Ella Walter
If you're craving homemade donuts but don't have a donut pan, there are several alternative methods you can try. One popular method involves using a muffin pan and tin foil to create a DIY donut pan. You can shape the foil into cylinders and place them in the muffin cups to form the donut holes. Another option is to simply pipe the batter onto a baking sheet in a circular shape, although this may require a thicker batter to hold its form. If you're open to frying, you can also make donuts without a pan by using cookie cutters or the back of a thin-rimmed glass to shape the dough before frying. With a bit of creativity and improvisation, you can enjoy delicious homemade donuts without the need for a specialized donut pan.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, apple cider, melted vegan butter, dairy-free milk, egg, oil, vanilla, cookie, and powdered sugar |
| Tools | Muffin pan, foil, zip-top bag, heavy pan, cookie cutters, pastry rings, air fryer |
| Techniques | Deep frying, baking, air frying, piping |
| Temperature | 325F-350F |
| Time | 8-10 minutes |
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What You'll Learn
Bake in a muffin tin
You can easily make donuts in a muffin tin if you don't have a donut pan. Here's a step-by-step guide:
Prepare the muffin tin:
First, you'll need to create a makeshift donut pan using your muffin tin and some tin foil. Cut a square piece of foil, approximately 4"x4" to 5"x5" in size. Place the foil over your fingers and gently fold the sides up to create a mold, shaping it around your middle finger. Place this mold into one of the cups of your muffin tin and press it into place. Repeat this process for the remaining cups. Grease the muffin tin and foil molds with cooking spray or vegetable oil spray.
Prepare the donut batter:
There are various donut batter recipes you can use. A simple recipe includes combining sugar, margarine, and nutmeg to taste. You can also add in some cinnamon for extra flavor. In a separate bowl, whisk together wet ingredients such as buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla. You can also use alternatives like dairy-free milk, vegetable oil, or vegan butter.
Fill the muffin tin:
Add your donut batter to a gallon-sized ziplock bag. Cut off one of the corners of the bag to create a makeshift piping bag. Squeeze the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling them about 3/4 of the way full. You can pipe the batter around a tin foil cylinder placed in the center of each cup to create a donut hole.
Bake the donuts:
Preheat your oven to a temperature between 325°F and 375°F (depending on your recipe). Bake the donuts for around 8-10 minutes at 350°F, or 19 to 22 minutes at 400°F, until they are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the donuts to cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Glaze and serve:
Once the donuts have cooled, you can decorate them as desired. Dip them in a glaze, such as a cookie butter glaze, and sprinkle with powdered sugar. You can also dust them with cinnamon and sugar or experiment with other toppings. Enjoy your homemade donuts!
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Deep fry without a pan
If you want to deep fry your donuts without a pan, you can use a heavy-based pot or saucepan, ensuring it is no more than one-third full of oil. Flavourless oils with high smoking points, such as sunflower, groundnut, or vegetable oil, are best for deep frying. Heat the oil to between 180˚C and 200˚C, using a thermometer to monitor the temperature if you have one. You can also use a wok for deep frying, as its sloped sides minimize splatters and require less oil.
When deep frying, it is important to take safety precautions. Ensure the ingredients are completely dry before placing them in the oil, as moisture can cause the oil to splatter. Always deep fry in small batches, and use long tongs, a slotted spoon, or a frying basket to gently lower the food into the oil. Do not leave a pan of hot oil unattended, and keep a pan lid nearby to extinguish any flames if the oil catches fire.
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$9.99
Make a makeshift donut pan
Making a makeshift donut pan is easy and only requires a few household items. Here is a step-by-step guide:
Materials:
- Muffin pan (also known as a cupcake pan)
- Aluminum/tin foil
- Cooking spray or oil
Method:
Start by taking a square piece of foil, around 4x4 or 5x5 inches, and place it over your fingers. Gently bend the foil around your fingers, carefully folding the sides up to create a mold. You can also use a round cookie cutter to shape the foil if you have one. Remove your finger or the cookie cutter and press the mold into one of the cups of your muffin pan. Repeat this process for the remaining cups.
For added stability, you can make small cylinders out of foil and place them in the center of each mold. These cylinders should be tall enough to reach the top of the muffin pan. Grease the muffin pan and the foil molds and cylinders with cooking spray or oil to prevent sticking.
Now your makeshift donut pan is ready to be filled with batter and baked!
Tips:
- You can adjust the size of the foil mold and cylinder to control the size of the donut hole.
- If using a zip-top bag as a piping bag, cut a small hole in one corner and pipe the batter into the molds.
- Bake your donuts at 350°F for about 8-10 minutes or until they are golden brown.
- Allow the donuts to cool before removing them from the pan and decorating them.
With this method, you can easily make delicious homemade donuts without the need for a specialized donut pan.
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Use an air fryer
Air fryers have become one of the hottest new kitchen appliances, and they can be used to make light, fluffy, and delicious doughnuts from scratch. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make doughnuts using an air fryer:
Prepare the Yeast Mixture
Start by blooming the yeast in warm milk, ensuring the milk is between 105 to 115°F. Milk has natural sugars that help activate the yeast. Add a little sugar and gently stir with a fork. Let the mixture stand until it becomes very bubbly, which should take about 10 minutes.
Make the Dough
In a separate bowl, whisk together melted butter, eggs, and sugar until smooth. Then, stir in the yeast mixture. Add all-purpose flour and a pinch of salt to the mixer bowl. Mix on low speed until a dough forms, then increase the speed to medium-low and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic.
Proof the Dough
Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover it. Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free place until it doubles in size. To check if the dough is ready, gently press a finger into it; if the indentation remains, the dough is ready.
Shape the Doughnuts
Lightly flour a work surface and roll out the dough to about 1/2 inch thickness. Use a 3-inch biscuit cutter and a 1-inch cutter or shot glass to cut out the doughnuts and their centres. You can also shape the doughnuts by hand, rolling each portion into a long, sausage shape and connecting both ends.
Second Proof
Transfer the shaped doughnuts to lightly floured parchment paper and cover loosely. Let the doughnuts rise again until doubled in volume, which should take about 30 minutes.
Air Fry the Doughnuts
Preheat your air fryer to 350-375°F. Lightly grease the air fryer basket with cooking oil spray or brush with canola oil. Place 2-4 doughnuts in the basket, ensuring they are not crowded. Air fry for about 4-9 minutes, until golden brown, flipping them halfway through.
Glaze the Doughnuts
While the doughnuts are cooking, prepare the glaze by melting butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla extract, then add hot water to thin the glaze. Dip the hot doughnuts into the glaze and let them dry for about 10 minutes. Alternatively, roll the doughnuts in cinnamon sugar or serve them with chocolate sauce.
Storage
Air fryer doughnuts are best enjoyed fresh, but they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-3 days. They can also be frozen for up to three months and reheated in the air fryer.
Air fryer doughnuts are a delightful treat, and this recipe allows you to enjoy them with less oil and a healthier twist. They may not rise as much as traditional fried doughnuts, but they still have a soft, fluffy texture and a crispy exterior.
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Glaze and toppings
The fun part about making homemade donuts is that you can get creative with the toppings and glazes. You can use a simple glaze made with milk or cream, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla extract. Whisk these ingredients together and dunk each side of your warm donuts into the glaze. You can also add a touch more milk to make the glaze more dippable. If you want an extra thick layer of icing, dunk your donut again after the initial glaze sets.
You can also experiment with different flavors and toppings. Here are some ideas:
- Maple
- Chocolate
- Cinnamon sugar
- Classic glaze
- Granulated sugar
- Sprinkles
- Pistachios
- Bacon
- Cocoa powder
- Natural food coloring
- Crumb cake donuts
- Pumpkin donuts
- Lemon poppy seed donuts
If you want to keep it simple, put your warm donut in a paper bag with about half a cup of sugar and gently shake it around. You can spice things up by adding cinnamon, clove, or pumpkin spice.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use a muffin pan, foil, and a zip-top bag to pipe the batter.
A zip-top bag can be used instead of a piping bag. Simply pour the batter into the bag, snip the tip, and pipe.
Preheat the oven to 325F or 350F, depending on the recipe, and bake for 8-10 minutes or until the donuts are golden brown.
