Krispy Kreme Glazed Doughnuts

Prep	Cook	Rise	Total
40 min	20 min	2 hr	3 hr

Ingredients

Doughnuts:

• 1 packet instant yeast, about 2 1/4 teaspoons (7 grams)
• 1 cup whole milk, heated to 105-112° (215 grams)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar (50 grams)
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt (3 grams)
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup vegetable shortening (50 grams)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (315 grams)
• 4 cups vegetable shortening, for frying (about 800 grams)

Glaze:

• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar (150 grams)
• 1/4 cup milk (54 grams)
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup (20 grams)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon Kosher salt

Instructions

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the yeast, milk, vanilla, sugar, eggs, shortening and half of the flour.
   Editor’s Tip: If using active dry yeast rather than instant, you’ll want to bloom the yeast in the warm milk and sugar for 5-10 minutes before combining it with the other ingredients.
2. Using your mixer’s first speed, mix the ingredients until combined; then slowly add in the remaining flour and salt. Increase to your mixer’s second speed and blend until the flour is just incorporated.
3. Transfer the dough to a clean bowl, cover and let rise for 1 hour in a warm place. If it doesn’t seem to be working, here are a few possible reasons why dough may not rise.
4. Punch dough down and roll into an even layer onto a floured surface to slightly less than 1/2-inch thickness.
5. Transfer the dough to a floured work surface, and shape it into a smooth ball of dough. Roll it out to 1/2 inch thickness.
   Editor’s Tip: Be generous with the flour on your work surface and hands, as the dough will initially be somewhat sticky.
6. Using a 3.5-inch round cutter, cut out a dozen doughnuts. Next, take a 1-inch round cutter and cut a doughnut hole in the center of each circle, or use a fancy doughnut cutter. Reroll the scraps and continue to cut them out to use as much dough as possible.
   Editor’s Tip: Don’t forget the doughnut holes! You can proof, fry and glaze the doughnut holes just as you would the large doughnuts. Waste not!
7. In a deep cast-iron skillet, Dutch oven or saucepan, heat the shortening to 375°.
8. Just before frying the doughnuts, combine the glaze ingredients in a saucepan wide enough to dip the doughnuts in. Over medium heat, whisk until the sugar is dissolved, and the glaze is steaming. Turn off the heat and set it aside.
   Editor’s Tip: If the glaze is too thick, add additional milk until a thin, pourable consistency is reached.
9. Uncover the doughnuts. Then, working in batches of one to two doughnuts at a time, fry the dough for 1-2 minutes per side until lightly golden.
10. Remove the doughnuts to a wire cooling rack and let cool so they’re safe to handle. Then dunk each doughnut into the glaze.
11. Eat immediately with your beverage of choice.

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Notes

What Makes Krispy Kreme Doughnuts So Light?

• While the exact recipe for Krispy Kreme’s glazed doughnuts is guarded under lock and key—unlike these secret restaurant recipes that have been revealed—we discovered a few simple tricks in our testing process to master the formula for a pretty spot-on Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut.

Don’t Overmix

• The secret to soft, pillowy glazed doughnuts is to not overmix the dough. When blending the ingredients, turn your mixer off as soon as the flour is moist. The dough should be somewhat loose and sticky. Overworking the flour will develop the gluten too much, causing the doughnuts to be tough.

A Patient Rise

• It can be tempting to rush the proofing process, so you can sink your teeth into a hot, fresh doughnut sooner rather than later. But take your time. Proofing fills the dough with pockets of air, giving it loft and lightness once fried.

Oil Temperature

• The temperature of the oil is critical for making the best Krispy Kreme doughnut recipe. Too hot, and your doughnuts will burn on the outside before the centers are fully cooked. Too cold, and you’ll end up with oil doughnuts.
• For best results, use a candy thermometer to test the temperature of the oil and keep it consistent while frying. A range between 350°F and 375° is where the magic happens.

Doughnuts Need Space

• Don’t overcrowd doughnuts in the oil. Too many doughnuts can lower the oil temperature drastically and make it difficult to flip them while frying.

Does Krispy Kreme Bake or Fry Its Doughnuts?

• Unlike competitors who reheat their previously-fried frozen doughnuts in the oven, Krispy Kreme makes their doughnuts fresh in-house. Research suggests their specialty flavors are made on a scheduled weekly rotation. However, their classic glazed doughnuts are made twice daily at most locations.
• Wondering what oil Krispy Kreme uses for frying? Word on the street is that it’s shortening! This oil is ideal for frying doughnuts because it has a very neutral flavor profile and yields doughnuts with the best interior texture and crisp exterior. Here’s how shortening is different from butter!

How to Make a Chocolate Glaze

• Need chocolate on your doughnuts? You can whip up an easy chocolate glaze or one of these other tasty doughnut glazes to ice your piping-hot doughnuts in minutes.
• Simply melt 1/2 cup of semi-sweet chocolate with 2 tablespoons of butter, a teaspoon of light corn syrup and 2-3 teaspoons of milk in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second increments. Stir after each interval and repeat until smooth.
• After frying the doughnuts, dip the tops into the glaze and cool until the chocolate is set.

How to Store the Doughnuts

• As a fried baked good, homemade doughnuts have a very short shelf life. We recommend enjoying your doughnuts the same day they’re made for maximum enjoyment.
• However, you can also store the doughnuts in an airtight container for up to 1 day. You can also make doughnut ice cream sandwiches with any extras!

How to Freeze Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

If you don’t think you can devour a dozen doughnuts in 24 hours, you can freeze these Krispy Kreme doughnut copycats for up to 2 months.

• To freeze glazed doughnuts: Line a gallon-sized freezer bag with a sheet of wax paper. Arrange the glazed doughnuts on the wax paper in a single layer, then top with a second sheet of wax paper. Freeze flat until solid and then store as desired.
• To freeze unglazed doughnuts: Once cool, pop the freshly fried doughnuts in a gallon-size freezer bag and freeze. When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and prepare a fresh batch of glaze. Warm the doughnuts in the microwave for 5-10 seconds, then dip them into the fresh glaze.

Here are more of our top tips for freezing and reheating doughnuts.

Link to recipe