Simple Homemade Sugar Donuts
Ingredients You’ll Need
2¼ tsp instant yeast
½ cup lukewarm milk
3 tbsp granulated sugar
2½ cups all-purpose flour
2 tbsp potato starch (optional, but enhances softness)
¼ tsp salt
3 egg yolks
¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
Directions – Let’s Get Rolling
Step 1:
In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in lukewarm milk with 1 tsp of the sugar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until bubbly. That foam? It’s a green light that your yeast is alive and kicking.
Step 2:
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, remaining sugar, potato starch, and salt. This helps evenly distribute your dry ingredients.
Step 3:
Pour in the yeast mixture and egg yolks. Mix until it starts coming together. A stand mixer works wonders here, but a wooden spoon and elbow grease will do just fine.
Step 4:
Add the softened butter and knead until your dough becomes smooth, stretchy, and just slightly tacky. This takes around 10 minutes by hand or 6 in a mixer.
Step 5:
Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl. Cover it with a towel and let it rise in a warm spot for 1 to 1½ hours until doubled.
Step 6:
Once risen, punch it down and roll it out on a floured surface to about ½-inch thickness. Use a cookie cutter or glass to cut rounds.
Step 7:
Place the dough rounds on a parchment-lined tray, cover loosely with a towel, and let them rise again for 30 minutes.
Step 8:
Heat oil to 350°F (175°C) in a deep pot. Carefully fry the donuts in batches for about 2 minutes per side or until beautifully golden.
Step 9:
Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Dust generously with sugar. Optional: Fill them with your favorite jam or pastry cream.
