Here’s a Soft & Tender No-Mixer Donuts recipe—no stand mixer, no complicated steps, just pillowy donuts you can make by hand.
🍩 Soft & Tender No-Mixer Donuts
Ingredients
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2¼ tsp instant yeast (1 packet)
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup warm milk (not hot)
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp melted butter (or oil)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Activate yeast
In a bowl mix:
- warm milk
- sugar
- yeast
Let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.
2. Make dough (no mixer needed)
Add:
- egg
- melted butter
- flour
- salt
Mix with a spoon first, then use hands until a soft dough forms.
Knead by hand for 8–10 minutes until smooth and slightly elastic.
3. First rise
Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1–1.5 hours until doubled.
4. Shape donuts
Roll dough to about ½ inch thickness.
Cut circles (use a glass) and small holes in center.
Place on a tray and rest 20–30 minutes.
5. Fry
Heat oil on medium (not too hot).
Fry donuts:
- 1–2 minutes per side
- until golden brown
Drain on paper towels.
6. Finish (optional but amazing)
Coat with:
- sugar
- cinnamon sugar
- glaze (powdered sugar + milk + vanilla)
🍩 Result
You get soft, airy, bakery-style Donut—light inside, slightly crisp outside, and very tender because the dough is hand-kneaded and well-rested.
⭐ Quick tips for best texture
- Milk should be warm, not hot (kills yeast if too hot)
- Don’t add too much flour—soft dough = soft donuts
- Fry at medium heat so they cook inside without burning
If you want, I can also give you:
- filled donuts (custard, Nutella, cream)
- baked donut version (no frying)
- or a super fluffy “Krispy-style glaze melt” recipe
