Homemade Krispy Kreme Donut Recipe melt in your mouth. This easy copycat recipe is simple to make and results in tasty, glazed doughnuts.
There isn’t much that compares to a soft and fluffy donut from the krispy kreme store. Fans know when the hot light is on the donuts are fresh and hot. Now you can enjoy that same freshness at home thanks to this Krispy Kreme copycat recipe. It’s one of our favorite Donut Recipes that I have been making for years.
While options are numerous at a Krispy Kreme Shop, their original glazed is the most popular in doughnut shops. I love the flavor of donuts and also make Krispy Kreme Donut Holes and Cake Mix Donuts.
Table of contents
Why We Love This
The glaze is what makes these donuts so amazing. It is the secret to the best donuts and they are covered in this delicious mixture.
History of Krispy Kreme Donuts
The actual recipe for Krispy Kreme Donuts is a tightly held secret. It’s been said that founder Vernon Rudolph always kept the original doughnut recipe in a vault in their Winston Salem, North Carolina headquarters.
The smell of these donuts baking in a krispy kreme show is amazing. This wonderful scent is what prompted the founder to sell the donuts in the same place the donuts are made.
Food historians say the secret ingredient in the kreme doughnut recipe is mashed potatoes. We might never know if this is true.
Either way, these donuts are absolutely amazing.
Ingredients
For the Donuts
- Milk. I like to use whole milk, but you can try reduced fat.
- All Purpose Flour. Make sure it is plain all-purpose flour and not self-rising.
- Dry Active Yeast. You want to use active dry yeast that is fresh and unexpired.
- Butter. Melted.
- Vegetable Oil. This is for frying.
The Glaze
- Powdered Sugar. Sift the powdered sugar to remove lumps.
- Vanilla Extract. Pure vanilla extract will have the best flavor.
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1. Combine the milk and water in a large mixing bowl. Then stir in the yeast and sugar. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to allow the yeast to activate.
Step 2. Get out separate bowl. Stir together the melted butter, flour, remaining sugar, and salt.
Step 3. Mix in the egg and yeast mixture.
Step 4. Blend until a dough is formed using a stand mixer. Add more flour if needed. The dough should pull away from the spatula but will still be slightly tacky.
Step 5. Next, knead the dough on a floured surface for about 4-5 minutes until the desired consistency.
Step 6. Place the dough in an oiled bowl. Then cover and allow the dough to rise for at least an hour until doubled in size.
Step 7. Roll the dough out on a floured surface to about approximately ¼ inch thick using a rolling pin.
Step 8. Then cut into donuts with either a doughnut cutter or cookie cutters. Finally, let the donuts sit for 10-15 minutes.
Step 9. Place vegetable oil in a large stockpot at least 3-4 inches deep. Heat the oil to 375 degrees F. Fry the donuts in the oil until they are golden brown on each side. After frying, move the donuts to a plate lined with a paper towel.
Step 10. Next, add the glaze ingredients to a bowl.
Step 11. Combine until the glaze texture is smooth.
Step 12. Dip each of the donuts in the glaze and place them on a wire rack to cool.
Storage
Refrigerate the leftover donut holes in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. They should not be exposed to air or they will dry out.
Reheat them in the microwave when enjoying the leftovers. You do not have to reheat them, but they taste amazing warm and like a hot krispy kreme doughnut.
Can You Freeze?
Donuts can be frozen for up to 3 months. Place wax paper in between the donuts to prevent them from sticking. Store the donuts inside an airtight container to ensure freshness.
When ready to enjoy, thaw and microwave for about 20 seconds. You can also bake for 5 minutes in a 350-degree oven.
The dough can also be frozen. Cut into donut shapes and flash freeze for an hour. Then place it inside a freezer container.
Make sure to allow the dough to thaw completely at room temperature before frying. Otherwise, any ice crystals could result in the oil splattering.
Pro Tips
- Making the donut shape. If you use a cookie cutter to make the donut, use a 1-inch cookie cutter and a 3-4-inch cookie cutter.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan when frying. You will need to fry the donuts in batches to prevent overcrowding the pan.
- Make sure the oil isn’t too hot. You do not want the outside to get brown and cook too fast. Otherwise, the inside won’t be fully cooked. You also don’t want the oil too low or the donuts could be soggy.
- Use boiling water with the yeast. If the water is too cold it will not activate the yeast properly.
- Check the yeast before using it. Make sure the yeast has not expired or it may not work.
- Do not over-mix the batter. You want the donuts to be light and fluffy. Overmixing will result in heavy and dense donuts.
More Homemade Donut Recipes
- Rainbow Donuts
- Easy Canned Biscuit Donuts Recipe
- Lazy Day Homemade Donuts
- Apple Cider Donut Recipe
- Cake Mix Donuts
- Try more Donut Recipes
More Copycat Recipes
Make this recipe today for a hard-to-resist treat. Then come back and leave a comment.
Krispy Kreme Donut Recipe
Ingredients
For the Donuts:
- 1/4 cup Milk
- 1/4 cup Boiling Water
- 1 1/2 cup All Purpose Flour
- 1/4 cup Sugar
- 1 tsp Dry Active Yeast
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 2 Tbsp Butter melted
- 1 Egg
- Vegetable Oil for Frying
For the Glaze:
- 2 cups Powdered Sugar
- 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1/3 cup Melted Butter
- 1/4 cup Boiling Water
Instructions
- Mix together the milk and boiling water in a large mixing bowl. Stir in the yeast and 1 tsp of the sugar. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to allow the yeast to activate.
- In a separate bowl, stir together the melted butter, flour, remaining sugar and salt.
- Mix in the egg and yeast mixture and blend until a dough is formed. Add more flour if needed. The dough should pull away from the spatula but will still be slightly tacky.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface and knead the dough for approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover and allow the dough to rise for at least an hour until the dough has doubled in size.
- Roll the dough out on a floured surface to about approximately ¼ inch thick. Cut into donuts with either a donut cutter or cookie cutters. Let the donuts sit for 10-15 minutes while you prepare the oil.
- Place vegetable oil in a large stockpot at least 3-4 inches deep. Heat the oil to 375 degrees F. Fry the donuts in the oil and fry them until they are golden brown on each side (approximately 3 minutes). Work in batches so you do not over crowd the pan. After frying, move the donuts to a plate lined with a paper towel to soak up the excess oil.
- Mix together the ingredients for the glaze in a mixing bowl. Make sure that the glaze is warm. Dunk each of the donuts in the glaze and place them on a wire rack to cool.
- Once the donuts have cooled, they are ready to serve and enjoy!
Can you bake these and at what temp? Thx!
Robyne – I haven’t tested it yet but I think you can. I would recommend using a donut pan and baking them at 350 degrees F for 9-11 minutes until golden brown.