Homemade Donuts: Baked Better than Fried?

Step 1

Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt together in a standing mixer fitted with dough hook.

Step 2

In a measuring jug, heat together the milk, water, butter and heat until luke warm, and the butter is melted. Stir in the vanilla.

Step 3

Turn the machine on low and slowly add the milk mixture. Mix for 2 minutes to wake up the yeast.

Step 4

Run a spatula under the dough to make sure everything is mixed well.

Step 5

Increase the speed to medium and mix until the dough is shiny and smooth, 6-8 minutes. The dough is supposed to be saggy and on the wet side

Step 6

Rub your mixing bowl with vegetable oil (or any flavorless oil) . Place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat lightly.

Step 7

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap tight and let the dough rise until doubled, 1 ½ -2 hours.

Step 8

Once it has risen, turn out the fluffy dough onto a floured work surface.

Step 9

Roll out to ½ “ thick

Step 10

Using a round cutter ( I used 3” but you can use smaller), cut of your donuts circles. Dust your cutter in flour so it doesn’t stick to the dough. Then cut out the donut hole with a much smaller cutter ( I used a piping nozzle , 1 ¼“ )

Step 11

If you want to make donuts to stuff with Jelly or nutella then cut a plain round donuts (I used 2 ½” cutter)

Step 12

TIP: You can prepare the donuts to this stage and put in the refrigerator until the next day. When needed, take out and let me come to room temp and rise a little (roughly 30 minutes) and then bake off as instructed below. Fresh donuts for breakfast.

Step 13

Cover your donuts with cling film and let them rise at room temp for 20-30 minutes.

Step 14

Heat the oven to 350oF (180oC)

Step 15

Unwrap the donuts. Brush the very top (not the sides) with melted butter. Sprinkle the tray with 2 tblsp of water.

Step 16

Bake for 13 minutes, set a timer. Rotate tray during baking if needed to get color all over. You want to bake these just enough. if they get too much color they can dry.

Step 17

While the donuts are baking making the glaze: Simply whisk all the ingredients together. Use more water if needed to get a thin glaze.

Step 18

Take you donuts STRAIGHT from the oven and dunk into the glaze one by one. It makes a huge difference. They soften and soak the glaze and you get a much better end result. Dip each in the bowl of glaze with forks. Let the excess glaze drip off before and then place on a wire rack to dry. You will see the glaze set fast because the doughnuts were warm. this is just my absolute favorite part

Step 19

Once the glaze has set, I like to double dip them one more time. I think it gives them a nice sweetness and the crust great texture and chew, it’s up to you.

Step 20

Once the glaze dries I strongly urge you to eat them as fresh as possible because they are at their absolute best!

Step 21

Have leftovers for the next day? Pop them in the oven and refresh them for a few minutes. the glaze might melt but they will be warm and fresh again