Homemade Cinnamon Twist Doughnuts
There’s just something about homemade doughnuts that feels comforting. Soft, buttery dough twisted by hand, fried until golden, then coated in cinnamon sugar while still warm? Absolutely worth making from scratch. These Cinnamon Twist Doughnuts came out light, fluffy, and perfectly sweet without being overpowering. Honestly, they taste best fresh with coffee in the morning ☕
Prep Time: 2 hours (includes rising time)
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Yields: 10–12 doughnut twists
Ingredients:
For the Dough:
• 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast
• ¾ cup warm milk
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
For Frying:
• Vegetable oil
For Cinnamon Sugar Coating:
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• ¼ cup melted butter
Instructions:
1. In a bowl, combine warm milk, yeast, and 1 tablespoon sugar. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
2. Add remaining sugar, egg, vanilla, butter, and salt. Mix well.
3. Gradually add flour until a soft dough forms. Knead for about 8 minutes until smooth.
4. Place dough into a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
5. Roll dough out onto a floured surface and cut into strips. Twist each strip gently and place onto parchment paper.
6. Let twists rise again for 20–30 minutes.
7. Heat oil to 350°F and fry doughnuts until golden brown on both sides, about 1–2 minutes per side.
8. Brush lightly with melted butter, then coat generously in cinnamon sugar.
Personal Tips:
• Don’t overcrowd the oil or the doughnuts won’t fry evenly.
• If the dough feels sticky, add flour a tablespoon at a time; don’t overdo it or they’ll become dense.
• Best eaten warm the same day!
What I Loved:
These were soft on the inside with the perfect crisp edge outside. I also love that the sweetness isn’t overwhelming; the cinnamon sugar gives just enough flavor without making them too heavy. Next time I might add a light vanilla glaze drizzle for extra sweetness 😍
Made with love, made from scratch ❤️
#BakingFromScratch #lemon8challenge #doughnut #doughnutrecipe #lemon8food
Making Cinnamon Twist Doughnuts from scratch is a truly rewarding experience. One thing I’ve found helpful is monitoring the dough’s consistency closely. Since the recipe suggests adding flour a tablespoon at a time if the dough feels sticky, I found that slightly sticky dough ensures the final doughnuts are soft and fluffy rather than dry or dense. It's important to knead the dough well—for me, about eight minutes of kneading made a huge difference in developing the gluten, resulting in that perfect chewy texture. Also, while the recipe suggests frying at 350°F, I recommend using a kitchen thermometer to maintain a consistent oil temperature. Overcrowding the pan can cause the oil temperature to drop, leading to greasy doughnuts or uneven cooking. So, frying in small batches is key. After frying, brushing with melted butter before coating with cinnamon sugar enhances the flavor and gives a wonderful sheen. If you’re looking to mix things up, I tried drizzling a simple vanilla glaze made from powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract over the cooled doughnuts; it added a nice sweet touch without overpowering the cinnamon. For a slightly healthier spin, baking the twisted doughnuts instead of frying can work, though the texture will differ slightly. Wrapping leftovers in foil and gently warming them the next day with a little butter restored some of the freshness. These homemade Cinnamon Twist Doughnuts pair wonderfully with a hot cup of coffee or tea. The cinnamon sugar adds just enough sweetness and spice, making them a delightful breakfast or snack. The process takes some time with rising and frying but is absolutely worth the effort for the fresh, flavorful results. Making these doughnuts brought back fond memories of baking with family and sharing warm treats fresh from the fryer—a comforting ritual I'd recommend to any home baker.
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