Egg-free fried donuts are one of those simple desserts that taste like home, tradition, and snacks made with love. Soft, light, and vanilla-scented, these donuts are made with sourdough and have a tender texture that wins you over at the first bite.
I love making them when I crave a genuine dessert, perfect for breakfast or to accompany an afternoon break. The aroma released during frying fills the kitchen and immediately reminds you of homemade desserts by grandmothers, those prepared with simple ingredients but lots of care.
If you love traditional fried desserts, I recommend trying also my soft castagnole and classic donuts, two very popular recipes on the blog, perfect for those who adore soft and delicious desserts.
These egg-free fried donuts are easy to prepare and, thanks to sourdough, they are light and digestible, ideal to enjoy freshly made and passed through granulated sugar.
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- Cost: Very economical
- Rest time: 3 Hours
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 20 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Fall, Winter, Carnival
- Energy 565.08 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 21.76 (g) of which sugars 3.57 (g)
- Proteins 3.36 (g)
- Fat 52.86 (g) of which saturated 10.11 (g)of which unsaturated 40.14 (g)
- Fibers 0.58 (g)
- Sodium 47.04 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 45 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for Egg-Free Fried Donuts
- 200 g sourdough (refreshed)
- 200 ml semi-skimmed milk (warm)
- 400 g all-purpose flour
- 60 g butter (soft)
- 50 g sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 liter peanut oil (for frying)
- to taste sugar (for coating)
Useful Tools
- Bowl
- Spoon
- 2 Pastry cutter 3-4 inches and 1-1.25 inches for the center hole.
- Baking tray
- Parchment paper
- Pan high-sided
How to Prepare Egg-Free Fried Donuts
Warm the milk and dissolve the crumbled sourdough in it, stirring until fully hydrated.
In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and vanilla extract. Add the milk with sourdough and start mixing gently.
Add the soft butter and continue kneading first in the bowl. Then transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead until smooth and uniform.Form a ball, make a cross incision on the surface, cover and let rise in a switched-off oven for about 2 hours at room temperature. The dough should be puffy and slightly aerated.
After the resting time, transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and roll it out with a rolling pin to a thickness of about 0.4 inches.
Cut out the donuts using two round pastry cutters, one about 3-4 inches for the outer shape and another 1-1.25 inches for the center hole, and place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, well spaced apart. Let them rise again until soft and well-puffed.Heat plenty of peanut oil in a pan.
Fry a few donuts at a time. When the first side is well golden, flip them gently and complete cooking on the other side.
Drain with a slotted spoon, let them drain for a few seconds, and immediately pass them through granulated sugar while still hot.
Storage and Useful Tips
Egg-free fried donuts are irresistible when freshly made, while still warm, soft, and fragrant. If there are any leftovers, you can store them for about a day under a cake dome or in an airtight container.
To make them soft again, just heat them for a few seconds in a warm oven or microwave.
To achieve light and well-cooked donuts, it’s important to fry at the right temperature: the oil should be at 338–347°F. If it’s too hot, they will brown quickly on the outside and remain raw inside. If too low, they will become greasy and heavy.
Use active sourdough and adhere to rising times to obtain a soft and well-aerated structure. Handle the dough gently to maintain softness.
For a fresher scent, you can add grated lemon or orange zest. For a gluten-free version, use a specific flour mix for leavened products, adjusting the liquids slightly.
