Who doesn’t love the fluffy and soft doughnuts?? Why to buy them when you can have fresh yummy homemade doughnuts?!
You can either make them using a bread machine or stand mixer or just knead with hands. I prefer kneading with hands. The unused dough should always be covered to prevent forming a skin. I prefer using exact measurements for this recipe instead of cup measurements which may go wrong sometimes. This recipe will give you the perfect soft doughnuts.
Make sure that buttermilk and egg are at room temperature. If you forget to take the egg out of fridge(just like me!), put the egg in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes.
Doughnuts can be sugar coated or glazed or dipped in chocolate. You can use many variants of topping. Here I used the chocolate coating with sprinkles.
INGREDIENTS:
• Water – 90 ml
• Yeast – 5 g (1 1/2 tsp)
• All purpose flour – 450 g
• Granulated sugar – 55 g
• Salt – 1 tsp
• Butter milk – 150 ml (room temperature)
• Melted butter – 55 g
• Egg – 1 (room temperature)
• Oil – for frying
For coating
• Chocolate chips – 1/2 cup
• Butter – 1 tbsp
• Sprinkles
PROCEDURE:
1.Heat the water till it’s like warm. In a small cup, add like warm water and sprinkle yeast on top. Keep aside for 5 minutes for yeast to activate.
2. In a bowl, add flour, sugar, salt and make a well in the centre.
3. Add buttermilk, melted butter, egg and yeast mixture and mix well.
4.Knead for 10 to 12 minutes. Cover with a clean cloth and keep aside to double for 1.5 – 2 hours. If you are using instant yeast, just rest the dough for 20 minutes.
5. After the dough raised, knead it on a floured surface for 2 minutes.
6. Cut the dough into 2 pieces and keep half dough covered. Roll the other half dough evenly to 1/2 inch thickness.
7. Using a tumbler or cookie cutter, make about 3 inch diameter circles and using a piping tip, make 1 inch circle in the centre.
8. Transfer them to waxed paper and place on baking tray and heat it in the oven for a minute turn it off.
9. Boil some water and place the boiled water in a tumbler in the oven so that steam avoids the skin formation on doughnuts. Allow them to double in size.
10. Meanwhile, repeat the same with other half of the dough.
11. Heat the oil in a pan till small bubbles appear. Drop doughnuts into the hot oil carefully.
12. Flip them when the underside is golden brown. Fry till both the sides turn golden brown.
13. Transfer them to a plate with paper towel and let them cool.
14. In a bowl, add chocolate chips and butter and melt it.
15. Dip the doughnuts in the melted chocolate and place on a cooling rack. Add sprinkles and enjoy the yummy doughnuts.
TIPS:
• Use the exact measurements for this recipe.
• You can skip the oven heating step if the climate is hot. Put the doughnuts covered in a closed place till the size doubles.
• Always keep the dough covered to avoid the formation of skin which spoils the taste and texture.
• If the dough is sticky, add a little bit of flour and knead.
How to store the doughnuts?
Doughnuts are best on the same day. You can store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 2 days.
Can I substitute buttermilk?
Yes, if you don’t have buttermilk, use same amount of milk and add 1/2 tsp vinegar or lemon juice and let it sit for 5 minutes.
Can I make the dough earlier?
Yes you can make the dough a day before. Place the dough covered in refrigerator overnight. The dough will slightly rise in refrigerator. Next day, remove the dough from refrigerator and allow to rise in a warm place until it’s doubled.
Can I freeze the doughnuts?
Yes, you can. Freeze the shaped doughnuts up to 3 months. Before serving, thaw them in refrigerator and rest at room temperature for 3-4 hours and fry as directed.
You can also freeze the fried doughnuts for up to 3 months. First let them cool and then freeze them.Before serving, thaw them in refrigerator and rest at room temperature for 3-4 hours them in refrigerator a day before and bring them to room temperature and reheat (using a microwave). But definitely the taste is not as good as the fresh doughnuts.