French Crullers

Jul 7, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Pastries doughnuts Vanilla: Extract Medium

Fresh french crullers on a wire cooling rack, one broken open to show the tender inside

Light and airy French crullers made from a vanilla-infused choux pastry dough, fried to golden perfection and glazed with a delicate vanilla glaze.

Prep 20 min

Cook 15 min

Cooling 40 min

Total 1 hr 15 min

Yield 12 doughnuts

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

doughnuts

1.0 cup (240.0 ml)water
6.0 tbsp (85.0 g)unsalted butter
1.0 tbsp (12.0 g)granulated sugar
¼ tsp (1.5 g)fine sea salt
1.0 cup (125.0 g)all-purpose flour
4.0 large (200.0 g)eggs
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)pure vanilla extract
1000.0 mlneutral frying oil (vegetable or canola)
1 ½ cups (180.0 g)powdered sugar
2.0 tbsp (30.0 ml)milk
½ tsp (2.5 ml)pure vanilla extract, for glaze

Make it at home

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Instructions

In a medium saucepan, combine water, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and salt. Bring to a rolling boil over medium heat.
Add all the flour at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan, about 1-2 minutes.
Transfer the dough to a stand mixer bowl and let cool for 5 minutes to avoid cooking the eggs.
With the mixer on low speed, add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue until dough is smooth and shiny. Mix in the 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract. The dough should be thick but pipeable.
Transfer the dough to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes to firm up.
Heat frying oil in a deep pot or fryer to 375°F (190°C).
Pipe 3 to 4 inch rings of dough directly into the hot oil. Fry in batches to avoid crowding. Fry for about 3 minutes per side or until puffed and golden brown.
Use a slotted spoon to remove crullers and drain on paper towels. Let cool slightly.
To make the glaze, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract until smooth.
Dip the top of each cruller into the glaze, letting excess drip off. Place on a rack to set for 10 minutes before serving.

Tips

Make sure the dough cools slightly before adding eggs to prevent scrambling.
Use pure vanilla extract in both the dough and glaze to highlight the vanilla flavor in every bite.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make french crullers?

Plan on 20 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking, plus 40 minutes to chill and rest. The recipe makes 12 French crullers.

How should I store french crullers?

Store crullers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Reheat briefly in a warm oven to refresh crispness.

Can I make french crullers ahead?

Chill the dough for up to 24 hours before frying to develop flavor and improve piping consistency.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (5 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Light and airy French crullers made from a vanilla-infused choux pastry dough, fried to golden perfection and glazed with a delicate vanilla glaze.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

249 Calories / serving

15.5g Fat

24.2g Carbs

3.3g Protein

16.0g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~2988 cal · 186g fat · 290g carbs · 40g protein · 192g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 249 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 47 min·2.7 mi·~5500 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 34 min·1.7 mi·~3400 steps
Moderate cycling 25 min·5.0 mi
Swimming laps 35 min
Jogging 24 min·2.0 mi·~3850 steps
Stair climbing 23 min·~2050 steps
Dancing 40 min
Bodyweight circuit training 25 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 58 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.

Made with VanillaGoods

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