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These tasty vanilla donuts make the perfect special breakfast or comforting snack. They've got that soft inside and crispy outside that makes them so hard to resist—your whole family will go crazy for them!
I've been making these donuts ever since my grandma passed down her recipe to me. Whenever I whip them up for Sunday breakfast, everyone in the house wakes up following that amazing vanilla smell.
What You'll Need
- For the dough:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour: regular flour works great for a light texture
- 1/4 cup sugar: just enough for a hint of sweetness
- 1 tablespoon baking powder: key for getting fluffy, airy donuts
- 1/4 teaspoon salt: balances out the sweet stuff
- 1 egg: try using one at room temperature for best results
- 3/4 cup milk: whole milk makes them extra rich
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract: go for real vanilla for that authentic flavor
- 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter: adds richness and makes them tender
- Vegetable oil: for perfect frying at 175°C
- For coating:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar: for a sweet, soft coating
Step-By-Step Instructions
- Mix dry stuff together:
- Put flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a big bowl and stir them up good. This really matters because it makes sure everything gets spread out evenly and you won't get lumps in your finished dough.
- Add wet ingredients:
- Put in the egg, milk, vanilla extract and melted butter with your dry mix. Stir gently until everything comes together. Don't mix too much or your donuts won't be soft. The dough should be a bit sticky but still easy to handle.
- Knead your dough:
- Move the dough to a lightly floured counter and knead for about 2 minutes. This builds up the gluten for better texture, but be careful not to overdo it or your donuts will get rubbery.
- Roll out and cut shapes:
- Flatten the dough to about 1.5 cm thick with a rolling pin. Use a round cutter or a glass to make even circles. This exact thickness lets the donuts puff up just right while cooking.
- Fry them up:
- Heat oil to exactly 175°C in a deep pot. Carefully drop in 3 or 4 donuts at a time without crowding the pot. Cook about 2-3 minutes on each side until they turn golden brown and float to the top.
- Roll in sugar:
- While the donuts are still warm but not too hot to handle, roll them in powdered sugar. The warmth helps the sugar stick perfectly all over for an even, yummy coating.
My family can't wait for these donuts every weekend. My little trick is adding some fresh lemon zest to the dough to bring out the vanilla flavor even more. This tiny change makes them taste so much better.
Keeping Them Fresh
You can keep vanilla donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. They won't stay crispy for long but still taste good. To warm them up, pop them in the microwave for a few seconds or in a 150°C oven for 3-5 minutes. Don't store them in the fridge though, they'll get hard faster that way.
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Tasty Twists
You can easily make these your own by adding different flavors to the dough. Try some cinnamon, nutmeg or cardamom. For an extra treat, mix chocolate chips into the dough or fill the donuts with jam or pastry cream after cooking. You can also swap out the vanilla extract for almond or orange extract instead.
Serving Ideas
Enjoy these donuts while they're still warm for breakfast with a creamy coffee or hot chocolate. For a fancy dessert, put them on a platter with chocolate or caramel sauce for dipping. They also work great as a base for fancier desserts like cream puff style donuts topped with ice cream and berry sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → What oil works best for frying donuts?
Use a neutral-tasting vegetable oil like sunflower or canola, which handles high frying temperatures really well.
- → Can vanilla extract be swapped out?
Sure, try a vanilla bean or natural vanilla flavoring. Adjust based on how strong you want the flavor.
- → How do you stop donuts from soaking up too much oil?
Make sure the oil’s properly heated to 175°C before frying, and place donuts on paper towels after cooking.
- → Can I prep the dough ahead?
Yes, just make the dough a day early and keep it in the fridge. Let it warm up a bit before rolling it out.
- → What’s the best way to store leftover donuts?
Pop them into an airtight container and keep at room temperature. Try to enjoy them within 1 or 2 days for the best taste.