Making donuts at home can be a fun and rewarding activity. Here’s a simple step-by-step recipe for delicious homemade donuts.
Start by gathering your ingredients. You'll need: 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, 1/2 cup of whole milk, 2 large eggs, and 1/4 cup of melted butter. For frying, have vegetable oil ready on hand.
1. **Mix Dry Ingredients**: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and ground nutmeg. Whisk these ingredients together until well blended.
2. **Combine Wet Ingredients**: In another bowl, whisk together the whole milk, eggs, and melted butter until smooth.
3. **Combine Mixtures**: Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps are okay as this helps keep the donuts light and fluffy.
4. **Prepare the Dough**: Transfer the donut batter onto a floured surface. Pat it gently into a 1/2-inch thick rectangle. If you want, you can use a rolling pin, but be careful to keep the thickness even.
5. **Cut Donuts**: Use a donut cutter or two round cookie cutters (one larger and one smaller for the hole) to cut out your donuts. Make sure to flour the cutters to prevent sticking. Gather any excess dough, shape it into a ball, and roll out again to cut more donuts.
6. **Heat the Oil**: In a deep pot, pour enough vegetable oil to deep-fry the donuts (about 3 inches deep). Heat the oil to 350°F (175°C). You can test it by dropping a small piece of dough in; if it sizzles and rises, it’s ready!
7. **Fry the Donuts**: Carefully place a few donuts in the hot oil at a time, making sure not to overcrowd the pot. Fry for about 1-2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to turn them over.
8. **Drain Excess Oil**: Once cooked, transfer the donuts to a wire rack lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil.
9. **Add Toppings**: Let the donuts cool slightly. You can dust them with powdered sugar, dip them in chocolate glaze, or coat them in cinnamon sugar. Get creative with your toppings!
10. **Enjoy**: Once cooled and topped to your liking, enjoy your homemade donuts fresh!
Making donuts can be a delightful activity that allows you to customize flavors and toppings to your taste. Happy baking!