Recipes Bread Pastries Doughnuts Crispy and Creamy Doughnuts 4.8 (1,328) 1,095 Reviews 365 Photos I have tried so many versions of homemade glazed donuts, and this recipe finally came out just like the ones at my favorite donut shop. Perfect! Submitted by Kelly Updated on March 14, 2025 Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen The Allrecipes Test Kitchen staff are a team of culinary pros who make and vet recipes using only equipment you'd find in a home kitchen. Staff credentials vary but include training at the Culinary Institute of America; kitchen stints in fine dining restaurants; and countless hours in the test kitchen itself. Meet the Allrecipes Test Kitchen Save Rate Print Share Add Photo 365 365 365 365 Prep Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 30 mins Additional Time: 2 hrs Total Time: 2 hrs 40 mins Servings: 18 Yield: 18 donuts Jump to Nutrition Facts Jump to recipe Homemade glazed donuts are the sweet, pillowy answer to "what's for dessert?" This top-rated donut recipe boasts a light, buttery taste with a perfectly decadent glaze that's finger-licking good. Learn how to make your own bakery-style treats right here. How to Make Doughnuts Indulge in delicious homemade donuts anytime with this easy-to-follow recipe. You'll find the full recipe below with step-by-step instructions, but here's what you can expect when you make this top-rated recipe: Start by sprinkling yeast over warm water to activate, then add flour, sugar, salt, milk, shortening, and eggs to create the dough. Knead the dough until smooth, cover it, and allow it to rise until doubled in size. Roll the dough out to a ½ inch thickness before using a doughnut cutter to create a shape. Let the doughnuts rise a second time before deep-frying and glazing. How to Make Glaze for Donuts Melt butter in a medium saucepan, then stir in confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. Add hot water (one tablespoon at a time) until the desired consistency is achieved. The mixture should be thin, but not watery. How to Store Glazed Donuts Glazed doughnuts will last one to two days at room temperature. Cover them with paper or foil and store them in a cool, dry environment for best results. Refrigerated doughnuts will last up to a week. Can You Freeze Glazed Donuts? Yes, unfilled glazed doughnuts can be frozen for two to three months. Place the doughnuts in a single layer on a large baking sheet for at least four hours before transferring them to a freezer-safe bag. Reheat in the microwave. Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise "This recipe is super easy," shares home cook Elena. "I used cookie cutters and made heart- and flower-shaped bite-sized donuts. They are amazing! My family loved them." "My 4-year-old wasn't impressed with the waiting between steps, but it was well worth it," says reviewer Caitlin. "Super tasty and so many leftovers! I'm gonna have to try freezing some." "The donuts came out light and fluffy," raves Cecilia. "Great even before the filling and icing. Definitely will make it again. Yummm." Editorial contributions by Rai Mincey Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1x 2x 4x Oops! Something went wrong. Our team is working on it. Original recipe (1X) yields 18 servings 2 (.25 ounce) envelopes active dry yeast ¼ cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees F) 1 ½ cups lukewarm milk ½ cup white sugar 1 teaspoon salt 2 large eggs ⅓ cup shortening 5 cups all-purpose flour 1 quart vegetable oil for frying ⅓ cup butter 2 cups confectioners' sugar 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla 4 tablespoons hot water or as needed Directions Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water, and let stand for 5 minutes, or until foamy. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Mix yeast mixture, milk, sugar, salt, eggs, shortening, and 2 cups of the flour together in a large bowl for a few minutes with an electric mixer at low speed, or stir with a wooden spoon. Beat in remaining flour, ½ cup at a time, until the dough no longer sticks to the bowl. Knead for about 5 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Place the dough into a greased bowl, and cover. Set in a warm place to rise until double. Dough is ready if you touch it, and the indention remains. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and gently roll out to ½-inch thickness. Cut with a floured doughnut cutter. Let doughnuts sit out to rise again until double. Cover loosely with a cloth. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Remove from heat, and stir in hot water one tablespoon at a time until the icing is somewhat thin, but not watery. Set aside. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large heavy skillet to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Slide donuts into the hot oil using a wide spatula. Turn donuts over as they rise to the surface. Fry donuts on each side until golden brown. Remove from hot oil, to drain on a wire rack. Dip donuts into the glaze while still hot, and set onto wire racks to drain off excess. Keep a cookie sheet or tray under racks for easier clean up. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Enjoy! DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS From the Editor Enriched doughs with a lot of sugar and butter and eggs take a lot longer to rise, so two packets of yeast ensures good yeast activity. Please note the video version of this recipe only uses one packet of yeast.We have determined the nutritional value of oil for frying based on a retention value of 10% after cooking. The exact amount may vary depending on cook time and temperature, ingredient density, and the specific type of oil used. I Made It Print 1,672 home cooks made it! Nutrition Facts (per serving) 331 Calories 13g Fat 47g Carbs 5g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 18 Calories 331 % Daily Value * Total Fat 13g 17% Saturated Fat 4g 21% Cholesterol 31mg 10% Sodium 171mg 7% Total Carbohydrate 47g 17% Dietary Fiber 1g 4% Total Sugars 20g Protein 5g 11% Calcium 34mg 3% Iron 2mg 11% Potassium 93mg 2% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. ** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data. (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.