• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Baking for Happiness
  • Recipes
  • About Us
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About Us
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About Us
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Snacks

    The Best, Easy Donut Recipe

    Written by Kathrin (Leave a Comment)

    You're guaranteed to succeed with this easy donut recipe! Making your own donuts with yeast dough is fun and no problem at all!

    Yeast Donuts with Colorful Decoration

    Hello everybody! The famous yeast dough curls are super delicious and a real eye-catcher. Our recipe allows you to make donuts without a donut maker and other special equipment.

    Jump to:
    • Taste and Occasion
    • Ingredients
    • How to make the Donuts
    • Top Tip
    • Recipe Card
    • Variations
    • Nutrition
    • Reviews

    Taste and Occasion

    Homemade donuts are a lot of fun: starting with the preparation, especially the decorating, to the snacking (of course). With our donuts recipe with yeast, you no longer have to buy the delicious, colorful curls in the future but can bake your personal favorite alternative.

    Originally, donuts, like cookies or cupcakes, were mainly known in the USA. Or as Homer Simpson's favorite dish 😉 . In the meantime, however, you can buy them almost everywhere. Making donuts yourself is better for several reasons: First, it is, as already written, a good mood recipe (suitable for baking with children or as a carnival snack). And secondly, your baking result will be really individual.

    Easy Donut Recipe

    Ingredients

    Maybe you have seen special devices for baking donuts. However, it is only an original recipe if you prepare the donuts without a particular donut maker. Because for the latter, a cake batter is used (for example, also with my healthy, vegan and sugar-free donuts), and as a result, the donuts taste a bit like waffles. The classic ones are made of yeast dough. And are then deep-fried - whether in the crock pot or deep fryer.

    The best part of the donut recipe is by far the decoration. You should plan a little time for it. But your kids (grandkids, nephews, neighbors 😉) will love you 😉 ! For the decoration, I bought products from the whole supermarket's baking assortment - chocolate drops, sugar sprinkles, food coloring, rasps and Co.

    How to make Donuts yourself

    How to make the Donuts

    Check out my other similar recipes!
    • Shortcrust Pastry
    • Hungarian hearty donut recipe
      Hungarian Lángos
    • German Bee Sting Cake
    • Soft and Fluffy Braided Bread

    Let's jump right into the recipe: Crumble the yeast into half of the lukewarm milk. Add a teaspoon of the sugar and stir until the yeast has dissolved. Now, put the flour in a bowl and make a well in the center. Pour in lukewarm yeast-milk-mixture and mix with a bit of flour from the sides. It's time to cover the bowl with a cloth and let the dough rest in a warm place for 10 minutes.

    You continue by adding the remaining sugar, remaining lukewarm milk, softened butter, eggs, and salt, mixing, and kneading it for about 5 minutes to form a soft dough. Cover again and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes. Then, roll out the dough on a lightly floured work surface to about 0.4 in/ 1 cm. Cut out circles and a small hole in each center using a large round cookie cutter (e.g. glass) or a donut cutter. Cover the donuts, spacing them apart, and let them rise for 30-60 minutes on two baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

    We're almost done: Heat 1-2 liters of frying fat or oil in a relatively high pot (to about 320°F/160°C. Carefully drop in 2 to 3 at a time and deep-fry for 1-2 minutes, then turn, continue the deep-frying process, remove and drain on paper towels.

    In the end, decorate your cooled donuts as you like. They taste the best fresh but also freeze well.

    Delicious Donuts with Yeast

    Top Tip

    The easiest way to decorate donuts is with ready-made or classic powdered sugar icing. Here I like to use milk instead of water or lemon juice because the glaze then "covers" better. My favorite is the cookie crumb topping 😉 Jan is into donuts with chocolate icing. And our little ones are thrilled with the red or blue marbled doughnuts with colorful sugar decorations.

    Here are a few tips to make sure you succeed in making these delicious donuts:

    What do I use to cut out the donuts?

    This recipe doesn't require a baking pan or a doughnut maker. A special donut cutter makes it easier, but a glass and a mini cookie cutter for the center's hole will also work.

    Can donuts be made in the oven?

    Recipe Recommendation

    German Bee Sting Cake

    Incredibly delicious classic: this fluffy bee sting made from yeast dough is filled with a custard cream, but it also tastes great without the filling as an especially quick alternative.

    Basically, yes. However, you only get the typical donut flavor and texture with frying.

    How do you glaze donuts?

    Pour glaze or chocolate glaze in batches into a relatively small bowl. Carefully hold donuts by the bottom and dip the donuts halfway in the glaze. Allow to drip off and invert. Alternatively, coat with a pastry brush.

    Can donuts be frozen?

    The yeast pastries taste the best fresh. However, they can also be frozen well - either ready decorated or "plain".

    How to make Donuts without special equipment

    Recipe Card

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Click on the stars to rate the recipe
    No ratings yet

    Original Donuts

    Making fluffy donuts yourself isn't hard at all - with this easy yeast dough recipe, it works even without a donut maker
    Prep Time20 minutes mins
    Baking Time15 minutes mins
    Waiting Time1 hour hr 40 minutes mins
    Servings: 20 pieces
    Calories: 152kcal

    Ingredients

    For the yeast dough

    • 500 grams (4 cups) flour
    • 200 milliliters (â…˜ cup) milk, lukewarm
    • 30 grams (2 tablespoons) fresh yeast, or 1.5 pack of dry yeast
    • 80 grams (6 ¾ tablespoons) sugar
    • 90 grams (6 ½ tablespoons) butter, very soft
    • 1 egg, medium
    • 1 egg yolk, medium
    • ¼ teaspoon (â…“ teaspoon) salt

    Instructions

    • Crumble the yeast into half of the lukewarm milk. Add a teaspoon of the sugar and stir until the yeast has dissolved.
    • Put the flour in a bowl and make a well in the center. Pour in lukewarm yeast-milk-mixture and mix with a bit of flour from the sides. Cover bowl with a cloth and let rest in a warm place for 10 minutes.
    • Add remaining sugar, remaining lukewarm milk, softened butter, eggs, and salt, mix, and let knead for about 5 minutes to form a soft dough. Cover again and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.
    • Roll out the dough on a lightly floured work surface to about 0.4 in/ 1 cm. Using a large round cookie cutter (e.g. glass) or a donut cutter, cut out circles and a small hole in each center. Cover the donuts, spacing them apart, and let them rise for 30-60 minutes on two baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
    • Heat 1-2 liters of frying fat or oil in a relatively high pot (to about 320°F/160°C. Carefully drop in 2 to 3 at a time and deep-fry for 1-2 minutes, then turn, continue to deep-fry, remove and drain on paper towels.
    • Decorate cooled donuts as desired. They taste best fresh but also freeze well.

    Notes

    • To put the raw dough pieces into the fat without them losing their shape, here's a trick: let each donut rise on a small cut piece of baking paper. Put the paper into the hot fat, then pull the paper out with a pair of tongs.
    • For glazing, use e.g. lemon powdered sugar icing (made of 250g sifted powdered sugar and some juice or milk), which you can color well, as well as melted light and dark chocolate coating. For decorating, use e.g. colorful sugar sprinkles, chopped nuts, coconut flakes, crumbled cookies, or similar.

    Ingredient substitutions

    Do you want to replace some ingredients? Here you find tips for baking ingredient substitutions!

    Variations

    Well, how about it - isn't the carnival season the perfect occasion to try yeast donuts? They are an excellent addition to my funfetti cake. As well as, of course, the healthy alternative without sugar, eggs, butter or frying.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Original Donuts
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 152 Calories from Fat 45
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 5g8%
    Saturated Fat 3g19%
    Trans Fat 0.1g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g
    Monounsaturated Fat 1g
    Cholesterol 29mg10%
    Sodium 67mg3%
    Potassium 56mg2%
    Carbohydrates 24g8%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 5g6%
    Protein 4g8%
    Vitamin A 154IU3%
    Vitamin C 0.002mg0%
    Calcium 20mg2%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    You're guaranteed to succeed with this easy donut recipe! Making your own donuts with yeast dough is fun and no problem at all!You're guaranteed to succeed with this easy donut recipe! Making your own donuts with yeast dough is fun and no problem at all!You're guaranteed to succeed with this easy donut recipe! Making your own donuts with yeast dough is fun and no problem at all!

    Similar Recipes

    • Shortcrust Pastry
      0
      Shortcrust Pastry
    • Hungarian Lángos
      0
      Hungarian Lángos
    • German Bee Sting Cake
      0
      German Bee Sting Cake
    • Soft and Fluffy Braided Bread
      0
      Soft and Fluffy Braided Bread
    • Blinis
      0
      Blinis
    • Cinnamon Rolls
      0
      Cinnamon Rolls
    • The Perfect Yeast Dough
      0
      The Perfect Yeast Dough
    • Classic Crumb Cake Recipe
      0
      Classic Crumb Cake Recipe
    • German butter cake with almond topping
      0
      German butter cake with almond topping
    • About Kathrin & Jan

      It's like a little miracle to me every time. Seemingly simple ingredients are made into something that can brighten up your life. Butter, sugar, eggs, and flour melt into an airy biscuit, a fine tart, a juicy cake, or a crispy biscuit. Baking simply makes you happy. Welcome and enjoy our blog!

      Kathrin & Jan

      Get to know us. →

    • German Christmas Stollen (Christstollen)
      0
      German Christmas Stollen (Christstollen)
    • Traditional White Loaf Bread
      0
      Traditional White Loaf Bread
    • Healthy Donuts
      0
      Healthy Donuts
    • Sugarfree Cinnamon Rolls
      0
      Sugarfree Cinnamon Rolls
    • French Brioche
      0
      French Brioche
    • Stick Bread
      0
      Stick Bread
    • Easy Naan Bread
      0
      Easy Naan Bread
    • Churros
      0
      Churros
    • French Baguette
      0
      French Baguette
    • Burger Buns
      0
      Burger Buns
    • Spinach Puffs with Feta Cheese
      0
      Spinach Puffs with Feta Cheese
    • Farmer's Bread with Yeast
      0
      Farmer's Bread with Yeast
    • Classic Gugelhupf (German Bundt Cake Recipe)
      0
      Classic Gugelhupf (German Bundt Cake Recipe)
    • Easy Thin Crust Pizza Dough
      0
      Easy Thin Crust Pizza Dough
    • Homemade Italian Ciabatta Bread
      0
      Homemade Italian Ciabatta Bread
    • Focaccia with herbs and tomatoes
      0
      Focaccia with herbs and tomatoes

    More Recipes

    • Stick Bread
      Stick Bread (Basic Recipe)
    • churros easy to make yourself
      Churros Easy to Make Yourself
    • pesto flour with yeast dough
      Pesto Flower Bread
    • cornbread with yeast
      Cornbread: Quick American Cornbread

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, we're Kathrin & Jan!

    Check out my other similar recipes!
    • Shortcrust Pastry
    • Hungarian hearty donut recipe
      Hungarian Lángos
    • German Bee Sting Cake
    • Soft and Fluffy Braided Bread

    It's like a little miracle to me every time. Seemingly simple ingredients are made into something that can brighten up your life. Butter, sugar, eggs, and flour melt into an airy biscuit, a fine tart, a juicy cake, or a crispy biscuit. Baking is what makes us happy.

    Recipe Recommendation

    German Bee Sting Cake

    Incredibly delicious classic: this fluffy bee sting made from yeast dough is filled with a custard cream, but it also tastes great without the filling as an especially quick alternative.

    Welcome and enjoy our blog!
    Learn more about us. →

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Original Donuts
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 152 Calories from Fat 45
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 5g8%
    Saturated Fat 3g19%
    Trans Fat 0.1g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g
    Monounsaturated Fat 1g
    Cholesterol 29mg10%
    Sodium 67mg3%
    Potassium 56mg2%
    Carbohydrates 24g8%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 5g6%
    Protein 4g8%
    Vitamin A 154IU3%
    Vitamin C 0.002mg0%
    Calcium 20mg2%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Similar Recipes

    • Shortcrust Pastry
      0
      Shortcrust Pastry
    • Hungarian Lángos
      0
      Hungarian Lángos
    • German Bee Sting Cake
      0
      German Bee Sting Cake
    • Soft and Fluffy Braided Bread
      0
      Soft and Fluffy Braided Bread
    • Blinis
      0
      Blinis
    • Cinnamon Rolls
      0
      Cinnamon Rolls
    • The Perfect Yeast Dough
      0
      The Perfect Yeast Dough
    • Classic Crumb Cake Recipe
      0
      Classic Crumb Cake Recipe
    • German butter cake with almond topping
      0
      German butter cake with almond topping
    • About Kathrin & Jan

      It's like a little miracle to me every time. Seemingly simple ingredients are made into something that can brighten up your life. Butter, sugar, eggs, and flour melt into an airy biscuit, a fine tart, a juicy cake, or a crispy biscuit. Baking simply makes you happy. Welcome and enjoy our blog!

      Kathrin & Jan

      Get to know us. →

    • German Christmas Stollen (Christstollen)
      0
      German Christmas Stollen (Christstollen)
    • Traditional White Loaf Bread
      0
      Traditional White Loaf Bread
    • Healthy Donuts
      0
      Healthy Donuts
    • Sugarfree Cinnamon Rolls
      0
      Sugarfree Cinnamon Rolls
    • French Brioche
      0
      French Brioche
    • Stick Bread
      0
      Stick Bread
    • Easy Naan Bread
      0
      Easy Naan Bread
    • Churros
      0
      Churros
    • French Baguette
      0
      French Baguette
    • Burger Buns
      0
      Burger Buns
    • Spinach Puffs with Feta Cheese
      0
      Spinach Puffs with Feta Cheese
    • Farmer's Bread with Yeast
      0
      Farmer's Bread with Yeast
    • Classic Gugelhupf (German Bundt Cake Recipe)
      0
      Classic Gugelhupf (German Bundt Cake Recipe)
    • Easy Thin Crust Pizza Dough
      0
      Easy Thin Crust Pizza Dough
    • Homemade Italian Ciabatta Bread
      0
      Homemade Italian Ciabatta Bread
    • Focaccia with herbs and tomatoes
      0
      Focaccia with herbs and tomatoes

    Recipe Recommendation

    • Easy Biscuit Recipe with only three Ingredients
    • Lemon Coconut Cake with Yogurt
    • Gluten-Free Lemon Cake with Almonds - delicious and moist
    • Soft and Chewy Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
    • Best Cut Out Christmas Cookies
    • lemon-cream-cheese-cookies Soft and Fluffy Lemon Cookies

    Similar Recipes

    • The Best Basic Shortcrust Pastry
      The Best Basic Shortcrust Pastry
    • Make Your Own Hungarian Lángos
      Make Your Own Hungarian Lángos
    • German Bee Sting Cake
      German Bee Sting Cake
    • Soft and Fluffy Braided Bread
      Soft and Fluffy Braided Bread
    • Blinis with Buckwheat Flour and Yeast
      Blinis with Buckwheat Flour and Yeast
    • Original Cinnamon Rolls
      Original Cinnamon Rolls

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Baking for Happiness

    Check out my other similar recipes!
    • Shortcrust Pastry
    • Hungarian hearty donut recipe
      Hungarian Lángos
    • German Bee Sting Cake
    • Soft and Fluffy Braided Bread

    Privacy Policy | Contact

    Recipe Recommendation

    German Bee Sting Cake

    Incredibly delicious classic: this fluffy bee sting made from yeast dough is filled with a custard cream, but it also tastes great without the filling as an especially quick alternative.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Original Donuts
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 152 Calories from Fat 45
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 5g8%
    Saturated Fat 3g19%
    Trans Fat 0.1g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g
    Monounsaturated Fat 1g
    Cholesterol 29mg10%
    Sodium 67mg3%
    Potassium 56mg2%
    Carbohydrates 24g8%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 5g6%
    Protein 4g8%
    Vitamin A 154IU3%
    Vitamin C 0.002mg0%
    Calcium 20mg2%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Similar Recipes

    • Shortcrust Pastry
      0
      Shortcrust Pastry
    • Hungarian Lángos
      0
      Hungarian Lángos
    • German Bee Sting Cake
      0
      German Bee Sting Cake
    • Soft and Fluffy Braided Bread
      0
      Soft and Fluffy Braided Bread
    • Blinis
      0
      Blinis
    • Cinnamon Rolls
      0
      Cinnamon Rolls
    • The Perfect Yeast Dough
      0
      The Perfect Yeast Dough
    • Classic Crumb Cake Recipe
      0
      Classic Crumb Cake Recipe
    • German butter cake with almond topping
      0
      German butter cake with almond topping
    • About Kathrin & Jan

      It's like a little miracle to me every time. Seemingly simple ingredients are made into something that can brighten up your life. Butter, sugar, eggs, and flour melt into an airy biscuit, a fine tart, a juicy cake, or a crispy biscuit. Baking simply makes you happy. Welcome and enjoy our blog!

      Kathrin & Jan

      Get to know us. →

    • German Christmas Stollen (Christstollen)
      0
      German Christmas Stollen (Christstollen)
    • Traditional White Loaf Bread
      0
      Traditional White Loaf Bread
    • Healthy Donuts
      0
      Healthy Donuts
    • Sugarfree Cinnamon Rolls
      0
      Sugarfree Cinnamon Rolls
    • French Brioche
      0
      French Brioche
    • Stick Bread
      0
      Stick Bread
    • Easy Naan Bread
      0
      Easy Naan Bread
    • Churros
      0
      Churros
    • French Baguette
      0
      French Baguette
    • Burger Buns
      0
      Burger Buns
    • Spinach Puffs with Feta Cheese
      0
      Spinach Puffs with Feta Cheese
    • Farmer's Bread with Yeast
      0
      Farmer's Bread with Yeast
    • Classic Gugelhupf (German Bundt Cake Recipe)
      0
      Classic Gugelhupf (German Bundt Cake Recipe)
    • Easy Thin Crust Pizza Dough
      0
      Easy Thin Crust Pizza Dough
    • Homemade Italian Ciabatta Bread
      0
      Homemade Italian Ciabatta Bread
    • Focaccia with herbs and tomatoes
      0
      Focaccia with herbs and tomatoes