breakfast/ Sweet/ Tea time bites

Mini Cinnamon Donuts

Deep fried mini donuts- the most delicious sort after snack at home.

Homemade cinnamon donut holes are special treats for children especially when made at home from scratch

Everyone loves donuts or some version of donuts and that’s A universal fact!!

First time I ever made donuts, I thought to myself that I would go the healthier way. I tried the baked version of these donuts. But then it wasn’t tasting the way I was picturing it in my mind. I had conjured up a light, fluffy and a bit chewy donut. The baked donuts always turned out good but not that good. So after many trials and at least five donut batches later, I came to the conclusion that nothing can beat the fried version.  Frying can be a bit messy but it is so worth it. Try it!

I agree, fried donuts are totally not healthy but then the baked donuts are just a healthier version of the fried donuts. So I thought to myself, why go half way when you can go all the way and take the mouth watering route!

So today’s recipe was adapted from Christina and I completely agree with her when it comes to frying these delicious cinnamon donuts.

Donuts , on the whole are very versatile and it is easy to please almost everybody with fresh warm donuts, whether frosted, filled or sugar donuts. Today I have made the super simple Cinnamon sugar coating. They are quick and easy to prepare and but delicious to serve. Can’t stop with just one kind of flavor!

 DIY homemade donuts. An easy way to start learning to make bread.

In a nutshell

TastePerfectly warm and chewy mini cinnamon sugar donuts.
TextureThese delicious mini donuts are soft and chewy on the inside and generously coated with sugar and cinnamon on the outside.
LevelThe ideal way to begin your bread making journey
OccasionBest enjoyed with a cup of coffee and a great book.

How to makes these cinnamon sugar donuts from scratch?

Add lukewarm water, yeast and a teaspoon of sugar to the stand mixer bowl. Cover and let it sit for 5 minutes or until the water is frothy. Then add all the other ingredients. Using the dough hook, mix the dough to make a soft and stick dough.

Learn how to make cinnamon donut holes at home. Soft, chewy, fluffy donuts topped with a simple and easy topping of cinnamon and sugar.

Dust your countertop with flour. Knead the dough for at least 10 minutes. The more you knead the less sticky the dough becomes. If the dough is still sticky, continue to add in flour, a teaspoon at a time until the dough comes together.

 Learn how to make old fashioned cinnamon sugar donuts from scratch with greet yogurt and yeast. Perfect for families and friends.

If you really think kneading is not your jam, you can try my small batch cinnamon rolls. This recipe is simple, tastes delicious and the best part – no kneading required.

Keep sprinkling flour to the countertop and dusting your hands with flour to make your work easier. When the dough comes together, place it back on the bowl.

Cover with a clean tea towel and let it rest until the dough doubles in size. The time depends on your yeast and the temperature of your kitchen. It took me one and a half hour for my dough to rise even after keeping it closed in the microwave.

Cinnamon donut dough. Ready to rise to roll and cut circles using a cookie cutter

Meanwhile, cut parchment paper into squares that are big enough, approximately 3” X 3” to accommodate the cut two inch circles of dough. Arrange them on a baking tray.

Roll out the dough on a dusted surface. Maintain the thickness of the dough to ½ inch.

Fried or baked donuts? I think the baked donuts are good but the deep fried ones are to die for!

Using a cookie cutter or any other sharp lids, cut two inch circles from the rolled out dough. Arrange them on the cut parchment paper. Donuts are best when served fresh on the same day. But if you are making this a day ahead, cover the baking tray with plastic wrap and chill till needed.

Warm, chewy donuts waiting to be fried on a rainy day

When you are ready to make donuts, remove the plastic wrap if chilled. Cover the tray with a clean dry cloth and let the shaped dough rest at the counter top until double in size.

The best donuts are the deep fried donuts. They are heavenly and makes a great treat for kids.

How to fry these mini cinnamon sugar donut balls in oil?

To fry the donuts, heat oil on medium high. Make sure the amount of oil covers the donuts when fried. To test if the oil is in the right temperature, drop a piece of dough into the oil. If the dough starts bubbling, the oil is ready for frying. If the dough rises up and darkens too quickly the heat is too much. So reduce the heat and try again after a couple of minutes.  If no bubbling is happening, the oil is not yet ready. Meanwhile, ready a bowl lined with paper towels for the fried mini donuts.

When the heat is right, drop the mini donuts into the oil with the help of the parchment paper. You can fry at least 3 donuts at a time. When the dough rises and one side gets golden brown, using a slotted spoon, turn the donut and let it fry on the other side till light brown. Remove the donuts from heat and place it on the bowl with paper towel. This process helps the donuts to cool and absorb excess oil.

Deep fried cinnamon sugar donuts – an all-time favorite after school snack. Goes perfect with a cup of coffee or tea

How to check if the water is lukewarm?

This is the easiest way to check if the water is lukewarm. Put your finger into the water and hold it for 15 seconds. If you can hold it, the water is at the correct temperature.

Why cut squares on parchment paper?

The parchment paper helps to avoid the dough from sticking to the tray. It also helps in dropping each donut into the oil without sticking to your hands.

How to make these delicious cinnamon sugar donuts without using stand mixer?

Using the stand mixer with a dough hook has made my life a lot easier in the kitchen. If by any chance you want to use your hands, after the yeast water is frothy add the rest of the ingredients and work the dough to form a soft dough. Knead the dough until the dough is no longer sticky and when touched the dough springs back.

Warm, fluffy and light mini donuts made the traditional way with yeast and some kneading.

How to make ahead these mini donuts?

These donuts are best enjoyed warm and on the same day they were made. If in case you need to make it a day ahead, after cutting the dough into circles, cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill till needed.  When needed, remove the plastic wrap and cover the tray with a clean kitchen towel and let it rest on the counter till it doubles in size. It took approximately one hour for me. The dough can be stored for up to 2 days.

If by any chance you still have leftover donuts, you can try my very versatile simple bread pudding. Easy to substitute the bread for donuts!

If you’ve tried these Fried Mini Donuts, remember to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. You can also follow me on INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for more delicious recipes.

Mini Cinnamon Donuts

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Serves: 30- 2 inch round mini donuts
Prep Time: 30 minutes Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Warm, chewy and light mini donuts made the old fashioned way with yeast and some kneading.

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup water, lukewarm
  • 5 grams active dried yeast
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 270 grams all purpose flour
  • 50 grams sugar plus one teaspoon sugar
  • ¼ cup yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • ¼ cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon powder

Instructions

1

For the mini donuts: In the stand mixer bowl, add in water, 1 teaspoon sugar and the yeast. Cover and let it rest for 5 minutes or until frothy.

2

Add in the flour, remaining sugar, yogurt, cinnamon powder and egg to the yeast mixture.

3

Using a dough hook, beat the mixture until a soft dough is formed. Keep aside. The dough will be sticky.

4

Dust the counter top with flour. Place the dough on the dusted surface and knead for at least 10 minutes. Dust your hands with flour to make it easier to knead.

5

If the dough is still super sticky, continue to add in more flour, a teaspoon at a time. Knead thoroughly. You will know the dough is ready once the dough springs back when touched.

6

Once ready, place the dough back in the bowl and cover with a clean towel.

7

Let it rest in a warm place until the dough doubles in size. For me, it took one and a half hours the when kept inside the microwave.

8

Meanwhile cut parchment paper into squares of 3” X 3” and arrange them on a baking tray.

9

Once the dough has risen, punch the dough down. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough maintaining a thickness of ½ an inch.

10

Using a round 2 inch cookie cutter or a sharp edged lid, cut circles and place them on the cut squares of parchment paper.

11

Use the leftover dough and repeat the process of rolling and cutting circles and arranging them on baking tray till all the dough is used.

12

Cover the baking tray and chill if you are making it a day ahead. The dough can be chilled for up to 2 days.

13

When needed, remove the plastic wrap and cover with a clean tea towel.

14

Let it rest on the counter till the donut holes double in size.

15

Ready a bowl lined with paper towel.

16

In a frying pan, heat oil on medium high. The amount of oil should be such that the donut when dropped in should be completely covered. When the oil is ready for frying, very carefully, drop in a small bit of dough to check if the oil is hot enough.

17

Carefully drop in a donut hole and let it cook on one side until golden brown. You can fry at least 3 donuts at one time.

18

Using a slotted spoon, turn the donuts to the other side and let it cook until golden brown.

19

Remove from oil and place them on the bowl ready with paper towel.

20

Repeat the process till all the mini donuts are fried.

21

Cinnamon Topping: Meanwhile, using a zip lock bag, mix the sugar and cinnamon. Keep aside

22

In a small bowl, melt the butter.

23

When the donuts are warm enough, dip the donuts in the butter and then drop them into the sugar mixture. You can coat at least 5 donuts at a time.

24

Shake the bag until all the donuts are coated evenly on all sides. Serve warm.

Notes

• Preparation time is considered excluding the resting period. • These donuts are best the very same day they are made.

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