Krispy Kreme Glazed Donuts are many diners’ guilty pleasure; some have admitted to eating an entire box alone! Krispy Kreme doughnuts are unique because they’re yeast pastries, making them light and fluffy. When fried in oil, the donut has the perfect combination of crispy and soft. We experimented in the kitchen to bring you this copycat Krispy Kreme Donut recipe, which tastes just as good (and way easier on the wallet!) as Krispy Kreme’s with the same texture.
This donut contains a simple flavor profile that’s universally loved. Who can resist a warm donut topped with a sweet glaze? We gave the donuts a down-home twist by honing in on the warm spices that are Krispy Kreme’s secret ingredient. These donuts practically melt in your mouth and are so hard to resist. Give them a try, and let us know what you think! We dare you to eat just one.
The Lowdown on Donuts
Donuts are one of the best breakfast foods. Seriously, it’s like eating cake for breakfast! But what’s the deal with these pastries? Donuts are simply fried dough, a concept that may have originated in Ancient Greece. Americans caught onto the trend when Dutch pioneers introduced them to balls of dough fried in lard. These donuts were more like fritters, as donuts with holes didn’t appear until the 19th century.
Donuts have been brightening spirits for centuries, but did you know they were a symbol of hope during WWI? Everyone has their own take on the donut, including bacon, candy, frosting, jelly, cream filling, and cookie dough. Japan even fills their donuts with a paste made of beans and sugar!
Donuts continue to be a hot item, with Americans alone consuming over 10 billion dollars in pastries yearly. And now, the next time you eat donuts with friends, you can impress them with your pastry knowledge.
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Cost of Making the Krispy Kreme Donut Recipe
Krispy Kreme isn’t the cheapest donut shop on the block, and a dozen glazed donuts will cost over $23. Ouch! That’ll put a dent in your wallet, especially if you’re addicted to the things. Never fear; you can make a batch of our copycat Krispy Kreme Donut recipe for under $10. That’s a savings of more than 50%. Keep in mind that this total may vary based on your locale and ingredient availability.
Here’s how that breaks down:
- Yeast: $0.20
- Sugar: $0.25
- Ground cinnamon: $0.10
- Nutmeg: $0.05
- Salt: $0.01
- Unsalted butter: $0.50
- Vanilla extract: $1.00
- Eggs: $0.40
- Flour: $0.90
- Oil for frying: $3.00
- Powdered sugar: $1.50
- Milk: $0.03
- Vanilla extract (for glaze): $2.00
Grand Total: $9.94
Not to mention that you’re guaranteed to eat your donuts while they’re warm..which is priceless.
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How to Make the Krispy Kreme Donut Recipe
Keep reading to learn how to make these tempting Homemade Krispy Kreme Glazed Donuts.
Step One: Make the Dough
Place the yeast and warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer and let it sit for at least 5 minutes, until it becomes foamy.
Add the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, softened butter, vanilla, eggs, and flour. Knead on low until the dough forms into a ball. The dough should be moist but not sticky. If the dough is sticky, add 1-2 tablespoons of flour at a time until the dough reaches the right consistency.
Step Two: Let the Dough Rise
Transfer the Krispy Kreme Glazed Donuts dough into a separate, well-oiled mixing bowl. Cover and let rise for 2 hours, until doubled.
Step Three: Form the Donuts
Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Flour your work surface and roll the dough to ½-inch thickness. Using a donut cutter, gently cut out the donuts and lay them on the prepared pan. If you’re using biscuit cutters, you should be able to use a larger one to create the circle and a smaller biscuit cutter to create the hole. Be sure to save the donut holes! Cover and let rise in a warm place for one hour or until doubled.
Step Four: Fry the Krispy Kreme Glazed Donuts
Place a wire cooling rack over a sheet pan so your donuts have a place to drain. Pour 2-3 inches of oil into the bottom of a large soup pot or Dutch oven and heat the vegetable oil to 350℉ (or you can use a deep fryer).
Lower 3-4 donuts at a time into the hot oil and let fry for 1 minute per side or until golden brown. Remove from the oil and let drain on the prepared sheet pan.
Step Five: Make the Glaze
To make the donut glaze, whisk the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl. Dip the donuts into the glaze, then place them back on the prepared sheet pan. Let the glaze set for 10-15 minutes, then serve. Enjoy!
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What to Serve With Copycat Krispy Kreme Glazed Donuts
Homemade Krispy Kreme Glazed Donuts are great on their own, but are heavenly when paired with a cup of coffee.
Storing Leftover Homemade Krispy Kreme Glazed Donuts
You can store leftover donuts in the fridge for about a week or freeze them for up to 5 months. To heat from frozen, place on a sheet pan and bake at 350℉ for 5-7 minutes. Keep in mind that the glaze will be hot, so use caution!
Krispy Kreme Donut Recipe
Treat yourself to a batch of freshly baked Copycat Krispy Kreme Glazed Donuts. These donuts have a yeast base, which makes them light and airy. They’re topped with a simple glaze that lets the warmly spiced donut shine. Make them for your next celebratory breakfast, or indulge in a donut whenever the mood strikes. These iconic treats are bound to become a staple in your home.
- Stand Mixer
- Mixing Bowl Set
- Baking Sheet w/ Wire Rack
- Parchment Paper
- Donut cutter
- Dutch Oven
Donuts
- 2¼ teaspoon yeast
- ¾ cup warm water
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup butter (unsalted, softened)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 count eggs
- 3 cups flour
- 1 count canola oil (enough to fill the Dutch Oven)
Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Place the yeast and warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer and let it sit for at least 5 minutes, until it becomes foamy.
Add the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, softened butter, vanilla, eggs, and flour. Knead on low until the dough forms into a ball. The dough should be moist but not sticky. If the dough is sticky, add 1-2 tablespoons of flour at a time until the dough reaches the right consistency.
Transfer the Krispy Kreme Glazed Donuts dough into a separate, well-oiled mixing bowl. Cover and let rise for 2 hours, until doubled.
Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Flour your work surface and roll the dough to ½-inch thickness. Using a donut or biscuit cutter, gently cut out the donuts and lay them on the prepared pan. If you’re using biscuit cutters, you should be able to use a larger one to create the circle and a smaller biscuit cutter to create the hole. Be sure to save the donut holes! Cover and let rise in a warm place for one hour or until doubled.
Place a wire cooling rack over a sheet pan so your donuts have a place to drain. Pour 2-3 inches of oil into the bottom of a large soup pot or Dutch oven and heat the oil to 350℉.
Lower 3-4 donuts at a time into the hot oil and let fry for 1 minute per side or until golden brown. Remove from the oil and let drain on the prepared sheet pan.
To make the donut glaze, whisk the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl. Dip the donuts into the glaze, then place them back on the prepared sheet pan. Let the glaze set for 10-15 minutes, then serve. Enjoy!
If you are trying to get this ‘exact’, the oil that Krispy Kreme uses is an expensive blend of vegetable shortening (palm, soybean, and canola oil). They also mention on their site, Enzymes are present, the lecithin is soy-based.
Very nice