The soft fried doughnuts without potatoes are very fragrant and delicious leavened sweets, perfect for the carnival period and many other occasions.
Nowadays, we find these doughnuts daily in cafes and bakeries, and they are ideal for any sweet break starting from breakfast.
These delicious and soft fritters with orange and vanilla scent are passed in granulated sugar and some in cinnamon powder right after frying, but for an extra touch of goodness, they can also be served filled with custard or hazelnut cream or garnished and covered with dark chocolate.
Today I am sharing the simple basic recipe I prepared some time ago for my niece who enjoyed them a lot. She asked me, “Grandma, will you make the doughnuts with sugar on them?”
And how could I say no? We all devoured them because they are too good, and you can’t stop at just one.
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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
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 tbsp active dry yeast
- 1 large egg (large)
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1 orange zest (grated)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- to taste cinnamon (optional)
- as needed vegetable oil (for frying)
Tools
- 1 Stand Mixer
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Rolling Pin
- 1 Baking Paper
- 1 Cookie Cutter
- 1 Frying Pan
- 1 Stove
Doughnut Steps
In the bowl of the stand mixer or a regular 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, grated zest, and vanilla.
Let the dough work with the stand mixer for about 3-4 minutes, finally add the soft butter in small pieces and continue to work the dough until it clings well to the hook.
If you work the dough by hand, continue until it becomes nice and elastic, if it’s sticky, dust with some flour.
Form a ball, cover the dough with a cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about half an hour.
Take the dough again and fold it 2-3 times every 10 minutes.
Cover again and let rise until doubled in size, about another hour.
When the dough is well-risen, roll it out into a rectangle with a rolling pin and cut out circles with a cookie cutter, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and use a nozzle to make a hole in the center.
Let rise again until they are well-puffed and risen.
Put the vegetable oil in a large pan and heat it. When it is hot, at a temperature of about 340-355°F, add the doughnuts using the parchment paper, cutting rectangles, 2 doughnuts at a time.
After a few seconds, you can remove the parchment squares, which will come off easily. Use tongs to help with 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 fry paper or absorbent paper.
When they are still warm, pass them in granulated sugar and cinnamon so that it sticks well all over the surface.
The doughnuts are now ready to be enjoyed!
Storage and Tips
The doughnuts can be stored for a maximum of 2-3 days in an airtight container. This way, they will remain soft.
You can heat them for a few seconds in the microwave to make them soft as when you fried them.
If you like cinnamon as I do, you can add it to the granulated sugar for an extra touch of aroma!
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Can I fill the doughnuts?
After frying, you can cut and fill the doughnuts with whatever you like best.
Can I cover the doughnuts with chocolate?
For an extra touch of indulgence, you can dip and glaze the surface of the doughnuts in white or dark chocolate and garnish with sprinkles or other decorations.
Can I prepare the dough a day before?
Yes, you can add less yeast and prepare the dough the day before, leave it in the fridge, and take it out a few hours before making the doughnuts.
Can I bake the doughnuts in the oven or air fryer?
Yes, of course, place the doughnuts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in a fan oven at 340-355°F for about 15 minutes, adjusting based on when they are nicely golden.
In the air fryer for about 10 minutes at 340°F, checking and turning halfway through cooking.
