How to Make Light and Fluffy Amish Doughnuts (2024)

FAQs

Why are my donuts not light and fluffy? ›

Underproofed – leads to stiffer (denser) donuts that don't puff up well when fried. Cracked donuts – this may have happened if you used a cutter and it wasn't sharp enough to cut through the dough cleanly. Or the dough is underproofed or too cold.

A batch of original glazed starts with Krispy Kreme doughnut mix, water and yeast, the same single-cell fungi used to make bread rise. The yeast is what makes the original glazed so light -- it puffs the dough up with air, so it's not dense like a cake doughnut (more on this later).

The liquid was too hot, or not hot enough.

It will usually tell you to use “warm” water. The water temperature should be between 110 - 115 F degrees. If your liquid is too hot (i.e. boiling) it will kill the yeast and prevent the rise. If it's not hot enough, the yeast won't have the heat needed to bloom.

Stiff/Dense Donuts: Under proofed dough. Poke the dough, if it springs back too quickly they are under proofed and need more time. Cracked Donuts: The donuts could be under-proofed, you didn't get a clean cut on the donuts when cutting them out, or the dough was too cold.

There's only one way to make doughnuts even softer and fluffier and that is by scalding some of the flour. Scalding is a technique used to not only make bread softer, but also to make it stay soft for longer. You can use it for pretty much any recipe you like.

Place the dough in a greased bowl, turn it over to coat the top, cover, and let it rise for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until doubled in bulk. To shape the doughnuts: Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently roll it 1/4" thick, and cut out doughnuts with a 2 1/2" to 3" round cutter.

What kind of oil is best for cooking donuts? The best oil is the one with the least flavour. Vegetable oil and canola oil are both very good in this respect. The most important thing is to use the same oil for the same kinds of foods, since oil readily absorbs flavours and aromas.

Our Hot Light means we are making fresh, hot doughnuts in store! If you visit us while the Hot Light is lit up, you can receive one free Original Glazed doughnut per person with purchase.

If the donut collapses when touched, it is overproofed. Frying -- Proper temperature of the shortening is 375° F (190.5° C). Allow donuts to dry off at least five minutes before frying. Let the underside attain a golden brown color (55 to 60 seconds) then turn and finish the second side.

Set the bowl of dough in the microwave and shut the door.

Leave the glass of water in the microwave with the dough. The glass of water and the heat from the microwave will create a warm, moist environment that will help the dough rise faster.

Why is my dough not doubling in size? ›

Knead in more flour.

If so, this is probably under-kneaded dough. Knead in additional flour until smooth and silky to the touch and the dough no longer sticks to your hand. Let rest and rise in a warm wet environment. Repeat if needed.

Use real cake flour – not DIY cake flour!

DIY substitutions don't really cut it, and AP flour will not create doughnuts with that same soft texture. Also, bleached cake flour will work best. Unbleached (like King Arthur Baking) won't absorb as much moisture, and you may end up with doughnuts that crumble while frying.

To make light and fluffy donuts, make sure that your dough is properly risen by allowing it to rest in a warm place until it doubles in size. Also, avoid overmixing the dough as it can lead to a denser texture. Handling the dough gently and not overworking it will help maintain the desired fluffiness.

Place your donuts in storage bags or airtight containers.

If you plan on eating your donuts within 1-2 days, you can just keep them at room temperature. Definitely put them in airtight bags or containers though so they stay fresh!

On the other hand, if a small indent doesn't spring back at all, the dough is overproofed. When the dough hits the hot oil, it will deflate instead of puff up, leaving a thin and flat donut. Correctly proof dough will spring back slowly. and just about halfway when gently poked.

Dough temperature that is too hot will ferment too fast, have poor texture and grain and have a darker than normal color when fried.

Do not stir additional flour into the dough; this can cause the finished donut recipe to be heavy and dry. Use a floured 2½-inch donut cutter to cut the dough into classic rings.

So, what if you didn't prepare and now have a stale donut on your hands? We've got a solution for that, too. Pop it into the microwave for approximately 15 seconds until it softens. It might not be perfect, but it should still be a delicious treat.