Description
Soft, fluffy doughnuts filled with a rich and velvety vanilla pastry cream, then coated in sugar for the perfect sweet finish. These homemade treats are golden on the outside and irresistibly creamy on the inside—perfect for breakfast, dessert, or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough
- 2½ teaspoons active dry yeast
- ⅔ cup whole milk, room temperature (162 ml)
- 3½ cups all-purpose flour (437 g)
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar (67 g)
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 3 large eggs
- 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
For the Pastry Cream
- 1½ cups whole milk (366 ml)
- ½ cup granulated sugar (100 g)
- ¼ cup cake flour (31 g)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 tablespoons heavy cream
For Frying
- 1 gallon canola oil
For Coating
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Activate Yeast:
In a bowl, mix warm milk and yeast. Let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy. - Make Dough:
In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Add eggs, yeast mixture, and butter. Knead until smooth and elastic. - First Rise:
Cover and let dough rise in a warm place for 1–2 hours, until doubled. - Prepare Pastry Cream:
In a saucepan, whisk milk, sugar, flour, and salt. Cook over medium heat until thickened.
Remove from heat, whisk in egg yolks and vanilla. Cool, then fold in heavy cream. Chill. - Shape Doughnuts:
Roll out dough and cut into rounds. Place on a tray and let rise again for 30–45 minutes. - Fry Doughnuts:
Heat oil to 350°F (175°C). Fry doughnuts until golden brown, about 1–2 minutes per side. Remove and drain. - Coat:
Roll warm doughnuts in sugar. - Fill:
Once slightly cooled, pipe vanilla cream into each doughnut.
Notes
- Ensure oil temperature stays consistent for even frying.
- Do not fill doughnuts while too hot—this prevents melting the cream.
- Chill pastry cream for easier piping and better texture.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes (+ 2 hours rising)
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 doughnut
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
Keywords: vanilla cream doughnuts, filled doughnuts, homemade doughnuts, pastry cream donuts, fried donuts recipe