CLASSIC FLUFFY DOUGHNUTS
Golden, puffy doughnuts with a delicate white ring around the edges—signs of perfect rising and frying. A comforting treat to brighten any moment.
🕒 Prep Time: 1 hour 30 min (including rising)
🍳 Cook Time: 10-15 min
🍽️ Yields: About 20 doughnuts (+ extra from edges)
Ingredients
- 500 g all-purpose flour
- 4 egg yolks
- 50 g melted butter
- 25 g fresh yeast
- 240 ml warm milk
- 2 heaping tbsp sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 liter oil, for frying
Instructions
- Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm milk. Let stand in a warm spot until foamy, about 15 minutes.
- In a mixing bowl or bread machine pan, add the yeast mixture, beaten egg yolks, and melted butter. Layer flour on top, add lemon zest, then sprinkle salt. Knead and let dough rise until doubled in size.
Alternatively, knead by hand and cover to rise for 1 hour in a warm place. - Turn dough onto a floured surface and roll out to about 1 cm thickness.
- Cut doughnuts using a glass with a narrow rim (7–8 cm diameter), flouring the rim between cuts.
- Gather leftover dough, shape into pieces for frying later. Cover doughnuts with plastic and let rise 20–30 minutes.
- Heat oil in a deep pan until very hot, then reduce heat to medium-low. Fry doughnuts in batches of 4–5 to avoid crowding, flipping until golden brown on both sides.
- Drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Serve warm or cold, dusted with vanilla powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar.
💡 Tips
- The elegant white ring around doughnuts is a sign of perfect proofing and frying.
- Use fresh yeast and warm milk to ensure good rise.
- Maintain oil temperature by not overcrowding the pan.
- Lemon zest adds subtle freshness and aroma.
🍽️ Perfect For
- Breakfast or afternoon treats
- Sharing with family and friends
- Special occasions and celebrations
📝 Final Thoughts
These classic fluffy doughnuts offer tender crumb and a golden crust, perfect for nostalgic moments or any time you crave a comforting sweet.