French Cruller Donut Recipe

4.85 from 19 votes

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This French Cruller Donut recipe yields a crispy exterior with a soft and light interior all topped with a sweetened glaze. These are the best and easiest homemade French Crullers! My step-by-step guide will help you through frying up these delicious donuts! Do you love doughnuts? You must try my other doughnut recipes found on my site including my Homemade Glazed Donuts.

pile of french crullers on plate

Fast + Easy Donuts (No waiting on rising dough!)

Sweet, crispy, tender, hot out of the grease Crullers. These are not the typical yeast-risen doughnut but are so delicious in their own way. If you’ve never had a cruller, go get yourself one. Or better yet, make your own! You’ll thank me later.

One thing I happen to love about these doughnuts is you can have the entire batch done in about an hour! No downtime waiting. SCORE. The short amount of time these require is what REALLY made me fall in love with these donuts.

Ingredients Needed

  • butter– I like to use unsalted butter in baking
  • water- liquid needed to create dough
  • all purpose flour– or bread flour
  • salt– balances flavors
  • eggs– for texture and binding ingredients together
  • vegetable oil– used for frying the crullers

for the glaze-

  • powdered sugar– aka confectioners sugar, needed for sweetness and glaze consistency
  • milk– liquid needed to create a glaze
  • vanilla extract– adds flavor
  • lemon extract- adds a little lemony flavoring, optional
french crullers with bite taken out of one

How to Make French Crullers

Simple ingredients come together to make pâte à choux, a French pastry dough used to make things like cream puffs and eclairs. In this case, we are going to fry the dough to make crullers. For full details on how to make French Crullers from scratch, including ingredients and measurements, see the printable recipe card down below. Here is step by step directions on how to make these:

french cruller ingredients

Prep Baking Sheet Pan

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

Make Choux Pastry Dough

In a small saucepan, bring butter and water to boil over medium heat. Once the mixture comes to a brisk boil, stir in flour and salt until combined. Remove from heat and cool for 3 minutes.     

Crack eggs into a small bowl. Mix eggs into the warm mixture one by one until the batter is completely smooth.

Pipe Circles + Freeze

Transfer to a large pastry bag with large star tip or large fluted tip and pipe into ring shape on parchment paper-lined baking sheets.

Place into freezer for 30 minutes.

Make the Sweet Glaze

While the dough is freezing, stir powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and lemon extract together for glaze until smooth and runny…but not too runny!

Frying Cruller Donuts

While you can bake Crullers, they will come out more like cream puffs than crispy donuts. So I recommend frying! I promise it’s not as hard as it seems.

Fill + Preheat Oil

Pour vegetable oil into a large pot with high sides so there are at least 3 inches of oil. Heat oil to be between 325-350° F so these little guys can get crispy and delightful. Use a candy thermometer to help you know exactly what the temperature of the oil is and avoid overly greasy crullers. See my note below in the FAQ’s about using a candy thermometer.

Pro Tip: The ideal oil temperature for frying these French crullers is between 325-350° F (165-177° C). To use a candy thermometer, simply insert the thermometer into the oil and wait for it to stabilize at the correct temperature before adding the crullers.

Fry Crullers

Once your oil is hot and you can peel your frozen crullers off the parchment paper in one piece, give those babies a hot bath! Using a slotted spoon, drop frozen crullers one by one into hot oil and fry about 1 minute per side or until lightly golden brown.

Glaze + Cool

Using a pair of metal tongs, remove crullers from oil to layered paper towels to drain and remove excess oil. Then, immediately coat the top of each cruller in glaze. Place the freshly glazed cruller onto a wire rack with a sheet pan underneath to allow excess glaze drip off. After 40 minutes or so, the glaze should harden onto the crullers. Best served warm, immediately out of the glaze.

Storing Crullers

French crullers are best enjoyed the same day they are made. The texture being light and airy can become stale and less crispy over time. However, if you find yourself needing to store a few, place them in an airtight container at room temperature. Avoid putting them in the fridge. The humidity will make them soggy.

FAQ’s + Tips About Making French Cruller Donuts

A Few Tips About Candy Thermometers

A candy thermometer can be used to ensure that the oil used for frying French crullers is at the correct temperature. When the dough is placed into oil that is too cool, the crullers will absorb too much oil and become greasy. On the other hand, if the oil is too hot, the crullers will burn on the outside before the inside is cooked.
The ideal oil temperature for frying these French crullers is between 325-350° F (165-177° C). To use a candy thermometer, simply insert the thermometer into the oil and wait for it to stabilize at the correct temperature before adding the crullers.
It’s important to make sure the thermometer is clean before using it and also keep an eye on the thermometer during the frying process and adjust the heat accordingly to maintain the desired temperature. It’s a good idea to fry them in small batches to maintain the temperature of the oil and also to prevent overcrowding in the pan, which can cause the oil temperature to drop.

Can I make ahead and freeze crullers?

Yes! Allow the crullers to cool completely. Wrap them in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent them from drying out. Crullers will stay fresh in the freezer for 2-3 months.

pile of french crullers on plate

More Donut Recipes to Try!

This French Cruller recipe is so good. I had approximately 42 of these before I stopped myself and dropped the rest off to neighbors.

The printable recipe card is below. Have a great day, friends! 🙂

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.

pile of french crullers on plate
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4.85 from 19 votes

French Cruller Donut Recipe

This French Cruller Donut Recipe is so easy and to die for! My step by step guide will help you through frying up these delicious doughnuts!
servings 24 small
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

for the glaze-

Instructions

  • Bring butter and water to boil in a small pot. Once mixture comes to boil, stir in flour and salt until combined. Remove from heat and cool 3 minutes.     
    french cruller ingredients in pot
  • Crack eggs into a small bowl. Mix eggs into warm mixture one by one until completely batter is completely smooth.
    french cruller dough in bowl
  • Transfer to piping bag with large fluted tip and pipe into circles on parchment paper lined baking sheets. Place into freezer for 30 minutes.
    french cruller dough piped out onto baking sheet
  • Pour vegetable oil into large pot with high sides so there’s at least 3 inches of grease. Heat oil to be between 325-350 degrees. While oil is heating, stir all ingredients together for glaze until smooth and runny…but not too runny!
    woman's hand whisking glaze in bowl
  • Drop frozen crullers one by one into hot oil and fry about 1 minute per side or until lightly golden. Remove to paper towel to drain and then immediately coat in glaze. Place onto cooling rack to let excess glaze drip off. After 40 minutes or so, the glaze should harden onto the crullers. Best served warm, immediately out of the glaze.
    french crullers being fried in pot of oil

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 93mg | Potassium: 17mg | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 160IU | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American, French
Keyword: Cruller, Cruller Donut, French Cruller

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Recipe Rating




79 Responses
  1. Tracy

    What did you use to pipe them into rings? Regular frosting bag or a cookie press? They look great! Love your site and follow your pins!

  2. It’s National Doughnut Day! | Meg's Everyday Indulgence

    […] Homemade Crullers from Lauren’s Latest look so so delicious. […]

  3. Joann

    5 stars
    I made these this morning using Better Batter (a gluten free flour mix). They are HEAVENLY! I also did not have lemon extract but I did have maple extract! They really were easy and wonderful to make and I made them gluten free so I had a special treat!! Thanks for the recipe!

  4. Christine Hansen

    5 stars
    I made the dough last night and left them shaped in the freezer until morning where I just had to pop them in the oil to fry them. SOOOOO YUMMY!!!!!!! I love that this uses a lot of eggs because we have chickens and have lots of extra eggs most of the time.

  5. 2013 Top 10 — things I cooked from the internet | Adventures In Soyland

    […]  Crullers   Oh these were insane.  Downside is is pretty much took 4 adults and a cooperative 5 year old […]

  6. Ann GG

    5 stars
    Made these this weekend and OH MY GOSH! totally amazing. The kids and hubby were gobbling them up as fast as they could be made. Wonderful recipe, thanks for sharing 🙂

  7. Cath

    My crullers never looked as pretty as yours. 🙁
    Now I’m jealous. How can a mommy of an adorable 3 year old who seems busier than a single woman who’s employer is herself make a BETTER looking and perhaps BETTER tasting crullers like this?

    Oh well, I have the year ahead to try this out! Love your photos!

  8. Cull a cruller « Kitchen Submission

    […] until I get my digital nourishment, so to speak) I found a simple recipe for this tasty confection. This cruller recipe from Lauren’s Latest combines some of my favorite things: fat and sugar. The best part? […]

  9. Elizabeth - SugarHero!

    These look RIDICULOUS–in the best way! I need to figure out a way to justify making and eating these, ASAP. Gorgeous!

  10. This and That | Two Peas & Their Pod

    […] donuts and Crullers are one of his favorite. I think I will get big bonus points if I make these Homemade Crullers for […]

  11. Megan

    5 stars
    I always pronounce it as “crul-lers” as opposed to “crew-llers”. Either way, they are delicious!! hahaI can’t get enough of dounts, so keep the recipes coming! Thanks!!

  12. Carla @ Carla's Confections

    I can’t get over how easy these look and I can just imagine how good they are! Can’t wait to try some 🙂

  13. Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca)

    I am too afraid to fry anything in hot oil on the stove, as I am scared the oil will splash all over … does this happen to you?

    I was going to make your red velvet donuts yesterday (for the 4th or 5th time) and had all the dry ingredients in the bowl and then went to find my donut pan and it is gone!? I threw a little fit and searched my house high and low, and still can’t find it. Now I guess I have to buy a new one – weird hey!?

  14. Marge Burkell

    OMG these sound so yummy! Any idea if they would work with an alternative flour? Like say almond flour? While they sound so good I am afraid, like you, I would want to eat and eat and eat some more! Not good on a low-carb diet! LOL!

      1. Heidi

        5 stars
        I made these donuts with Bob’s Redmill GF 1:1 Baking flour mix! The dough seemed stickier that when alive made pat They turned out fantastic! I was concerned that without sugar in the dough, maybe they wouldnt be sweet enough—this was not a problem! I wanted to add some Scandinavian flare to my donuts, so I added ground cardamom to the dough (not a traditional crueler, but delish) . I glazed them with amaretto/coffee/sugar

    1. BB

      I tried making the crullers gluten-free using 3/4 cup of Cup-4-Cup GF flour and 1/4 cup of millet flour (thinking that the Cup-4-Cup would behave most like wheat flour and the millet flour would add flavor). They came out looking beautiful and have a good texture but they taste weirdly of pancakes. So if you are trying to make GF donuts, I would try a different flour mix!
      This is a quick and easy recipe that looks impressive–and I’ve never fried anything before. I’m sure that II will try again–with different flours.

  15. Charlene

    My husband who worked at a bakery said they are ‘crew-L-ers’ just in case you were wondering for future purposes! 🙂 This is totally heavenly looking! I am making some right now! Thanks for sharing!

  16. Fredi

    These look so good–I loooooooove crullers! Is it possible to bake these? I avoid frying since I have poor ventilation and it makes all my stuff smell disgusting.

  17. Emily @ A Very Sweet Life

    Those sound fantastic! I can’t wait to give them a try (even though I try to stay away from making fried foods at home!). I also can’t wait to check out those other 4 doughnut recipes you have. YUM!

  18. Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel

    Oh wow. I could probably get rid of a dozen of these right this second. Love homemade donuts like no other!

  19. Cookbook Queen

    These are my husband’s FAVORITE donuts…I definitely have to make them for him!! (Probably on a day that I need him to hang pictures for me or lift heavy stuff)

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