Easy, from-scratch, no yeast donut holes! These homemade donuts can be mixed up and fried in minutes! A great guide for making donuts on your own at home!
I spent six years of my life shackled to a deep fry station.
I exaggerate a bit, I wasn’t exactly shackled (only by the need for a paycheck to keep my college from slamming its door in my face each semester), and it was more often the drive-thru window or the sandwich station that I found myself stuck overseeing, but in the six years that I worked for a particular red-hatted fast food company, I experienced a lot of deep frying and bathed my fair share of curly fries and chicken tenders in sizzling wells of golden-brown (more often brown-brown) oil.
And, every evening when I would punch out to go home, my clothes, hair, and skin would be saturated with the distinct scent of all things deep fried.
So I think that might be why it’s taken me so long to share anything on my site that’s been fried, despite the fact that deep fried desserts are truly some next-level stuff… 6 years of scrubbing oil out of your (already acne-prone) pores will do that to you (and if I never see another curly fry in my life, that’s just fine by me).
But today, I’m finally breaking my no-fry streak with these incredibly easy, bite-sized, no yeast homemade donut holes, made with my versatile no yeast cinnamon roll dough and fried until golden-perfection.
Deep frying can be a little messy, but it’s quick, and the results are well-worth any cleanup. These donut holes need to only fry for about 3 and a half minutes (do them in batches of about 4-5 at a time), then roll them in cinnamon/sugar (or powdered sugar — makes them taste like funnel cake or fried dough) and you’re done. Coupled with the fact that the dough is also very simple to make and comes together easily, you can easily have home-fried donuts ready for eating in under 30 minutes.
I’m not sure there’s anything quite as beautiful as watching homemade donuts floating in golden oil until they’re cooked to perfection <3
Except maybe eating said hot homemade donuts.
To be honest, I have quite a few homemade donut hole recipes coming up (ones with surprises tucked inside), but I wanted to share this basic recipe first, as it’s going to be the foundation for the future ones.
Stay tuned, and Happy Friday!
Donut Holes (Fried, No Yeast)
Ingredients
- Vegetable oil or canola oil for frying
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 5 Tbsp butter cold
- 3/4 cups milk
For rolling
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
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Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt and mix.
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Using a pastry cutter cut butter into your flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
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Add milk and mix until all ingredients are combined.
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Transfer dough onto a well-floured surface, and knead gently until it forms a cohesive ball. If dough is too sticky to manage, continue to work in flour until it is smooth and manageable (I've found on hot days or if my butter isn't cold enough the dough can be quite sticky)
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Break off approximately 1 1/2 Tbsp-sized pieces of dough and roll into smooth, tight balls. Set aside.
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Fill a medium-sized saucepan 2-inches deep with your oil over medium-high heat. Use a candy thermometer (make sure it isn't touching the bottom of the pot) to monitor your temperature.
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Heat oil to 350F (you will have to monitor the heat pretty regularly and may need to increase/decrease your stove temperature to keep it consistent).
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While your oil is heating, prepare your cinnamon/sugar mix by stirring together cinnamon and sugar in a small dish. Set aside.
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Prepare two plates for your cooked donut holes by lining them generously with paper towels.
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Once oil has reached 350F, very carefully fry your donut holes, about 4 at a time, carefully transferring them to the oil with a slotted spoon (don't drop them in or the oil may splash, lower them into the oil instead).
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Fry donut holes for approximately 3.5 minutes*, remove carefully with a slotted spoon, and place them on a paper towel laden plate. Allow them to sit for about 30 seconds and then use another spoon to transfer them to your cinnamon/sugar dish, roll them in the topping until fully covered, and then transfer to your other paper towel lined plate.
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Repeat until all donut holes are cooked and have been rolled in cinnamon sugar.
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These donuts are best enjoyed warm/hot, and do not carry over well to the next day.
Recipe Notes
*For best results, fry only one donut hole the first time you try this, and gauge how thoroughly it is cooked. After 3.5 minutes has passed, cut into it to check whether it is underdone, just right, or overdone, and then fry the rest of your donut holes accordingly.
While these should take about 3.5 minutes under optimal conditions with a consistent oil temperature of 350F, it's still important to check so that you don't end up with 1 1/2 dozen donuts that are still gooey in the middle!
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Karen says
I’ve made these for years. Same recipe as my moms. Best smell in the world is opening door and smelling donuts being made. YUM.
Thsnks for sharing.
Karen
Sam says
I couldn’t agree any more! I LOVE the smell of these cooking! 😃
Keosha says
Made these and turned out great but I didn’t do for 3-5 mins I did it til golden brown and had to add a little bit more milk. But they turned out yummy and my kids loved them. I tried this one before trying a harder one. But definitely going to make more. I’m making these to freeze them for my kids for a quick breakfast, before school. Thank you for sharing this recipe, it was quick and easy.
Sam says
I’m glad they turned out and you enjoyed them! They are incredibly addictive, I wouldn’t be mad if I had these for breakfast often. 😃
Angela says
Can this recipe be done in an air fryer? I have to adapt it for my son who has many food allergies.
Sam says
I don’t actually have an air fryer so I have not been able to try it. If you do try it, please let me know ow it turns out. 😃
linda burris says
Loved these doughnut holes. I did double the recipe though and I filled mine with cream cheese in one half and Black Raspberry Preserves in the other half and and rolled them in powdered sugar. I then took them to our every Saturday morning get together in the lounge of our apartment community. None were left to take back home and the ladies wanted the recipe. I told them about Sugar Spun Run and how to find you so they could get your recipe directly from you. Thank you for being there for me. Linda Burris (AKA : Krazy Kat Lady)
Sam says
Hi Linda! Thank you so much for the feedback. I am so glad everyone enjoyed them and thank you for spreading the word! 😃
Pam says
Hi can these be frozen before frying?
Sam says
I don’t know how it will turn out. Sorry… 😟
Emily Pond says
So delicious! Thank you for sharing
Sam says
I am glad you enjoyed them Emily! 😃
Siara says
So good!! Took me two batches to perfect it. Everyone loves them! Definitely a go to donut recipe now. I put my own spin to it by making the regular donuts with the holes in the center and this recipe worked very well for it but of course they were mini ones which were super cute and yummy.
Sam says
I am so glad you enjoyed them Siara! 😃
hunter phillips says
they are the best ever ^ ^
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Sam says
Thank you so much Hunter! 😃😃😃
LiliAna says
Made them yesterday and put different glazes and toppings on them – ready for more.
Share them or you’ll eat them all.
Sam says
😂I know how that goes! If my husband wasn’t here eating them every time I make the I would be devouring so many donut holes!! 😂😂 I am so glad you enjoyed them!