Step 1

Whisk together the flour, sugar, yeast and salt in a large mixing bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer. In a separate bowl combine the warm plant milk, aquafaba, and melted (not hot) vegan butter. Add to the dry ingredients and stir to combine with a wooden spoon until shaggy.

Step 2

Knead the dough in the stand mixer using the dough hook on low speed or on a lightly floured counter. Knead for 3 minutes, let the dough rest for 5 minutes, then knead an additional 3 minutes. Add flour as needed to form a tacky and supple dough. If kneading with the stand mixer, turn the dough onto the counter at the end and knead for 1 minute making any necessary adjustments at that time.

Step 3

Coat the bowl with a bit of oil and turn to coat the dough in the oil. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp tea towel and let rise until doubled in size, about 1-2 hours.

Step 4

Lightly punch down the dough and turn onto clean, lightly floured counter. Roll out to 1/2" thick and cut using a doughnut cutter or a ~3 1/2" round cutter, using a ~1 1/2" cutter to make the center hole. Collect the scraps of dough and doughnut holes and lightly knead back together. Reroll and cut the dough into doughnuts, repeating until all the dough is cut. Place the prepared doughnuts onto a lightly floured piece of parchment paper, cover, and let the dough rest for about 20 minutes.

Step 5

At the end of that time, heat a large pot or wok with oil to 350 ºF. If not using a thermometer test with a piece of scrap dough. When dropped in it will float and boil around the dough. Too vigorous a boil and the oil is too hot, and if it doesn't boil it's too low in temperature. Fry the doughnuts in batches about 1 minute on each side, until a deep golden color. Remove with a spider strainer to a cooling rack placed over a baking tray or paper towel to cool.

Step 6

In a small pot add the plant milk, vegan butter, corn syrup, and vanilla extract. Heat over medium to melt the butter, then turn the heat to low and add the chocolate chips. Whisk until the chocolate has melted, then turn off the heat and whisk in the sifted powdered sugar.

Step 7

Place the glaze in a bowl and dip the doughnuts in the glaze. Let it cool down a little so it doesn't run straight off the doughnuts. Place doughnuts back on the rack and top with sprinkles if using. Let the glaze set for about 30 minutes before eating!