Not sure what is so addicting about these donuts (perhaps the fact that they’re fried?!), but I promise you they are. Everyone loves these homemade donuts.
Whether it’s for breakfast or just a treat, these homemade donuts are sure to knock off anyone’s socks! Best served warm, these goodies are right up there with our homemade cinnamon rolls!
Grandma’s Famous Donuts
This next recipe is an ALL-TIME family favorite. Whenever it gets cold or rainy, one of us kids is bound to text or call my mom and kindly ask if she’s up for making some Homemade Donuts.
Her donuts are famous in our family, and they are so good, we are constantly craving them!! (When we get lazy, we make our Biscuit Donuts as a backup). 😉
What’s the difference between store bought and homemade donuts?! You have to try them to know. They’re soft, warm, covered in a delicious glaze and melt in your mouth.
There are several steps to make these donuts, but we promise you they are still quite simple.
How to Make Homemade Donuts
Again – these donuts require yeast, so if you’re familiar with baking with yeast, you shouldn’t have a problem. If you’re a newby, we recommend following the directions to a T to help you out. 😉
Dissolve yeast in ¾ cup luke-warm water. Set aside. Heat 2 cups milk in microwave for 2-3 minutes.
While milk is heating add shortening (room temp) to a large bowl. Pour hot milk over it and whisk until mixed. Add salt, sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Mix well with a wooden spoon. Add 4 eggs and mix well.
Add yeast mixture to batter and mix. Add 2 cups of flour and mix with a wooden spoon. Mix well. Add 2 more cups and mix. Add 2 more cups and mix. At this point, the batter should not be runny. Add 1 more cup of flour, give or take ½ cup.
- NOTE: You do not want your dough to be tough. Mix until your dough is smooth.
Sprinkle flour onto a clean surface and pour batter onto it. Gently knead dough batter until the surface is not sticky to the touch.
- NOTE: The dough should be very soft but not sticky that you can’t handle it fairly easily. Place the soft dough into a lightly greased bowl. Cover the bowl and let rise for 1 to 1½ hours. Dough should be about double in size when done.
Place dough on a lightly floured surface and roll out to about a 1 inch thickness. Cut the doughnuts out as closely as possible. You can save the middles for doughnut holes. Move donuts and holes to a clean surface. Cover and let rise for 1 to 1½ hours.
Once the donuts and holes are done rising, fry them in a large frying pan with vegetable oil until golden brown. Be sure to fry the holes too, because they’re just as good to eat!
Can you fill donuts?
Yes, you can! To do this, be sure not to punch out the hole of your donut. Make and Fry as directed, and then insert your filling of choice (pudding, jelly, Nutella) into the side of the donut when it has cooled.
The Glaze
While donuts are frying make your donut Glaze.
To make glaze mix 7 cups powdered sugar with ⅔ cup water and 2 tsp. vanilla. Add donuts to glaze as soon as they are done frying and make sure both sides are covered.
Place on a plate or wire rack to let excess glaze drain.
There are different variations of the glaze you can make. For example, you can also add a bit of cocoa powder to this glaze for a chocolate-y version.
You can also add any kinds of sprinkles or toppings. If you want more of a frosting, we recommend using less milk.
DONUT FAQ + TIPS
How do I store homemade donuts? Donuts will dry out if not stored properly. Place donuts in an airtight container. Store at room temperature for 1-2 days, in the refrigerator for 5-6 days or freeze up to 3 months.
Can you make donuts ahead of time? Yes. You can make them up until step 5. Then cover and refrigerate until the next day. When ready to make, let come to room temp and let rise for an hour.
Can you bake donuts? Once donuts are done rising, you can also bake them. To do that, place on a lightly greased cookie tray, brush the tops with melted butter and then bake for 12-14 minutes making sure to rotate donuts half way in between.
Can you air fry homemade donuts? Yes you can, but keep in mind the finished texture may be different from an oil fried donut. Place a few donuts into the basket making sure they are not touching.
Close the air fryer, set to 350 degrees and fry for 5-8 minutes. Length of time will depend on the size of your donuts. For donut holes fry for 3-4 minutes.
Like I mentioned, this recipe takes some time, but the donuts are just too good to not try it out for yourself. Trust us when we say you will LOVE them!!
For more breakfast treats, we love:
Homemade Donut Recipe
Not sure what is so addicting about these donuts (perhaps the fact that they're fried?!), but I promise you they are. Everyone loves these homemade donuts.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp dry yeast
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup shortening room temp
- 2 tsp salt
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 4 eggs
- 6 1/2-7 1/2 cups flour
Instructions
Dissolve yeast in ¾ cup luke-warm water. Set aside.
Heat 2 cups milk in microwave for 2-3 minutes.
- While milk is heating add shortening to a large bowl. Pour hot milk over it and whisk until mixed. Add salt, sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Mix well with a wooden spoon. Add 4 eggs and mix well.
- Add yeast mixture to batter and mix. Add 2 cups of flour and mix with a wooden spoon. Mix well. Add 2 more cups and mix. Add 2 more cups and mix. At this point, the batter should not be runny. Add 1 more cup of flour, give or take ½ cup. NOTE: You do not want your dough to be tough. Mix until your dough is smooth.
- Sprinkle flour onto a clean surface and pour batter onto it. Gently knead dough batter until the surface is not sticky to the touch. NOTE: The dough should be very soft but not sticky that you can't handle it fairly easily. Place the soft dough into a lightly greased bowl. Cover the bowl and let rise for 1 to 1½ hours. Dough should be about double in size when done.
- Place dough on a lightly floured surface and roll out to about a 1 inch thickness. Cut the doughnuts out as closely as possible. You can save the middles for doughnut holes. Move donuts and holes to a clean surface. Cover and let rise for 1 to 1½ hours.
- Once the donuts and holes are done rising, fry them in a large frying pan with vegetable oil until golden brown.
- While donuts are frying make your Glaze. To make glaze mix 7 cups powdered sugar with ⅔ cup water and 2 tsp. vanilla. Add donuts to glaze as soon as they are done frying and make sure both sides are covered. Place on a plate to let excess glaze drain.
Recipe Video
Oh Yum!
So yummy!! I’m hungry for doughnuts now. I think I will try these tomorrow afternoon since it will be cold and rainy here. Thanks for the awesome recipe!!
Let me know how these turn out!! 😀
I LOVE donuts. They are totally my guilty pleasure and we make them way too often 🙂
You HAVE to try PW’s recipe because it is change-your-life-good. Do it~
http://www.blessthismessplease.com/2012/07/pioneer-womans-glazed-donuts.html
Good to know!! I will definitely add this to the must-make list. Thanks, girl! XO
These look yummy! Can you start the process the night before? Just scanning the recipe I see 3 hours of rising time (as when I make anything it takes the longest time!) and I am not a morning person 🙂
To be honest, we’ve never made these the night before. It’s always been a “whole-afternoon” kind of project. If you do try the night before let me know how it goes so I can be sure to tell others if it worked or not. 🙂
I”m very excited to try this tomorrow! I’m new to donut making, but a pro at donut eating! Just wondering when it says to fry in a frying pan with vegetable oil, does this mean they are to float in oil, so do I need lots? Or do they really just fry like an egg? THanks!!!
They’re pretty much floating in oil… it’s not just a few TB. Let me know how it turns out… I think you’ll love them! 😀
Turned out great! Easy as pie! haha! I used my kitchen aid mixer to mix it all and it worked wonderfully! I don`t know how people can do it all with a wooden spoon! Thanks for sharing the great recipe!
it’s hard to make ittttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
HI!!!! I just made these and OMGOODNESS! I was a little worried that I did not make them right, but oh they turned out WONDERFULLY!!! Super easy! Thank you soooo much for sharing!
YAY!! Aren’t they SO yummy?! Thanks for stopping by Courtney!
They were! I hope you dont mind but I did share with my friends and family! I gave them the link to this recipe! Going to make them again tomorrow for work! Oh I also made half with cinnamon/ sugar coat instead of glaze! Yum!
Is it ok to sub almond milk for Cows milk? Trying to maKe this vegaN. 🙂
I personally have not tried, but you sure could. It will change the taste a little.
I made these two nights ago. The time it takes is worth the end result. I have never made donuts, so I really didn’t know what to expect. Delicious!!! My family thanks you, I’m sure. I didn’t have any powdered sugar for glaze (which made me sad), so I improvised and made half of them with sugar/ little cinnamon mixture and I dipped the others in chocolate frosting and put sprinkles on. Next time I definitely am trying the glaze. Just one question…storage for these? I put them in plastic containers and everything is soaking in/melting off. How do you store them. Also – this recipe made so many that I thought it would be nice if BF brought some in to work to share. Well, he refused because he wanted them for himself. So, thank you for sharing this. Haha. They have been enjoyed!
Your comment totally made my day, Jessica!!! I love that it was a hit! Unfortunately, we have never really had any leftovers (we usually make them when all the family is together which means they don’t last long). I would maybe put them on a plate with paper towels and then cover with saran wrap or put in a gallon bag. 🙂
How many donuts does this recipe make?
It makes about 1 1/2 dozen. 😉
I can’t wait to try these, but I was wondering how many inches of veggy oil and what temperature? Thanks.
Just about 1/2 inch. 🙂
Have you ever made “Apple Cider Donuts” by adding apple cider as the liquid in the recipe. We used to live in Albany, New York and out in the countryside was the Indian Ladder Farm. One could go pick apples and they had a little country store. Whenever I’d get a hankering for those yummy donuts, I would pack the kids in the car and go get some for us and some to surprise my husband at work. They were the foundation of some special memories our family shares <3
Beige pants with sneakers, okay? Depends on what color matching sneakers, like this is part of a light beige, and preferably also with a light-colored sneakers, looks better, the overall look will look stylish and elegant, If you also want to do it, choose a pair of truly suited to their sneakers to match, it will be better. About this beige pants with sneakers, in fact, not too consider, and will definitely look good, if not look good if the color is fresh, with them, it will be more obvious fashion sense.
I’m going to try making these but 1/2 everything since they make so many. I’d be the one eating them and I’m pre diabetic.
LOL…yes, it is easy to do! I sure hope you like them!
This recipe sounds PRETTY easy! Let’s hope I can do a great job! ??
It is!! I bet you can 🙂 Good luck!
My wife has been craving home made donuts for a couple of Days now, so got the stuff and made them, although i screwed up and had the oil much too hot the first time around the second round turned out great! Thanks for the recipe!
Glad you tried them!! You are nice for making them for her!
THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE RECIPE MY MOM USED TO MAKE WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP. THE NUTMEG MAKES THEM EXTRA YUMMY!!
These are literallY tHe best donuts ever! ThEy are one of my favorite treats!
I made these and they disappeared in record time!
These are the funnest and tastiest!
I am so glad that you wrote about making these in an air fryer because i was going to ask you about that! This was so helpful and makes me less scared about making my own doughnuts.
I don’t see what temp to fry these at? Am I completely missing it somewhere? I don’t fry very often, so have no clue on my own.
No worries. You can fry them on medium low to medium. If they start browning too fast, you can always lower the temp 🙂 Good luck!
Ok, I could eat way more than I should of these! They are so good & soft & that glaze is perfect!
These are the best doughnuts ever!!!
This looks like the saMe recipe my MIL uses and my husband LOVES! Seriously, he’ll eat 10! I think ill use all your tips to try them here at home and SURPRISE him. Thanks for posting!
You will love these homemade donuts. They do take a little more time but truly worth the wait. Theres nothing like a fresh homemade donut!
Holy Moly these are good! Thanks for the recipe. Sometimes you just need a good donut!
At first when I mixed together the shortening and milk, the shortening curtled. Is that normal? anyway, when I finished mixing the dough together, It turned out just fine. It is totally worth the wait for these AWESOME doughnuts. I will totally use this recipe again!
Not usually, but I am glad they turned out 🙂 Thank you!
What can we use to substitute for the shortening?
I haven’t tried using anything else, but you could try butter or see what google would suggest.
Hi LUNA,
Thanks so sharing your recipe! Looks delicious and would love to try to make it. However, when I watched your video, I didn’t not see that you have added the eggs in your Dough, but there should be ADDED 4 EGGS in your recipe. So, could you please clarify if we need to add eggs or not?
Thank you very much! Hope you and your family stay healthy during the pandemic crisis!
Take care,
Hosuni
Yes, you do..so sorry…add the eggs after the sugar, cinnamon, salt, & nutmeg 🙂 Enjoy!!
This recipe was delicious. I made several variations (glazed, raspberry filled, lemon curd filled, brown sugar & Cinnamon bear claw) for different members of the family and all were a hit.
Perfect!! Happy they were a hit! Thank you!
Hi,
Can i make the dough sitting over night nad make the donuts in the morning?
Thanks!
Yes. You can make them up until step 5. Then cover and refrigerate until the next day. When ready to make, let come to room temp and let rise for an hour. Enjoy!!
Love this recipe! I have never made homemade donuts before, but i decided to give it a shot. My family devoured these and they were awesome! i let the dough rise for an extremely long time, as i was busy and wasn’t able to make them exactly after the recommended rise time, but I think that helped. Definitely will be making again!
That makes me so happy to hear! They go fast! Thanks for sharing that!
Made these yesterday with my 12 yr old daugHter. All went well except after cutting into DOUGHNUT shapes and letting rise, the middles of the DouGhnUts rose sO much they closed up and looked like bagels 🙁
The glaze wAs also Pretty thick, following this reCipe to a T, so i would watch that when mixing. It all depends on the humidity and temp and your likIng. 🙂
Great taste and texture and a big hit otherwise! First time using yeast for My daUghter and first time frying anytHing as well!
I am sorry they rose so much..haven’t had that happen before. I would add a tad more water to the glaze recipe, to get it the consistency you like. Glad you tried them! You’ll get it! 🙂
Wow,it came out very well as I tried it at my home. Very delicious recipe, would like to get more recipes like this from here.
I hope you find more to try! Glad you liked them! Thank you!
You say To make glaze mix 7 cups powdered sugar with ⅔ cup water and 2 tsp. vanilla. Then you say if you want more of a frosting we recommend using less milk. But the glaze says to use water…im confused.
It is with water, but if you want more of a frosting use milk, but less than the water amount. It just makes it thicker.