How to Make Perfectly Soft Glazed Donuts at Home

There’s something magical about biting into a freshly made glazed donut. The crispy, golden exterior, the soft, fluffy inside, and that sweet, shiny glaze that melts in your mouth. While grabbing a donut from your local bakery is a treat, nothing beats making them from scratch in your own kitchen. And guess what? It’s easier than you think!

In this post, I’ll walk you through the process of making homemade glazed donuts from scratch. You don’t need any fancy equipment, just a few simple ingredients, and some patience (because, yes, we’re using yeast!). The result will be worth the wait, trust me. These donuts are soft, fluffy, and covered in a glossy, sweet glaze that will make your taste buds dance.

Whether you’re making these for a weekend treat, a special occasion, or just because you deserve a donut (and you do), this recipe will help you achieve donut perfection. Let’s get started!

Why Make Donuts from Scratch?

Making donuts at home might sound a little intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll wonder why you didn’t try it sooner. Here are a few reasons to roll up your sleeves and give this recipe a try:

1. Freshness: There’s nothing quite like a warm donut straight out of the fryer, freshly glazed and still soft on the inside. Anyone who has been to a Krispy Kreme knows what I am talking about!

2. Customization: You can control everything from the sweetness of the glaze to the texture of the dough. Plus, you can add fun toppings or fillings if you want to get creative.

3. Satisfaction: There’s a real sense of accomplishment that comes from making something as iconic as a donut from scratch. Plus, you get to eat them when you’re done!

4. Cost-Effective: Making donuts at home is more affordable than buying a dozen from the bakery, and you get the bonus of homemade flavor.

5. Fun Activity: Whether you’re making donuts alone or as a fun family activity, this recipe is a great way to enjoy time in the kitchen.

Ingredients for Homemade Glazed Donuts

Here’s what you’ll need to create these delicious glazed donuts:

For the Donuts:

– 1 ¼ cups milk (warmed to about 100°F to activate the yeast)

– 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (one packet)

– 2 large eggs

– 8 tablespoons butter (melted)

– ¼ cup sugar

– 1 teaspoon salt

– 4 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

For the Glaze:

– 4 cups powdered sugar (also known as 10x sugar)

– ⅔ cup milk  

– Pinch of salt

– ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Glazed Donuts from Scratch

Making glazed donuts is a process that requires a bit of patience but is straightforward once you break it down. We’ll start by making the dough, letting it rise, then frying the donuts and finishing them with a sweet glaze.

Step 1: Activate the Yeast

Start by warming up the milk to about 100°F (lukewarm but not too hot). Pour the milk into a small bowl and sprinkle the yeast over it. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes foamy. This means your yeast is active and ready to work its magic in the dough.

Step 2: Mix the Dough

In a large mixing bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer if you’re using one), combine the yeast mixture with the melted butter, eggs, sugar, and salt. Stir or use a dough hook to mix everything together.

Gradually add the flour, about one cup at a time, mixing until the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. If you’re using a stand mixer, knead the dough with the dough hook for about 5 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic. If kneading by hand, turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 7-8 minutes.

Step 3: Let the Dough Rise

Once your dough is smooth and soft, transfer it to a lightly greased bowl and cover it with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap. Let it rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes, or until the dough has doubled in size.

Step 4: Roll and Cut the Dough

Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release the air. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and roll it to about ½-inch thickness. 

Using a donut cutter (or a large and small round cutter if you don’t have one), cut out your donuts and donut holes. You can re-roll the scraps of dough to cut more donuts.

Step 5: Second Rise

Place the cut donuts and holes onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover them with a clean kitchen towel and let them rise for another 30 minutes. During this time, they’ll puff up and get ready for frying.

Step 6: Fry the Donuts

While your donuts are doing their second rise, heat oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot to 350°F. You’ll need enough oil to submerge the donuts, so about 2-3 inches of oil should be fine.

Once the oil is hot, carefully lower a few donuts into the oil using a slotted spoon. Fry each donut for about 1-2 minutes per side, or until golden brown. Be sure to fry the donut holes too—they’re delicious!

Use a slotted spoon to remove the donuts from the oil and transfer them to a wire rack set over paper towels to drain any excess oil.

Making the Perfect Glaze

No donut is complete without a sweet, shiny glaze! Here’s how to whip up a simple, delicious glaze for your donuts.

Step 7: Prepare the Glaze

In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, salt, and vanilla extract until smooth. The glaze should be thin enough to coat the donuts but thick enough to stick without running off. If it’s too thick, add a little more milk. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar.

Glazing and Finishing the Donuts

Now for the fun part: glazing the donuts!

Step 8: Glaze the Donuts

Once the donuts have cooled slightly (but are still warm), dip each donut into the glaze, flipping to coat both sides. Let any excess glaze drip off before placing the donuts back on the wire rack to set.

For a double glaze (because why not?), let the first coat of glaze set, then dip the donuts again for an extra-sweet finish.

Tips for Making the Best Glazed Donuts

1. Use the Right Temperature for Frying: Make sure your oil stays at 350°F for the perfect fry. If the oil is too hot, the donuts will brown too quickly on the outside and stay raw on the inside. If it’s too cool, the donuts will absorb too much oil and be greasy.

2. Don’t Skip the Second Rise: Letting the donuts rise again after cutting them ensures they’ll be light and fluffy. Rushing this step can result in dense donuts.

3. Adjust the Glaze: You can customize the glaze to your liking. Add a little cocoa powder for a chocolate glaze or a squeeze of lemon juice for a citrusy twist.

4. Use Fresh Oil: Old oil can make your donuts taste off. For the best flavor, always fry in clean, fresh oil.

Ways to Customize Your Donuts

The beauty of homemade donuts is that you can get as creative as you like! Here are some fun ways to put your own spin on these glazed donuts:

– Add Toppings: After glazing, sprinkle your donuts with toppings like rainbow sprinkles, chopped nuts, or shredded coconut.

– Chocolate Glaze: Add a couple of tablespoons of cocoa powder to the glaze for a chocolate twist.

– Filled Donuts: After frying, inject the donuts with your favorite fillings like custard, jam, or Nutella for an extra indulgent treat.

– Cinnamon Sugar Donuts: Skip the glaze and toss the warm donuts in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar for a classic donut shop flavor.

Storing and Freezing Donuts

Homemade donuts are best enjoyed fresh, but if you have leftovers (lucky you!), here’s how to store them:

Storing Donuts

If you plan to eat the donuts within a day or two, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay soft for about 1-2 days. If you want to keep them for longer, freeze the donuts.

Freezing Donuts

To freeze donuts, let them cool completely (but don’t glaze them yet). Arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer the donuts to a resealable freezer bag.

When you’re ready to enjoy them, let the donuts thaw at room temperature and then reheat them in a microwave for about 10-15 seconds. You can glaze them after they’ve thawed.

Common Questions About Making Donuts

Can I make donuts without a donut cutter?  

Yes! You can use two round cookie cutters or even the rim of a glass and a bottle cap to cut out your donuts.

Can I bake these donuts instead of frying them?

While these are meant to be fried for that classic donut texture, you can bake them at 375°F for about 10-12 minutes for a healthier alternative.

Can I make the dough in advance?

Yes! You can prepare the dough and let it rise overnight in the refrigerator. In the morning, simply roll, cut, and fry your donuts.

Final Thoughts

Homemade glazed donuts are a labor of love, but the result is so rewarding. They’re soft, fluffy, perfectly sweet, and way better than store-bought. Whether you make them for a special breakfast or an afternoon treat, you’ll definitely win some hearts with this recipe.

So, next time you’re craving donuts, skip the drive-thru and make your own at home. It’s easier than you think, and trust me, you’ll never look at store-bought donuts the same way again! Enjoy!

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Fluffy Homemade Glazed Donuts

This easy recipe will guide you through making soft, fluffy donuts with a perfectly sweet glaze. No need to head to the bakery—get your donut fix at home!

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword best homemade donuts, donut glaze recipe, donut recipe from scratch, easy donut recipe, fluffy glazed donuts, fried donuts, homemade glazed donuts, how to make donuts, soft donuts, yeast donuts

Prep Time 1 hour hour 45 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 2 hours hours

Servings 12 Donuts

Ingredients

For the Donuts

• 1 1/4 Cup Milk Warmed
• 2 1/4 tsp Active Dry Yeast
• 2 Eggs
• 8 Tbsp Butter Melted
• 1/4 Cup Sugar
• 1 tsp Salt
• 4 3/4 Cup All-purpose Flour

For the Glaze

• 4 Cups Powdered Sugar
• 2/3 Cup Milk
• Pinch Salt
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract

Frying

• 5 Cups oil for frying

Instructions

• Warm the milk and add the yeast. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
• In a large bowl, mix the yeast, butter, eggs, sugar, and salt. Gradually add the flour and knead until smooth.
• Let the dough rise for 45 minutes.
• Roll out the dough to ½ inch thickness and cut into donuts. Let rise for another 30 minutes.
• Heat oil to 350°F and fry the donuts until golden brown on each side.
• Mix glaze ingredients in a bowl and dip the warm donuts in the glaze. Let set on a wire rack.