Making Chinese Donuts: Frying Without A Deep Fryer

Chinese donuts are a delicious treat, often found at Chinese buffets, but they can also be made at home without a deep fryer. These donuts are typically deep-fried balls of dough, coated in sugar, and are similar in taste and texture to traditional Chinese donuts, You Tiao. To make Chinese donuts at home, a stovetop method can be used. This involves heating oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or deep skillet to around 350°F (176°C) and frying the donut dough for about 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Alternatively, an oven or air fryer can be used for a healthier option, although the texture may differ slightly. By following these simple steps, anyone can enjoy freshly made Chinese donuts without the need for a deep fryer.

Use a stovetop method

How to Make Chinese Donuts Without a Deep Fryer: The Stovetop Method

Chinese donuts, often found in American Chinese restaurants, are typically deep-fried balls of dough coated in sugar. While a deep fryer is the standard equipment for making these delicious treats, you can also use a stovetop method to achieve similar results. Here's a step-by-step guide to making Chinese donuts using a stovetop:

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients and Equipment:

• Gather the ingredients for the donut dough, including flour, sugar, baking powder or yeast, salt, butter or oil, milk, and eggs.
• For the frying process, you'll need a heavy-bottomed pot or a deep skillet, vegetable oil or canola oil, a slotted spoon or tongs, paper towels, and a thermometer (optional).

Step 2: Prepare the Donut Dough:

• In a mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder or yeast, and salt.
• Cut in the butter or oil using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Add the wet ingredients: milk and eggs. Stir until everything is combined and a soft dough forms.
• You can also use pre-made refrigerated tubes of biscuit dough as a shortcut.

Step 3: Heat the Oil:

• Select a heavy-bottomed pot or a deep skillet for frying.
• Fill the pot with vegetable oil or canola oil to a depth of about 2-3 inches (5-7 cm).
• Place the pot on the stovetop and heat the oil over medium-high heat.
• Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature of the oil. You want it to reach around 350°F (176°C). If you don't have a thermometer, you can test the oil by dropping a small piece of dough into it. If it sizzles and fries quickly, the oil is ready.

Step 4: Fry the Donuts:

• Once the oil is hot enough, carefully slide the donut dough into the pot using a slotted spoon or tongs.
• Fry 2-3 donuts at a time to avoid overcrowding the pot, which can affect the cooking process and oil temperature.
• Fry each donut for approximately 2 minutes per side, or until they turn a golden brown color.
• Use the slotted spoon or tongs to carefully remove the fried donuts from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb any excess oil.

Step 5: Coat with Sugar:

• While the donuts are still warm, generously coat each one in granulated white sugar. You can also use cinnamon sugar for added flavor.
• Place the coated donuts on a wire rack or baking sheet to cool slightly.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy:

• Chinese donuts are best served fresh and warm. They tend to lose their crispness over time.
• You can serve them as a dessert, a weekend breakfast, or an afternoon snack.
• For an extra indulgent treat, pair them with ice cream, chocolate sauce, or sweetened condensed milk.

Tips and Tricks:

• Use a neutral-tasting oil with a high smoke point, such as vegetable, canola, peanut, or soybean oil.
• Avoid overcrowding the pot when frying, as it can affect the oil temperature and cooking time, resulting in greasy donuts.
• Maintain a consistent oil temperature between 350°F and 375°F (175°C-190°C) for perfectly fried donuts.
• If you prefer less sugary donuts, you can simply omit the sugar coating.

Bake in the oven

If you're looking for a healthier alternative to deep-frying, baking your Chinese donuts in the oven is a great option. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Baking Sheet:

• Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). This is the ideal temperature to ensure your donuts bake evenly.
• Lightly grease a baking sheet with cooking spray or butter. This will prevent your donuts from sticking to the pan and make it easier to remove them once they're baked.

Prepare the Donut Dough:

• Prepare the Chinese donut dough according to your chosen recipe. There are various recipes available, but a common ingredient is biscuit dough, which you can make from scratch or use store-bought refrigerated tubes.
• Shape the dough into the traditional donut shape. You can use a donut cutter or simply roll the dough into balls and then flatten them slightly to create a ring shape.

Bake the Donuts:

• Place the shaped donuts on the greased baking sheet, leaving some space between them to allow for even cooking.
• Bake the donuts in the preheated oven for around 12 to 15 minutes. Keep an eye on them to ensure they don't overcook. You're aiming for a beautiful golden brown colour.
• Once they're baked, remove them from the oven and let them cool slightly. The cooling process is important as it allows the donuts to set and makes them easier to handle.

Glaze and Serve:

• After the donuts have cooled for a few minutes, you can add your desired toppings. A traditional option is to roll the donuts in granulated white sugar while they're still warm, creating a delicious crunchy exterior.
• You can also experiment with other toppings, such as cinnamon sugar, chocolate sauce, or even sweetened condensed milk. Get creative and indulge your sweet tooth!
• Enjoy your freshly baked Chinese donuts! They are best served fresh, but if you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 48 hours.

Use an air fryer

If you're looking for a healthier alternative to deep-frying, an air fryer is a great option for making Chinese donuts. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use an air fryer to make delicious Chinese donuts:

Step 1: Preheat your air fryer

Set your air fryer to 350°F (176°C). This is the ideal temperature for cooking Chinese donuts. Preheating ensures that your donuts cook evenly and helps achieve that golden brown crust.

Step 2: Prepare the donut dough

Follow your favourite Chinese donut dough recipe to prepare the dough. You can also find recipes online or experiment with different ingredients to create your unique version. Shape the dough into donut rings or any desired shapes.

Step 3: Place the donuts in the air fryer

Place the donuts in the air fryer basket, ensuring they have enough space and are not overcrowded. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the donuts in batches.

Step 4: Cook the donuts

Cook the donuts in the air fryer for about 8-10 minutes. To ensure even cooking, consider flipping the donuts halfway through the cooking process. The cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer and the size of your donuts, so keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.

Step 5: Cool the donuts

Once the donuts are cooked, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool slightly. This step is important as it allows the donuts to firm up and makes them easier to handle when adding glaze or toppings.

Step 6: Add glaze or toppings

After the donuts have cooled slightly, it's time to add your desired glaze or toppings. You can dip the donuts in granulated sugar, creating a delicious crunchy coating, or get creative with other toppings such as cinnamon sugar, chocolate sauce, or sweetened condensed milk.

Step 7: Enjoy your Chinese donuts

Indulge in your freshly made Chinese donuts! They are best enjoyed fresh, but if you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 48 hours. You can also reheat them in the air fryer for about 60 seconds at 350°F (176°C) to regain that crispy texture.

Prepare the dough

To make Chinese donuts, you'll need the following ingredients for the dough:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 1 teaspoon dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons sugar

You can also make the donuts with biscuit dough, using refrigerated canned biscuits.

• Combine the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a bowl.
• Add the butter and cut it into the flour using a food processor or a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
• Stir in the milk until combined.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and gently pat it out until it's about 1/2-inch thick.
• Use a 2-inch round biscuit cutter to cut out circles from the dough.
• Work the dough into a nice large ball with your hands. Do not flour the surface.
• Place the dough on a flat surface and divide it into small chunks.
• Roll and compact each chunk of dough by working it in a circular motion between the flat work surface and the palm of your hand.
• If needed, use a tiny amount of flour on your hands to prevent sticking.

Once you have prepared the dough, you can start frying the donuts. Here are the steps to fry Chinese donuts without a deep fryer:

• Use a heavy-bottomed pot or a deep skillet and fill it with vegetable oil or canola oil about 2-3 inches deep.
• Heat the oil to 350°F (176°C). Use a deep-fry thermometer to check the temperature.
• Carefully place a few donuts at a time into the hot oil, being careful not to overcrowd the pot.
• Fry the donuts until they are golden brown on both sides, about 1 to 2 minutes per side.
• Remove the donuts from the oil and place them on a wire rack or paper towels to drain the excess grease.
• Before the donuts cool completely, roll them in granulated sugar or dredge them in sugar for a generous coating.

Shape the dough

To shape the dough for Chinese donuts, you can follow these steps:

Firstly, turn the dough out onto a floured surface and dust it with flour. Gently pat the dough out until it reaches a thickness of about 1/2 inch. Use a 2-inch round biscuit cutter to cut out circles. Alternatively, you can cut the dough into small chunks and work each piece in a circular motion between the flat work surface and the palm of your hand until each donut is rolled and compacted. You can also stretch the dough into a long strip and cut it into small rectangles.

If you want to make the traditional ring shape, you can use your thumb to poke a hole in the centre of each circle and stretch the dough out gently. For the classic Chinese donut shape, simply leave the dough as a solid circle.

Before frying, ensure that the donuts have had their second rise. This step is crucial for achieving the ideal texture. The dough can rest at room temperature for 2 hours or overnight in the fridge for the best results.

Now your dough is ready to be fried!

Frequently asked questions