Donut Pan: Is It Worth The Hype?

Do you need a donut pan? The answer is no, but it depends on how often you plan to make donuts and how much you care about their shape and size.

If you're a frequent donut maker, investing in a donut pan will ensure uniform shapes. However, if you only make donuts occasionally, you can easily make them without a specialised pan. Here's how:

Donut Pan Substitutes

- Muffin tin with aluminium foil: Scrunch a 5x5 square of foil into a donut hole shape and place it in the centre of each muffin cup. Spray with cooking oil.

- DIY pan with aluminium foil: Shape aluminium foil into flattened discs, then form them into shallow bowls with a hole in the middle. Place on a cookie sheet and spray with cooking oil.

- Round moulds: Place silicone or metal donut moulds on a baking sheet, fill with batter and bake.

- Cookie cutter: Roll out your dough and use a large, round cookie cutter to cut out donut shapes. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let them rise.

- Freestyle donuts: Find a recipe for thicker donut batter. Drop batter by the tablespoon onto a lined cookie sheet, forming rings with a spatula or your fingers.

Do I need a donut pan?

Muffin pan with aluminium foil

If you're looking to make donuts without a donut pan, a muffin pan with aluminium foil is a great alternative. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to create a makeshift donut pan using a muffin pan and aluminium foil:

Step 1: Prepare the Aluminium Foil

Take a square of aluminium foil and place it on one of your fingers. Ensure that the foil is big enough to reach the bottom of the muffin cup. A 5-inch by 5-inch square usually works well. Roll the foil into a thin cylinder, adjusting the size to your desired donut centre thickness. To create a mould, gently fold the sides of the cylinder inwards and place it in the muffin tin cup. Repeat this process for the remaining cups.

Step 2: Grease the Muffin Pan and Aluminium Foil

Spray the muffin pan and the aluminium foil inserts with cooking spray. This step can be skipped if you are using parchment paper instead of aluminium foil.

Step 3: Prepare the Donut Batter

Prepare your favourite donut batter. You can either make a yeast-based dough or a batter without yeast. For a yeast-based donut, combine dry ingredients like flour, sugar, salt, and cinnamon with warm milk, melted butter, and eggs. If you're going for a batter without yeast, mix dry ingredients like flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda with liquid ingredients such as melted butter and milk. You can also add apple cider for extra flavour.

Step 4: Pipe the Batter into the Muffin Pan

Fill a ziplock bag with your donut batter and cut off one corner. Use this as a piping bag to pipe the batter into the prepared muffin pan. Pipe the batter in a circular motion around the aluminium foil inserts. Fill the muffin cups about three-quarters of the way full.

Step 5: Bake the Donuts

Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Place the muffin pan in the oven and bake the donuts for about 8-10 minutes, or until they turn golden brown. To check if they're done, insert a toothpick into the centre of a donut; if it comes out clean, they're ready! Let the donuts cool in the pan for a few minutes before removing them.

Step 6: Glaze and Serve the Donuts

Prepare a simple glaze by heating whole milk and vanilla extract in a saucepan over low heat. Stir in some sugar to create a sweet glaze. Dip the cooled donuts into the glaze and let them set for about 15 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with powdered sugar for an extra touch of sweetness.

Using a muffin pan with aluminium foil is a creative and cost-effective way to make delicious donuts without the need for a specialised donut pan. Enjoy your homemade treats!

DIY donut pans with tissue/parchment paper

You don't need to buy a donut pan to make delicious donuts at home. Here is a simple way to make a DIY donut pan with tissue or parchment paper.

First, get some tissues or parchment paper and roll them into cylinders the same size as the thickness of your desired donuts. If you use tissue, wrap a layer of tin foil around the roll to seal it. Then, curve the cylinder into a loop and tape the ends together.

Next, cut a large sheet of foil in half and push the foil circles you've created into the centre. Secure with tape and add more foil along the sides of the donut shape.

Alternatively, you can create your donuts freestyle without any special tools. Place three or four spoons of flour on a baking sheet and use your fingers or a palette knife to shape the batter into a ring. Smooth it down with a spoon and use your finger to make the "donut hole" in the centre.

Another option is to use a circular mold, which you can place on a baking mat or a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Fill the mold three-quarters full, as the batter will rise, and create a hole in the centre with your finger or a small bottle cap.

Finally, you can use a cookie cutter to cut out the donut shapes. After kneading the dough and letting it rise, roll it out on a floured surface and use a 2-inch or 3-inch circular cookie cutter to cut out the dough. Position the cut-out dough on a cookie sheet and use a small bottle cap to cut out the centre hole.

With these simple techniques, you can easily make delicious donuts at home without needing to purchase a special donut pan.

Round moulds

If you don't want your donuts to have a muffin-like shape, a round mould is a perfect choice. It will give your donuts a nice, round shape without the need for a muffin pan. You can find round moulds in various sizes, so choose one that fits your desired donut size.

Additionally, you can use a cookie cutter to create the donut shape. After your dough has risen, roll it out on a floured surface and use a circular cookie cutter to cut out the dough. You can also use a small bottle cap or a similar item to create the centre hole.

Using a round mould is a simple and effective way to achieve the classic donut shape without investing in a specialised donut pan. It's a versatile tool that can be used for various baking projects.

Cookie cutters

There are several cookie cutters on the market that can be used to cut out donuts. Some popular options include:

• Norpro Donut/Cookie Cutter: This 2-in-1 product can be used to make donuts and mini bagels, and can also be converted into a cookie/biscuit cutter by removing the centre piece. It is made of aluminium and measures 2.75" x 2.75" x 1.5" (7cm x 7cm x 4cm). While it is recommended to hand wash this product, some customers have reported putting it in the dishwasher with no issues.
• Hobby Lobby Donut Metal Cookie Cutter: This silver metal cutter is perfect for cutting out donuts and is dishwasher-safe.
• Handstand Kitchen Set of 2 Donut Shoppe Cookie Cutters: This set includes a donut-shaped and a milk bottle-shaped stainless steel cookie cutter. The cutters are dishwasher-safe.

In addition to the above, there are several other cookie cutters available on Amazon that can be used to cut out donuts, including products by brands such as HULISEN, Ateco, Mrs. Anderson's Baking, and Winco.

Freestyle donuts

If you don't have a donut pan, you can still make freestyle donuts. Here's how:

Using a baking sheet

Place three or four spoons of batter on a baking sheet. Use your fingers or a palette knife/spatula to form the batter into a ring. Smooth it down with a spoon. Put your finger in the middle to make the "donut hole" and keep trying until you get the desired shape.

Using a circular mould

If you don't want your donuts to have a muffin bottom, use a circular mould on a baking sheet or parchment paper-lined sheet. Fill the mould three-quarters full, as the batter will rise. Make a hole in the centre with your finger or a small bottle cap.

Using a cookie cutter

After kneading the dough and letting it rise to twice its size, roll it out on a floured surface. Flatten the dough until it's about half an inch thick. Cut out circles with a 2-inch or 3-inch round cookie cutter. Position them on a cookie sheet, leaving space for the dough to rise. Cut smaller circles in the middle with a bottle cap or similar.

Using a muffin pan and tin foil

Roll small sheets of tin foil into cylinders and place them in a greased muffin pan. Pipe the batter into the pan around the tin foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.

Using parchment paper

Get some parchment paper and roll it up to a size that fits in your muffin pan. Grease the pan and place the paper in the middle. Fill the pan with the donut mixture using a pastry bag.

Using tissue paper

Get some tissue or parchment paper and make cylinders with the same thickness as your desired donut size. Wrap the tissue in tin foil and curl into a loop, taping the ends together. To make the moulds, cut a large sheet of foil, fold it in half, and push the tissue circles into the centre. Secure with tape.

There you have it! You don't need a donut pan to make delicious freestyle donuts at home.

Frequently asked questions