The soft fried donuts without potatoes are very fragrant and delicious leavened sweets perfect for the carnival period and also for many occasions.
Nowadays, we find these donuts daily in bars and bakeries, and they are ideal for any sweet break starting from breakfast.
These delicious and very soft fritters with the scent of orange and vanilla are rolled in granulated sugar and some also in cinnamon powder just after frying, but for an extra touch of indulgence, they can also be served filled with custard or hazelnut cream or garnished and covered with dark chocolate.
Today, I leave you the basic simple recipe that I prepared some time ago for my niece who enjoyed it a lot, she asked me “Grandma, can you make the donuts with sprinkles?”
And how can you say no, and then we all devoured them a bit because they are too good and one leads to another.
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- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Rest time: 3 Hours
- Preparation time: 45 Minutes
- Portions: 20 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Carnival, All Seasons
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 7 oz milk
- 10 g active dry yeast
- 1 egg (large)
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 orange zest (grated)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- to taste cinnamon (optional)
- to taste vegetable oil (for frying)
Tools
- 1 Stand Mixer
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Rolling Pin
- 1 Parchment Paper
- 1 Cookie Cutter
- 1 Frying Pan
- 1 Cooktop
Donut Steps
In the stand mixer bowl or a bowl, dissolve the yeast and sugar with milk at room temperature or slightly warm, mix well, then add the egg, beat with a fork or whisk, also add the pinch of salt, the grated zest, and vanilla.
Work the dough with the mixer for about 3-4 minutes, finally add the soft butter in pieces and work the dough again until it clings well to the hook.
If you work the dough by hand, continue until it becomes nice, elastic, and homogeneous, if it’s sticky, sprinkle with some flour.
Form a ball and cover the dough with a cloth, let it rise in a warm place for about half an hour.
Take the dough back and fold it 2-3 times every 10 minutes.
Cover again and let it rise until doubled, about another hour.
When the dough is well risen, roll it into a rectangle with the rolling pin and cut circles with a cookie cutter, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and make a hole in the center with a nozzle.
Let them rise again until they are well swollen and leavened.
Put the vegetable oil in a large frying pan and heat it. When it’s hot, around 340-356°F, add the donuts using the parchment paper, cut rectangles, 2 donuts at a time.
After a few seconds, you can remove the parchment squares, which will easily detach. Use tongs to facilitate this operation.
Fry the fritters on both sides until they are puffy and golden, take them out with a slotted spoon and place them on a plate covered with frying paper or absorbent paper.
While they are still hot, pass them through granulated sugar and cinnamon so that it sticks well on the entire surface.
The donuts are now ready to be enjoyed!
Storage and Tips
The donuts keep for a maximum of 2-3 days in an airtight container. This way, they will stay nice and soft.
You can warm them for a few seconds in the microwave to make them soft like when you fried them.
If you like cinnamon like me, you can add it to the granulated sugar for an extra touch of aroma!
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Can I fill the donuts?
After frying, you can cut and fill the donuts with what you like the most.
Can I cover the donuts with chocolate?
For an extra touch of indulgence, you can dip and glaze the donut surface in white or dark chocolate and garnish with sprinkles or other.
Can I prepare the dough a day before?
Yes, you can use less yeast and prepare the dough the day before, leave it in the fridge and take it out a few hours before making the donuts.
Can I bake the donuts in the oven or air fryer?
Yes, sure, place the donuts on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake in a ventilated oven at 340-356°F for about 15 minutes, adjust visually when they are well golden.
While in the air fryer for about 10 minutes at 340°F, check and turn halfway through cooking.
