Making Donuts At Home: Easy, Fryer-Free Recipes

Making donuts at home without a deep fryer is a fun and rewarding activity. While deep frying is the traditional method for achieving that irresistible golden crust, it's not the only way to cook donuts. You can use a stovetop, oven, or even an air fryer to make delicious homemade donuts. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Stovetop Method:

1. Choose a heavy-bottomed pot or a deep skillet and fill it with vegetable oil to a depth of about 2-3 inches.

2. Heat the oil over medium-high heat to around 350°F (176°C).

3. Prepare your favourite donut dough recipe.

4. Carefully slide the donuts into the hot oil using a slotted spoon or tongs, making sure not to overcrowd the pot.

5. Fry each donut for about 2-3 minutes per side, or until they turn golden brown.

6. Place the fried donuts on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb any excess oil.

Oven-Baked Method:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a baking sheet.

2. Prepare your donut dough and shape it into traditional donut shapes.

3. Place the donuts on the greased baking sheet and bake for around 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown.

4. Remove from the oven and let them cool slightly before adding glaze or toppings.

Air Fryer Method:

1. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (176°C).

2. Prepare your donut dough and shape it into donut rings or your desired shapes.

3. Place the donuts in the air fryer basket without overcrowding.

4. Cook for about 8-10 minutes, flipping them halfway through for even cooking.

5. Let the donuts cool slightly before glazing or adding toppings.

No matter which method you choose, you can get creative with flavours and toppings to treat yourself to a batch of delicious, freshly made donuts!

Using a saucepan on a stovetop

Making donuts on a stovetop is a great alternative to using a deep fryer. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make delicious homemade donuts using a saucepan on a stovetop:

Step 1: Prepare the Saucepan

Firstly, select a deep saucepan that can hold at least two quarts of oil with some space left over. Vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil are ideal choices due to their neutral flavour and high smoke point. Pour the oil into the saucepan, ensuring you do not fill it more than two-thirds full to avoid any spillage or hazard.

Step 2: Heat the Oil

Place the saucepan with the oil on the stove and heat it over high heat. If using a gas stove, be cautious that the flames do not extend beyond the width of the saucepan to prevent any fire hazards. Heat the oil to a temperature between 350°F and 360°F (176°C-180°C). Use a food thermometer to monitor the temperature accurately. If you don't have a thermometer, you can test the oil by dropping a piece of bread into it. If the bread turns golden-brown in 15 seconds, the oil is ready for frying the donuts.

Step 3: Prepare the Donut Dough

While the oil is heating, prepare your favourite donut dough recipe. You can also make donut holes or donut balls if you prefer.

Step 4: Fry the Donuts

Once the oil reaches the desired temperature, carefully slide the donuts into the saucepan using a slotted spoon or tongs. Be careful not to overcrowd the saucepan, as it will affect the cooking process and the taste of your donuts. Fry each donut for approximately 2-3 minutes on each side, or until they achieve a golden brown colour. Use a spoon or tongs to carefully turn the donuts during frying to ensure even cooking.

Step 5: Drain and Cool the Donuts

Once the donuts are golden brown, remove them from the saucepan and place them on a paper towel-lined plate or a wire rack to absorb any excess oil. Allow the donuts to cool slightly before glazing or adding your desired toppings.

Step 6: Clean Up

Let the oil cool completely in the saucepan. Once cooled, pass the oil through a sieve and store it in a container to be reused for future batches. The oil can typically be reused three to four times.

Now you know how to make delicious homemade donuts using a stovetop! Enjoy your warm, freshly fried treats, and feel free to experiment with different flavours and toppings.

Baking in the oven

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

First, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a baking sheet with butter or oil to prevent your donuts from sticking.

Prepare your donut dough according to your chosen recipe. Shape the dough into traditional donut shapes or use a donut cutter to get evenly sized rings.

Place the shaped donuts on the greased baking sheet, leaving some space between them to allow for even cooking. You can also use a donut pan, filling each hole about 3/4 of the way full to prevent the holes from closing over as they rise.

Bake the donuts for around 12-15 minutes. The baking time may vary depending on your oven and the size of your donuts, so keep an eye on them. You'll know they're done when they're lightly browned and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.

Once baked, remove the donuts from the oven and let them cool slightly. This is the perfect time to glaze them or add your desired toppings. Donuts are best enjoyed fresh, but they can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Baking your donuts in the oven results in a slightly different texture than deep-fried donuts. They tend to be more cake-like and less chewy, often referred to as cake donuts. This method is also a great option if you're looking for a gluten-free or dairy-free alternative.

Using an air fryer

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

Step 1: Prepare the Air Fryer and Dough

Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (176°C). While the air fryer is heating up, prepare your donut dough according to your favourite recipe. You can also make the glaze at this stage by melting butter in a saucepan, adding confectioners' sugar, water, and vanilla, and cooking over low heat until smooth.

Step 2: Shape the Donuts

Shape the donuts into rings or any desired shape. If you are using a baking pan, grease the pan generously to ensure easy removal later. Fill each hole about 3/4 of the way to prevent the holes in the middle from closing over as the donuts rise.

Step 3: Place the Donuts in the Air Fryer

Place the donuts in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded. This will affect the cooking process and the taste of your donuts.

Step 4: Cook the Donuts

Cook the donuts in the air fryer for about 8-10 minutes, flipping them halfway through to ensure even cooking. The cooking time may vary depending on the size and thickness of your donuts, so it's important to monitor the colour and adjust the time accordingly.

Step 5: Glaze and Serve

Once cooked, let the donuts cool slightly before adding glaze or any desired toppings. You can dip the warm donuts into the glaze and turn them to coat. Donuts are best served fresh, but they can be stored in an airtight container for up to a day.

Choosing the right oil

The type of oil you use for frying your donuts will have a significant impact on their flavour, texture, and appearance. Here are some factors to consider when choosing the right oil for making donuts without a deep fryer:

Flavour

You want to select an oil with a neutral flavour that won't overpower the taste of your donuts. Oils like peanut, safflower, canola, and vegetable oil are recommended as they have a very subtle or non-existent flavour. Olive oil, for instance, has a strong taste that may interfere with the desired flavour profile of your donuts.

Smoke Point

Smoke point refers to the temperature at which an oil starts to smoke or catch fire. For deep frying donuts, you'll need a temperature between 350-365℉ (176-185℃), so choose an oil with a smoke point comfortably above this range. Canola oil, for example, has a smoke point of around 400℉ (204℃). Coconut oil, on the other hand, has a lower smoke point of 350℉ (176℃), making it trickier to manage.

Colour

The colour of your oil can also influence the colour of your donuts. For the classic light, golden-brown colour, opt for a lighter-coloured oil. Unrefined oils tend to be darker and can result in darker-coloured donuts.

Cost and Availability

Donut-making requires a few cups of oil, so it's essential to consider cost-effectiveness and availability. Canola oil, vegetable oil, and sunflower oil are common choices that won't break the bank.

Previous Usage

It's important to remember that oil absorbs flavours and aromas from whatever you cook in it. To avoid ending up with donuts that taste like fish or French fries, use fresh oil or oil that hasn't been used for strong-flavoured foods.

Texture

The chosen oil should help you achieve a crisp, non-greasy texture. Peanut oil and vegetable shortening, for instance, are known to produce excellent textures, with shortening yielding the crispiest exteriors.

Regulating the oil temperature

Use a Thermometer:

Invest in a good food thermometer to monitor the oil temperature accurately. A thermometer will help you maintain the ideal range of 350°F (175°C) to 375°F (190°C). This range ensures your donuts cook evenly and attain the desired golden-brown crust without being doughy or greasy.

Heat the Oil Gradually:

When heating the oil in your saucepan or pot, start with medium to medium-high heat. Avoid heating the oil too quickly, as this can affect the temperature control. Set your stovetop to a moderate temperature, and allow the oil to heat gradually.

Adjust the Stove Temperature:

Throughout the frying process, keep a close eye on the thermometer. If the oil temperature drops when you add the donuts, increase the stove's temperature slightly to bring it back up to the desired range. Similarly, if the temperature rises too high, turn down the heat to maintain the ideal range.

Don't Overcrowd the Pan:

When frying the donuts, avoid overcrowding the pan or pot. Adding too many donuts at once can cause the oil temperature to drop significantly, affecting the cooking time and the taste of your donuts. Fry only a few donuts at a time to maintain the proper temperature.

Allow Oil to Recover Between Batches:

After frying each batch of donuts, let the oil temperature come back up to the desired range before adding the next batch. This ensures consistent frying conditions for each batch and helps prevent greasy or undercooked donuts.

Monitor Colour and Adjust Time:

While frying, keep an eye on the colour of your donuts. The ideal frying time is about 2-3 minutes per side, but this may vary depending on your stove, the size of your donuts, and the oil temperature. Adjust the frying time accordingly to ensure your donuts don't burn or remain raw in the middle.

Frequently asked questions