Easy Doughnut Recipes
Whether deep-fried or baked, glazed or filled, the simple yet versatile doughnut is a sweet favored all over the world.
Photo By: Christina Holmes ©2012, Christina Holmes, Photographer. All Rights Reserved.
Photo By: Alice Gao ©2014, Cooking Channel, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Cinnamon-Spiced Doughnuts
Dusted with cinnamon sugar on the outside and spiced with just a hint of nutmeg on the inside, Gale's square-shaped doughnuts are the perfect treat for a morning celebration.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon-Spiced Doughnuts
The Buckeye Doughnut
Buckeyes –– frozen balls of peanut butter dipped in melted chocolate –– are a delicious dessert named for their resemblance to Ohio's native buckeye tree. To make the doughnut form of this treat, create an indent in the center of the doughnut before you fry it; this will leave you with a little nest for the peanut butter.
Get the Recipe: The Buckeye Doughnut
Pumpkin Doughnuts
The secret to shortcut doughnuts that taste fresh-as-can-be? Fry store-bought buttermilk biscuit dough then fill the rounds with a homemade spiced pumpkin-cream cheese mixture.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Doughnuts
Vegan, Gluten-Free Lemon Fonuts
These lemon "fonuts" are baked, not fried, and are totally vegan and gluten-free. They come out of the oven light and fluffy and are saturated with fresh lemon flavor. Drizzle with a lemon glaze for the perfect tangy-sweet finish.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Fonuts (Vegan and Wheat/Gluten Free)
Doughnut Extravaganza
Want to be the most-popular kid on the block? Host a doughnut extravaganza, and let your friends choose their own fillings. Fry some of Chuck's perfectly fluffy yeast doughnuts, then pipe them with a delectable assortment of homemade fillings: dark chocolate and salted caramel ganache, lemon cream and raspberry-mango.
Get the Recipe: Doughnut Extravaganza
Gulab Jamun (Indian Doughnuts With Rose Water Syrup)
Transport your taste buds to India with this Gulab Jamun recipe, which upgrades the simple doughnut into an exotic dessert. Made with a dense milk-based batter, these round cakes are fried and then soaked in a cardamom, cinnamon and rose petal-infused simple syrup, which gives them floral spiciness.
Get the Recipe: Gulab Jamun
Banana Chocolate Fonuts
These delicious little fonuts are studded with chocolate chips and packed with bananas. No one will believe (or care) that they're gluten-free.
Get the Recipe: Banana Chocolate Fonuts (Wheat/Gluten Free)
Pumpkin Spiced Donuts with Buttermilk Glaze
Frying makes everything better — including pumpkin pie. This treat has all the flavor of the traditional fall dessert, but it's delivered it in a fun form (with buttermilk icing, no less!).
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Spiced Donuts with Buttermilk Glaze
Mexican Crullers: Churros
These traditional cinnamon-sugar-dusted fried treats are great dipped in hot chocolate.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Crullers (Churros)
Chocolate Fritters: Cuscinetti di Teramo
In true Italian style, Mario Batali uses extra virgin olive oil to fry his fritters, but not before filling them with a (magical) mixture of bitter dark chocolate, apricot jam and chopped hazelnuts.
Lemon Ricotta Fritters with Fresh Berry Jam
Fresh lemon zest gives Bobby Flay's fritters subtle brightness, while ricotta cheese adds sweetness and depth of flavor. Topped with his fresh berry jam, these doughnuts are perfect for summer brunch.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Ricotta Fritters with Fresh Berry Jam
Indian Doughnuts: Gulab Jabun
Give garden-variety doughnut shop fare a run for its money with this spicy version, which is soaked in cardamom, clove and anise syrup.
Get the Recipe: Indian Doughnuts: Gulab Jabun
Peanut Butter Banana Fritters Drizzled with Chocolate Sauce
Nadia G. proves that peanut butter is fit to be fried, especially when ripe bananas tag alongside. A simple batter yields tender puffs of peanutty dough that partner perfectly with a dark chocolate drizzle.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Banana Fritters Drizzled with Chocolate Sauce
Coffee Donut Bites
Forget dipping doughnuts in coffee — add espresso to your batter instead.
Get the Recipe: Coffee Donut Bites
Chocolate Hazelnut Zeppole
Instead of eating an entire jar of chocolate-hazelnut spread by the spoonful, pipe it into homemade zeppole — aka Italian doughnuts.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Hazelnut Zeppole
Powdered Doughnut Beignets with Apple Rum Sauce
You don't have to fly to New Orleans to enjoy this famous Cajun treat. Fry the beignets, dust with copious amounts of powdered sugar, and serve with a spicy rum dipping sauce for a sweet taste of the French Quarter.
Get the Recipe: Powdered Doughnut Beignets with Apple Rum Sauce