Instant Yeast Donuts Recipe

I don’t know about you, but when I crave dounuts, I want them now! While I love making the traditional donuts, it is a much longer process that doesn’t really allow for sudden cravings.

That’s where this recipe comes in. One-bowl, no-knead, quick, easy, fuss-free, what more could you ask for?

I’ve tried several quick donut recipes, and while none of them are “bad”, they don’t really come close to actual donuts. And then I came across this recipe. Gary Mehigan of Masterchef Australia shared it during a Masterclass on one of the earlier seasons of the show and I found a video clip of it on YouTube. I powered through with optimism but also a little bit of skepticism, but was absolutely pleased with the results!

Full disclosure, an hour is as “instant” as it can get when you’re working with yeast, but I think that’s pretty good for donuts of such quality. And there’s really no substitute to the wonderful texture and aroma that is possible only when yeast is used. Other than not having the traditional appearance, these are super close to the donuts we’re used to!

What are the ingredients needed to make Instant Yeast Donuts?

• 1 tsp instant or active dry yeast,
• 1/2 cup (110ml) lukewarm milk,
• 25g butter, melted,
• 1 egg,
• 25g sugar,
• 1 cup (150g) all-purpose flour,
• Oil, for frying,

How to make Instant Yeast Donuts at home?

This super easy recipe only has two steps:

1. Make the dough/batter.
2. Fry the doughnuts.

You will need to let it rest in the middle so the yeast can do its thing, but other than that, it’s as simple as that!

What to Glaze Instant Donuts with?

You can glaze, dip, or roll these donuts in anything you like. You can make a traditional glaze with icing sugar and milk/water, or roll them in cinnamon sugar. Or you can dunk them in melted chocolate and add some colourful sprinkles on top. The choice is up to you!

Here’s the step-by-step guide to making instant yeast donuts at home:

Instant Yeast Donuts

Step 1: Make the donut dough/batter.

• 1 tsp instant or active dry yeast,
• 1/2 cup (110ml) lukewarm milk,
• 25g butter, melted,
• 1 egg,
• 25g sugar,
• 1 cup (150g) all-purpose flour

1. If using active dry yeast, combine with milk and sugar and set aside for 5-10 minutes to activate. Then combine with the rest of the ingredients, adding the flour last.
   If using instant yeast, combine all ingredients together, adding the flour last.
2. Cover and let it double in size, roughly 30-45 minutes.

Step 2: Fry the donuts.

• Oil, for frying

1. Once the dough has doubled in size, punch the air out and mix it well with a spoon.
2. Heat oil on medium-low flame.
3. Using a tablespoon measure, drop the dough into the oil and fry until golden brown on both sides.
   Tip: Using a cookie or ice cream scoop can help get even shapes.
4. Dip in cinnamon sugar, plain icing sugar, sugar glaze, melted chocolate, or serve them plain.

Notes

– This recipe can be doubled, tripled, or quadrupled.