for up to four days. After that, you can store them in the freezer to ensure freshness for up to three months.
Easy Fried Donut Recipe
Equipment
- Rolling Pin
- Donut Cutter or a 3-inch cookie or biscuit cutter for the circle and a 1-inch cookie cutter for the hole. You can use a mason jar lid for the 3-inch circle, and I used a twist-off wine screw cap for the middle 1-inch hole (it worked perfectly, btw!).
- Dutch Oven or Heavy-Bottomed Pot
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Candy Thermometer
- Slotted Spoon
- Paper Towels
- Wire Cooling Rack
Ingredients
Ingredients You'll Need For This Fried Donut Recipe:
- 1 Puff Pastry Dough Package – One store-bought package comes with two sheets which make eight regular-sized donuts and eight donut holes.
- 3 cups Peanut Oil or Vegetable Oil
- All-Purpose Flour – You’ll need to lay the thawed puff pastry sheets onto a lightly floured surface and rub a bit onto a rolling pin.
Optional Recommended Fried Donut Coating Ingredients:
- White Granulated Sugar – Roll the warm donuts in sugar
- Powdered Sugar – Roll the warm donuts in powdered sugar.
- Cinnamon and Sugar Mixture – Add one tablespoon of ground cinnamon and 1/2 cup of sugar to a bowl and mix. Roll the warm donuts in the mixture. Double the ratios if you need more.
- Glazed Topping – Whisk together 2 cups of powdered sugar, 1/4 cup milk (whole milk preferred), and one teaspoon of vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth. Dip the donut into the glazed topping on both sides or one side. Allow the glazed donut to dry on a wire rack for about five minutes. BONUS: Add a couple of drops of food coloring to the glazed topping for color if you wish.
Instructions
How To Make This Fried Donut Recipe, Step-By-Step
- Thaw two sheets of puff pastry dough. One box contains two sheets. Once thawed, the sheets will unfold effortlessly, and you can remove the outer paper.
- Next, fold the sheets of dough back to how they were originally folded in the box. Place one folded sheet of dough onto a lightly floured surface. Using a rolling pin, gently roll each sheet to just over 12 inches long (lengthwise).
- Using a 3-inch cutter, make four circles with each dough sheet. Use the 1-inch cutter to make smaller holes in the middle of the 3-inch circles. You should get eight regular-sized donuts and eight donut holes from two sheets of puff pastry dough. (With the scraps left over from each sheet, you could roll the dough and make two or three more donuts.)
- Place the cutouts of donuts and donut holes onto a plate and set them in the refrigerator while you heat the oil.
- Line a wire cookie rack with paper towels and prepare your donut toppings. Whether you’re using sugar, powdered sugar, cinnamon and sugar, or a glaze, it’s best to have those ready so that you can dip the warm donuts into the topping of your choice.
- Add three cups of oil to a dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot. Over medium-high heat, begin heating the oil until it reaches 375 degrees F. Please use a candy thermometer to check the oil’s temperature. It’s crucial the oil is heated correctly, or the donuts will absorb more oil if underheated, making them taste greasy.
- Now that the oil is heated correctly, drop no more than two to three donuts into the pot at a time. They’ll need to cook for about one to two minutes or until golden brown. Use the slotted spoon to turn them over in the pot so both sides of the donut are golden.
- Remove the donuts and place them onto the wire cookie rack lined with paper towels so the excess grease can drain. After a couple of minutes, dip the warm donuts into the sugars or glaze topping. You can dip both sides of the donut so it’s covered, or just coat one side.
- Continue cooking the rest of the donuts and donut holes. The donut holes will only need to cook for about 30 seconds to one minute.
- SERVE IMMEDIATELY and enjoy!
Nutrition
Final Thoughts For This Easy Fried Donut Recipe
Not only is this easy Fried Donut Recipe delicious, but it’s a great way to make some sweet and lasting memories with family and friends in the kitchen. Cooking is supposed to be fun, so remember that when making this recipe!
Follow career girl meets… on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for more home decor ideas, recipes, and gift guides.
Leave a Reply