Easy Soft YEAST DONUTS Recipe - Eazy Peazy Desserts (2024)

Donut lovers, this one is for you! If you’ve never made yeast donuts at home, now is the time to begin! Make these for your family, for an office breakfast treat, or any other occasion. No matter your audience, they will be wildly impressed! These easy-to-make raised donuts will produce a light and airy homemade treat!

Yeast donuts

You may think that making the perfect donuts is a practice reserved for professional bakers. Well, my friends, it is time to let that thought go. Making your own homemade yeast donuts is simple, easy, and quite fun! The result is light, airy, and sure to leave you craving another bite. With my easy yeast donut recipe, you will create a delicious homemade treat that will cause you never to buy premade donuts again. While simply delicious on its own, this yeast donut recipe tops off with a silky-smooth white chocolate glaze and shaved almonds.

Other donut recipes:

• Homemade fried apple fritters
• Air fryer pumpkin donuts
• Sugar cinnamon donuts
• Vegan baked donuts
• Avocado donuts
• Baked chocolate donuts
• Jam filled donuts

These delicious homemade yeast donuts are well-suited as a breakfast treat or after-dinner dessert. However, my personal favorite way to enjoy these donuts is in the morning. What a great way to start the day! Whenever I whip up this donut recipe, I always wake up before my alarm goes off, knowing I have so much deliciousness waiting for me.

As a huge fan of donuts, I’ve always wondered who I should thank for creating them. However, the history of yeast-raised donuts is quite elusive. The experts over at Eater did a deep dive into the fried delight that grew to be a “symbol of Americana.” Some food historians trace the donut back to Athenaeus, referencing a honey-glazed, fried dough. At the same time, others trace the origin to a fried fritter recipe in 1750. And yet another argument for the original donut points to the 1802 book The Frugal Housewife.

While the historical roots of the well-loved donut may still be unclear, one thing is for sure: the donut forever remains a delectable treat enjoyed by all. Now it’s your turn to participate in the never-ending donut fandom with my easy homemade donut recipe.

Tips for Frying Yeast Donuts

• Use the correct pot: Make sure to use a large pot when frying your donuts. Doing this will ensure your pot can adequately hold the oil and will decrease splatter.
• Fill the pot with two inches of oil: Be sure not to fill your pot with too much oil. As the recipe states, only two inches of oil are needed to fry your donuts properly. This measurement is another way to avoid painful oil splatters.
• Maintain the proper oil temperature: Keeping your oil temperature between 330-350 degrees is crucial. Using a thermometer is the best practice to maintain correct temperatures. If your oil is too hot, the donuts will burn. If your oil is too cold, it will absorb too much oil and produce a greasy product.
• Fry a few donuts at a time: As you can see in the recipe, it is essential only to fry two to three donuts at a time. Frying them in small batches is another way to ensure your oil remains at the correct temperature. If the pot gets too crowded, the oil will lower in heat, leading to greasy donuts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I store my donuts?

Donuts of any kind are always best when enjoyed fresh. And with my family, they are typically gone in a flash! But if you do end up with leftovers, place them in an airtight container and store them at room temperature. They should keep for approximately 2-3 days.

Do I have to fry my yeast donuts immediately after making the dough?

Nope! If you prefer to make your dough ahead of time, you can store it and fry them the next day. When choosing this option, it is paramount that you keep the dough in a tightly sealed container that allows the dough room to expand. If you refrigerate the dough before frying, be sure to let it come back down to room temperature before rolling it out and frying.

Can I freeze yeast donuts?

While I don’t recommend freezing the final product, you can freeze the dough if needed. Once you’ve allowed the dough time to proof, you can freeze the dough in a single layer. However, make sure to let the dough completely thaw to room temperature before you continue the process.

This yeast donut recipe calls for frying. Can I bake them instead?

Baking your homemade yeast donuts is not recommended. This type of dough will not come out the way they’re supposed to if you bake them in the oven. Frying is fun and easy. Give it a go! You will be satisfied with the results.

How do I create the warm environment needed to make these raised donuts?

Creating the perfect environment for your yeast to rise is simple. This is my preferred option: Preheat your oven to 200 degrees for a few minutes; one to two minutes should do the trick. Then, turn the oven off once it has warmed up a bit. Once you’ve placed your dough in a greased bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and put it in the oven. Doing this will create the perfect, warm, draft-free environment the dough needs to rise. As the recipe states, this process should take about an hour.

What is different about a yeast donut?

Yeast dough and cake dough are the most commonly used in making donuts. Yeast donuts are lighter than cake donuts. Once fried, raised yeast donuts will have visible air-pockets giving the donut a fluffy texture. Cake donuts are dense and compact due to the increased amount of butter used. I am 100% team yeast donut! There is nothing like the light, airy texture of a fried yeast donut. Haven’t tried one before? Give this easy recipe a try, and you will see exactly what I mean.

Ready to wake up your taste buds with this delicious, homemade donut covered in white chocolate and almonds? Gather your ingredients and try my easy yeast donut recipe today. I promise you will be delighted. Have you already given the recipe a try? Let me know how it went in the comments below. And, as always, happy baking!

What do I need for yeast donuts?

For the dough:

• All-purpose flour
• Active dry yeast
• Lukewarm water
• Buttermilk
• An egg
• Unsalted butter
• Granulated sugar
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Vanilla extract
• Vegetable oil

For the White Chocolate Glaze:

• White chocolate chips
• Heavy cream
• Sliced almonds

How to make yeast donuts?

1. Combine lukewarm water, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and yeast in a bowl. Whisk to dissolve the yeast. Leave for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking powder, and the remaining sugar.
3. Add in buttermilk, egg, melted butter, vanilla, and the yeast mixture. Stir until incorporated. Mix using a dough hook on your mixer or by hand. Knead on low-medium speed for about 5 minutes. By hand, knead the dough for about 10 minutes until smooth.
4. Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and allow to proof in a warm, draft-free place for about one hour or until doubled in size.
5. Cut out 16 squares of parchment paper.
6. Punch the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Use a rolling pin to roll to about 1/2″ thickness, and use a donut cutter to cut out donuts. Place each on the prepared squares of parchment paper. Cover lightly with plastic wrap or a towel. Allow the donuts to proof at room temperature for 30-45 minutes or until almost doubled in size.
7. Heat 2 inches of oil in a heavy pot (cast iron) to 330-350°F. To fry donuts, drop 2-3 at a time and allow to become golden before turning to the other side, about 2 minutes per side. Remove donuts from the oil with the spider tool and place on a tray lined with paper towels.
8. Toast almond slices in a pan. Stir occasionally to avoid burning.
9. For the white chocolate glaze, heat the cream in a microwave-safe bowl until the sides are bubbly, about 1-2 minutes. Place the white chocolate chips into a medium bowl, pour the hot cream over. Stir until smooth.
10. Dip each donut into the glaze and top with almond slices.

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