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–+ servings
Old fashioned glazed donuts up close with a bite gone out of one.

How to Make Perfect Old-Fashioned Glazed Donuts

These old fashioned donuts are soft, fluffy, and perfectly golden with a lightly crisp exterior and sweet vanilla glaze. If you’ve ever wondered how to make donuts from scratch or how to make doughnut dough at home, this easy homemade donut recipe walks you through every step, from making donut dough to glazing donuts like a bakery.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Rise Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 18 minutes
Yield: 12 donuts

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Dough

  • ¾ cup warm water
  • 1½ teaspoon yeast
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons butter (softened)
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups + 3 tablespoons all purpose flour

For the Glaze

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup milk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

For frying

  • 1 pint coconut oil (You can substitute with your favorite frying oil.)

Instructions

Make the Doughnut Dough

  • Activate the Yeast

    In a bowl, combine warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let sit 5–10 minutes until frothy.
    If it doesn’t foam, start over. This step ensures your doughnut dough recipes turn out light and fluffy.

  • Make the Doughnut Dough

    Add butter, salt, and flour.
    Mix until combined, then knead for:
    The dough should feel soft and slightly tacky, not sticky.
    Kneading properly is key to how to make great donuts.
    6–8 minutes by hand4–5 minutes with a stand mixer

  • First Rise

    Place dough in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise 30 minutes - 1 hour or until doubled.
    This develops that airy structure that keeps donuts from becoming dense.

  • Shape the Donuts

    Roll dough to about ⅓-inch thickness.
    Cut using a donut cutter or round cutters. Place on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.

  • Second Rise

    Cover loosely and let rise again for 30–40 minutes or until doubled in size.
    This step ensures fluffy glazed donuts and helps them cook evenly.

  • Fry the Donuts

    Heat oil to 350°F.
    Carefully fry 1–2 minutes per side until golden brown.
    Do not overcrowd the pan, that helps them cook evenly.
    Transfer to a wire baking rack to drain.

  • Glazing Donuts

    To make glaze for donuts:
    Whisk confectioner’s sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
    Dip warm donuts into glaze and place on parchment paper or wire rack.
    Let set for several minutes.
    Now you have hot glazed donuts, bakery style.

Notes

Substitutions & Variations

  • Bake instead of fry: Preheat oven to 375°F and bake 10–12 minutes (texture will differ).
  • Cinnamon sugar coating: Skip glaze and toss in a cinnamon sugar mixture after frying.
  • Chocolate glaze: Add cocoa powder to the glaze mixture.
  • Maple glaze: Swap vanilla for maple extract.
  • Dairy-free: Use plant milk and dairy-free butter.

Storage Tips

Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Best within:
  • 24 hours for peak freshness
  • Up to 2 days
After that, they may become slightly dense.

Reheating Tips

To bring donuts back to life:
  • Microwave 8–10 seconds
  • Or warm in oven at 300°F for 5 minutes
This helps restore that soft texture.