My delicious homemade No Yeast Soft Donut Recipe is so quick and easy to make. Just mix, shape, fry and glaze. Oh and don't forget to eat them too 🙂
This is truly my all time favourite, easiest donut recipe EVER !!!
I love working with yeast recipes, but there are times when you really want a quick tea time treat. Then this is a perfect recipe for moments like those.
There is no kneading or waiting for the dough to rise.
I do have a really great yeast donut recipe as well if you would like to try that out. Just click here to get the recipe.
However, if you want a quick and easy recipe then that is okay too because I have you covered with this No Yeast Soft Donut Recipe.
Since this is a yeast-free recipe, the texture of these donuts will be different compared to the yeast donuts.
Instead of the airy bread-like texture, you get with yeast donuts, these are of a more fluffy soft cake-like texture. When fried it is soft on the inside with a crispy crust on the outside. So irresistibly delicious.
If you prefer a softer outer crust then glaze the donuts while still hot. As it soaks in it will create a softer crust.
Delicious sweet toppings
- Roll the warm donuts in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar
- Dip in warm melted white, dark or milk chocolate
- Add a bit of fun with colour sprinkles over the chocolate
- Drizzle glaze over the donuts as I have done with this recipe.
Making the No yeast soft donuts
These donuts are really easy to make with basic ingredients and no kneading required.
WET INGREDIENTS
Start by melting the butter in the microwave or stovetop. Once melted, remove from the heat and add in the oil and milk. Mix until combined and set aside.
DRY INGREDIENTS
In another bowl, sift the flour and baking powder and Stir in the sugar and salt.
COMBINE WET AND DRY INGREDIENTS
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the melted butter mixture.
Using a spoon, mix until combined. Add a tablespoon of flour to the dough if you feel that it is too sticky.
FORM A SOFT DOUGH, CUT AND FRY
Gather the mixture to form a soft dough. Do not knead the dough.
Press out the dough to about ½ inch / 12mm thickness and cut out using a donut or cookie cutter.
In a deep-frying pan or pot, heat up oil to deep fry the donuts.
To check whether the oil is hot enough, fry a little bit of dough in the oil. You will know when the oil is ready if the dough turns a golden brown and floats to the top.
Carefully drop the donuts into the oil. Allow the donuts to fry for about 3 minutes per side or until golden brown.
Transfer the cooked donuts onto a plate lined with paper towels.
Glaze the donuts while still warm ( optional)
To make the glaze, mix 1 ½ cups / 170g powdered / icing sugar with 2-3 tablespoons of hot water.
Whisk well until silky and smooth and dip one side of the donuts into the glaze. Place the glazed donuts onto a wire rack. Allow excess glaze to drip off the donuts.
These donuts are best eaten immediately or preferably on the same day that it has been prepared.
So give these a try the next time you want a quick and easy comfort dessert...really easy and so delicious.
If you like this recipe how about trying out my other donut and dessert recipes
Still hungry for more?
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Enjoy ♥
No Yeast Soft Donut Recipe
Ingredients
FOR THE DONUTS
WET INGREDIENTS
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons oil plus extra for deep frying
DRY INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups all purpose or cake flour or plain flour
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
FOR THE GLAZE
- 1 ½ cups powdered / icing sugar
- 2-3 Tablespoons hot water
Instructions
TO MAKE THE DONUTS
WET INGREDIENTS
- Melt the butter in the microwave or on the stovetop. Once melted,add in the oil and milk. Mix until combined and set aside.
DRY INGREDIENTS
- In another bowl, sift the flour and baking powder and stir in the sugar and salt.
COMBINE THE WET AND DRY INGREDIENTS
- Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the melted butter mixture.
- Using a spoon, mix until combined. Add a tablespoon (9g) of flour to the dough if you feel that it is too sticky. Do not knead the dough SEE NOTE 1
FORM A SOFT DOUGH, CUT AND FRY
- Turn out the dough onto a floured surface. Press out the dough to about ½ inch / 12mm thickness and cut out using a donut or cookie cutter.
- In a deep frying pan or pot, heat up oil to deep fry the donuts. To know when it's hot enough, fry a little bit of dough in the oil. You will know when the oil is ready if the dough turns a golden brown and floats to the top. carefully drop the donuts into the oil. Allow the donuts to fry for about 3 minutes per side or until golden brown.
- Transfer the cooked donuts onto a plate lined with paper towels.
- Glaze the donuts while still warm.
TO MAKE THE GLAZE ( THIS IS OPTIONAL- USE ANY TOPPINGS OR FROSTING YOU PREFER)
- Mix powdered / icing sugar with 2-3 tablespoons of hot water. Whisk well until silky and smooth and dip one side of the donuts into the glaze. Place the glazed donuts onto a wire rack .Allow excess glaze to drip off the donuts.
- These donuts are best eaten immediately or preferably on the same day that it has been prepared.
Video
Notes
- Work lightly and gently with the dough. Overhandling and kneading can cause it to crumble and break during frying.
Wow. It's been ages since I made donuts and this is just the easiest and best recipe for them I've seen in a while. Not to mention totally delicious looking! Yum! 😀
These look so yummy and just a few ingredients!! I wonder if I could make them in my air fryer?!
I personally use baking soda and vinegar to make soft baked goods but nonetheless these still look really good! Wish I could try them but I have gluten sensitivities.
I also have gluten sensitivities and I was able to make these with gluten free flour! I didn't attempt to make them into traditional donut shapes though, I just made them into donut holes. I added a little more milk, maybe a teaspoon more since gluten free flour is a little dryer most of the time. I used the King Arthur brand of flour, and besides the extra milk, I followed the recipe exactly. I think that they turned out well and would make again.
Thanks for ur post. I also eat gluten free but I'm wondering if the bob red mills 1:1 baking flour will work since that is what I happen to have on hand at the moment
Hi Shezara, you are welcome 🙂
Regarding your question: I am really sorry, but I have not tested this recipe with Bob red mills 1:1 baking flour or any gluten free flour, so not sure how it will turn out.
I have just used either all purpose or cake flour for this recipe.
Nice will definitely try
Will try sounds interesting yummy n eady
Hi, your recipe looks great & I really want to try it! One question though: can I bake the donuts instead of frying them? Also how long do they stay soft?
Hi, CheshireCat, thank you.
I have always fried these donuts and never baked them, so I am not sure of how they will turn out when baked. If you are looking for a baked recipe, I have this great recipe for baked donuts which you can give a try.
Like most donut recipes, they stay soft and are best eaten on the same day as it is fried.
I hope that this helps answer your questions
I made them today. Added a tablespoon of sour cream into the milk mix...my hubby enjoyed the crunchiness on the outside and soft as cake on the inside...first time i made doughnuts without eggs...quickie recipe that might just satisfy your craving!
Did you use all purpose flour or cake flour?
Hi Crystal, I used cake flour
This was a delicious and easy treat. To anyone reading this comment definitely try. I wish i could give 10 stars. Thank you for putting this recipe out onto the internet. 🤤 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks for sharing your recipe...i just finish mine, and they come up really nice...crunchy and of course soft.. My kids loved it..
Hi Reena, You are welcome and thank you for your kind words 🙂 I am really glad that you and your kids loved these doughnuts 🙂
What temperature do you bring the oil to?
Hi Karen, it should be between 360°F and 370°F ( 180°C and 190°C)
How many donuts will this recipe yield?
Hi Jennifer, the recipe yields about 15 to 20 donuts, but it also depends on the size of the cutter which you are using 🙂
My friend and I tried this recipe this morning, we burnt the crusts of the first four doughnuts (the oil was too hot!). HAHA. But the inside was still edible and soft, delicious! Good thing, the next ones were great. We made 13 doughnuts in all using a round cookie cutter. Thanks for this recipe!
Hi Jennifer, You are welcome LOL 🙂 I am glad that you gave this recipe a try and that you loved it too. Thank you for letting me know how it turned out 🙂
Sounds very delicious 🍩🍩🍩
Can I bake these donuts?
Hi Zerubbabel, I have only fried these donuts and have not baked them, so I am not sure how they would turn out. There are however a few donut recipes on my blog like this Chocolate Cake Doughnuts if you would like to give it a try. These are also yeast free and taste amazing.
I love doghnuts but here in Fiji evrything stuff are expensive...I hope this will answer my hope of making doghnuts.Cheap and easy ...and be yummy.
Hi! Could I add coco powder to these to make chocolate donuts?
Hi Emily 🙂 yes you can add cocoa powder to the flour. Ensure that you sift the cocoa powder with the flour to avoid any lumps in the mixture.
Just made these doughnuts! They came out perfect! Thank you
Hi Robs, thank you and you are welcome...I am glad that you loved this recipe too 😃
Can you keep the oil and use again? I've never deep fried anything so not sure. Thanks!
Hi Deb, I avoid reusing oil as much as possible. Especially with a recipe like this. You are going to get little pieces of dough sometimes breaking off the doughnut as it fries. These tiny pieces might burn in the oil. It can be strained once completely cooled, but it is going to affect the taste of the next food that you fry in the same oil.
I hope that this helps to answer your question 🙂
We fry food often and reuse the oil, just make sure you strain the oil before storing! It will get dirty after awhile and you'll need to get fresh but it can be used for a few frys. It will affect the taste some, so maybe don't fry doughnuts after fish or something like that. But french fries and doughnuts don't seem to affect it too much.
Hi..can i just use melt the butter from the microwave? Is it necessAry that the butter should be heated?i want to try this recipe.thanks
Hi Reina, yes you can melt the butter in the microwave. It should be slightly warm, just so that it combines easily with the dry ingredients. 🙂
Made this but used all purpose flour. It was delicious and easy to make!
Hi Ashley, thank you..I am glad that you enjoyed this recipe too 😃
Hi, I have a donut dropper, any idea how to make this thin enough to use the dropper vs rolling out and cutting?
Hi Kathy, I have only ever rolled out this dough. Adding more liquid to thin it out is going to change the taste and texture of the donuts.
I hope this helps 🙂
What am I doing wrong, mine are just falling apart in the oil
Hi Eleanor. I am sorry that your doughnuts are falling apart in the oil.
The reasons this would happen could be overhandling of the dough which causes the dough to break when frying. The dough needs to just be gathered into a ball, pressed out lightly and shaped with a cutter. This dough needs to be handled very lightly, no kneading, and no rolling out with a rolling pin.
Allow it to fry on one side before turning it very gently as well. I hope that this helps answer your question 🙂
I will be doing a video on this recipe next week so that you can see how it is done if you would like to give it a try again
Hi please advise did you 2 cups of flour or one cup because 250g is one cup.
Hi, Azmeera I used 2 measuring cups of flour. A cup of flour on a scale weights between 120-125g. So 2 cups will weigh between 240-250g.
OMG!!!! These were amazing and so easy! Thank you for the awesome recipe. We ate them warm/hot covered in sugar. Next time I will do the glaze and do half the batch as chocolate.
Hi Jackie, Thank you and you are welcome 🙂 I am glad that you enjoyed this recipe too 🙂
What am I doing wrong, my dough turned into more of a batter than dough ☹️
Hi Charlotte, sorry that you are having a problem with the dough. It is possible that the flour you added was insufficient. Try adding more flour, depending on how weak your dough is. Judging from what you say, I would suggest that you add 1 extra cup of flour to your dough. Work it in so that it forms a soft dough which you are able to cut into.
I will be uploading a video on this recipe later today, so you can see the consistency of the dough.
I hope that this helps answer your question and please let me know how it turns out 😃
This was good
Hi, Thank you 🙂
By far THE BEST homemade donuts I have ever made and they were so easy! Nice and soft inside and slightly crispy on the outside. Definitely saved this in my favorites.
Hi Kat, Thank you 🙂 I am glad that you love this recipe too 🙂
can you freeze the dough?
Hi Georgia 🙂 I am sorry, but I have never had to freeze the dough, usually because it is a quick dough to put together. I am not sure how this dough will work after it has been defrosted.
This recipe is amazing! Thank you for sharing.
Hi Beth 🙂 Thank you and you are welcome 🙂
The kids helped me make these. We had fun and the donuts are yummy! We doubled the recipe and made 16 large donuts. Thank you!
Hi Jessica 🙂 Thank you for giving my recipe a try. I am so glad that you and your family had fun and enjoyed making these donuts.
LOL...doubling this recipe is ALWAYS a good thing, I do the same whenever I make these too 🙂
Has anyone tried these in an air fryer?
Would love to know as well!!
Hi, Deanna I have not tried this recipe in an air fryer and not sure how they will turn out but I do have this air fryer doughnut recipe if you would like to give it a try:
Air Fryer Doughnuts (yeast based, egg free)
I hope this helps answer your question 🙂
So good and easy to make!!!
Hi Keira ☺️ Thank you. I am glad that you enjoyed the recipe.
These doughnuts were by far the best I've ever made. Great and easy recipe😋😋🤤🤤
Hi Mercy, Thank you, I am glad that these doughnuts turned out great for you too 🙂
Hi Ashika! How many donuts can you make with 2 cups of flour? Thanks’
Hi Uthra, I get about 15 donuts with this recipe using 2 cups of flour. The number of donuts you get will also depend on the size of the cutter you are using.
I hope that this helps answer your question 🙂
Yes, thank you! Trying it out this week for my son's birthday and will post back!
Hi Uthra, you are welcome, thats great, I would love to know how they turned out 🙂
Hi I tried these but they went brown very quick but not cooked inside x
Hi Etta, I am sorry that these did not turn out well for you. I can offer a suggestion though if you would like to give this recipe a try again.: The oil should be at a medium-low setting to ensure that the donuts get a chance to cook inside before they brown too quickly on the outside. If the oil is too hot, they do tend to brown or burn on the outside before it has been cooked on the inside.
I hope that this helps 🙂
How many donuts does this make?
Hi Matilda, this recipe makes approximately 20 donuts, but it will also depend on the size of the cutter you are using.
I hope that this helps answer your question 🙂
Have you ever made this dough an hour or two in advance? I’m wondering if sitting for a while will make them dense, or if they still turn out well if you fry them a little while after making the dough.
Hi Linda, Sorry, but no, I make this dough and use it immediately. I am not sure how it will turn out or how the dough will be affected if made in advance.
Hey Ashika,
This is such a yum and quick donut recipe. Thanks Ashika.
I planned to make donuts for breakfast on Mother's day , but got to make it only for Lunch.. thanks to sweet suprises by my husband and children. ❤️❤️The donuts were so yum. They were not dense at all. In fact the kids suggested that I allow dough to rest a while the next time I make these goodies.
These reminded me of the doughnuts I had as a teen in my high school. IMO it's better than the other type of doughnut. I love the crunchy outside and soft inside!
Hi
Can I just use oil instead of butter?
Hi Zoe, butter contributes to the flavor and texture of these donuts. You can replace the butter, but keep in mind, the texture and flavor will not be the same.
I hope this helps answer your question 🙂
Hi,I am 12 years old I did the recipe this morning it turned out really well. My cousin and brother loved them.
Hi Alyssa, thank you that is absolutely great 🙂
Your comment really made my day 🙂 I am so happy that you tried out my recipe, that it turned out well and that your family enjoyed it too 🙂
Hi, Can this recipe be shallow fried? Also after cooled can they be frozen?
Hi Susan, Yes these donuts can be shallow fried for about 3 minutes on each side. Heat the oil to a medium setting to ensure that it cooks on the inside and does not burn on the outside. I would also suggest that you fry just one first as a test for how long it takes to cook. Follow the same time and procedure for the remaining donuts.
Regarding freezing. Yes these can be frozen for up to 1 month after frying and cooling completely. I'd say its best frozen without the glaze. Store in an airtight container when freezing. Defrost at room temperature.
I hope this helps answer your question 🙂
would love to make these but was wondering if it really makes a difference using all purpose flour or cake flour
Hi Treva, I love using cake flour in most of my recipes. including this donut recipe. It creates more of a softer textured bake. It has less gluten than all-purpose flour, which produces a donut that's chewy without being tough or dense.
However cake flour is sometimes not available in some countries. For that reason I give the plain flour or all purpose flour alternative.
I hope this helps answer your question 🙂