Lesson 1 of 5 · Homemade Doughnuts

Yeast doughnut dough

  • Free video
  • Intermediate
  • Doughnuts & Sweet Doughs
  • 12 min
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Video by CupcakeJemma on YouTube: “The Best Raised Doughnut Recipe EVER! | Cupcake Jemma” Watch on YouTube ↗

What you'll learn

Lesson 1 of 5

Mix a soft, enriched yeast dough for light, fluffy raised doughnuts and let it rise properly.

  • Warm, not hot, liquid keeps yeast lively
  • The dough should be soft and slightly tacky
  • Let it rise until doubled

Ingredients for this lesson

Madagascar Vanilla Extract, 4 oz BottleVanillaGoods$19.00
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Madagascar Vanilla Beans, Grade B, 5 BeansVanillaGoods$12.00
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Lesson notes from VanillaGoods

Before you start

Yeast works best with liquid around 95–115°F (35–45°C); hotter can kill it. Use an instant-read thermometer rather than guessing. Doughnut dough is enriched with milk, eggs, sugar and fat, which keeps it tender.

Step by step

  • Mix the warm milk, yeast and a little sugar, then add eggs, fat and flavorings
  • Add flour gradually; stop while the dough is still soft and slightly tacky
  • Knead until smooth and elastic, about 5–8 minutes in a mixer
  • Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or refrigerate overnight

VanillaGoods tip

A little vanilla in the dough, plus nutmeg as in this recipe, gives doughnuts that classic bakery aroma.

Next: Cutting and proofing →

Tools for this lesson

The equipment that makes this easier. VanillaGoods vanilla is always our own; these tools are from Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate, VanillaGoods earns from qualifying purchases. We only suggest tools that fit what you're learning.

Put it into practice

Bake along with a VanillaGoods recipe that uses this technique.

Find doughnut recipes

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