Donut Holes

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Homemade Donut Holes are surprisingly simple to make and completely worth the effort. Crisp and golden on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside, these bite-sized treats are rolled in sugar while still warm for that classic donut shop finish. With simple pantry ingredients and a straightforward method, you’ll have a fresh batch ready in no time.

 

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Donut Holes | A Tasty Little Treat!

These Donut Holes are originally from ART Restaurant at The Four Seasons -Seattle. After buttering them up, they gave me their recipe!

Technology is amazing. And so are these Donut Holes. Hello, light and fluffy goodness coated in sugar. How are you? I ate these fresh out of the grease and enjoyed every single bite. Fresh donuts are my life.

These are pretty simple to throw together; they just involve a few basic ingredients and a lot of waiting. Is the waiting worth it? I would say yes, but I definitely got annoyed with the process. “Just rise FASTER,” said the starving pregnant lady. Anyways, I’d recommend going to Seattle and getting these. Orrrrr just making them at home!

Ingredient Notes

This is a yeasted donut recipe, not a cake donut. This basically means it uses yeast to rise and not another ingredient like baking soda, which results in a lighter (less dense) texture, think Krispy Kreme or Dunkin Donuts. With that being said, here’s what else you’ll need to make Donut Holes:

• Active Dry Yeast – this helps the dough rise.
• Warm Milk – the yeast hangs out in warm milk for a bit to make it bloom. This ensures that the yeast is alive and working while the milk is also used for moisture.
• Bread Flour + All Purpose Flour – these two are combined to create the perfect blend of flour (with just the right amounts of protein and gluten).
• Sugar – this is used to sweeten the dough and to also coat the outside of the finished donut holes.
• Salt – to balance and bring out flavors.
• Eggs – used to bring structure to the dough.
• Butter – this adds a lot of flavor to each and every bite!
• Oil – you’re going to need a light oil to fry these babies up. Canola or vegetable oil work great!

How to Make Donut Holes

For full details on how to make Donut Holes, see the recipe card down below 🙂

Step 1: Proof Yeast

In a mixing bowl, whisk the warm milk and yeast together until combined.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients with Yeast

Mix in some of the bread flour until a shaggy, crumbly dough forms. Top with the remaining bread flour, all-purpose flour, sugar, and salt, then cover and let it rest. Even though the dough looks dry at this stage, it will rise as it sits.

Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients

Add 3 eggs and mix in a stand mixer with a dough hook on medium speed (this helps create a smooth, even dough), scraping down the bowl every once in a while. Add the remaining egg and mix for a couple of minutes.

Slowly add the butter in pieces, mixing each piece in completely before adding more, scraping down the mixing bowl often.

When the dough is done, it will be very shiny and elastic. If the dough is not elastic, continue mixing: it will come together!

Step 3: Rise + Chill

Transfer the dough to a large bowl with enough room for it to double in size. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise at room temperature for about 1½ hours, or until puffy and doubled.

Gently fold the dough over itself a few times to deflate it slightly, then cover it again with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. The overnight chill helps develop flavor and makes the dough easier to work with the next day.

Step 4: Roll Dough, Fry + Coat in Sugar

Once the dough is ready, divide it into about 40 small pieces and roll them into balls if you’d like. If the dough feels too sticky to handle, don’t worry. Mine was! I simply used a small cookie scoop to drop portions directly into the hot oil, and it worked perfectly.

Fry the donut holes until they’re golden brown, making sure they cook for a minute or two so the centers are fully done. As soon as they come out of the oil, toss them in sugar while they’re still hot. Serve them right away for the best texture and flavor. Warm, sweet, and completely irresistible!

Grab These Kitchen Tools

Before getting started, gather a few basic kitchen tools to make the process easier and more organized:

• Stand mixer – this helps knead the dough smoothly and saves time compared to mixing by hand.
• Prep bowls – great for organizing ingredients ahead of time so the recipe comes together faster and with less mess.
• Mixing bowls – having a few different sizes makes prep easier when mixing the dough and coating the warm donut holes in sugar.
• Measuring cups and spoons – accurate measurements are important for getting the dough just right, especially when working with yeast dough and frying.

Tips for Success

Here are a few simple tips to help you get the best results and make sure your donut holes turn out light, fluffy, and perfectly sweet every time.

• Keep the oil at a steady temperature – around 350°F is ideal so the donut holes cook through without getting greasy.
• Fry in small batches – overcrowding the pot lowers the oil temperature and can lead to uneven cooking.
• Don’t rush the dough rise – giving the yeast dough enough time to rise helps create soft and fluffy donut holes instead of dense ones.
• Coat the donut holes while warm – the sugar sticks much better when the donuts are still slightly warm from frying.
• Use a thermometer if possible – it takes the guesswork out of frying and helps keep the results consistent every time.

What to Serve With Donut Holes

Here are some easy and tasty ideas to serve with donut holes, whether you want something warm, creamy, or perfect for dipping.

• Crockpot Hot Chocolate – rich, warm, and perfect for dipping or sipping alongside fresh donut holes.
• Irish Coffee – a cozy combo of coffee and a light kick that pairs really well with something sweet.
• Strawberry Milkshake – creamy and cold, a nice contrast to warm, sugary donut holes.
• Peppermint Chocolate Sauce – great for dipping if you want a festive, chocolatey twist.
• Strawberry Jam – simple and fruity, it adds a nice sweet-tart flavor.
• Dipping Chocolate – classic and always a good match for soft, fluffy donut holes.

Storing and Reheating

Donut holes are best enjoyed fresh, but you can store leftovers if needed. Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days to keep them soft and tasty. Avoid refrigerating them, since that can make them dry out faster.

If you need to store them longer, freeze them in a sealed bag or container and thaw at room temperature when ready to eat. To reheat, warm them in the microwave for about 10–15 seconds or place them in a low oven for a few minutes until soft again. If they were coated in sugar, add a light dusting after warming to freshen them up.

FAQs

Variations For Your Donut Holes

I rolled my donut holes in sugar for an easy sweet treat, but you can do whatever you’d like with these babies. Here are a couple of ideas to get the juices flowing:

• Glaze – you could easily make a glaze out of powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk to coat these donut holes in. You’re going to want the glaze to be the consistency of school glue.
• Cinnamon Sugar – add some cinnamon to your sugar for a fun twist on this recipe.
• Chocolate Ganache – dip these into some chocolate ganache, so good!
• Jelly Filled – grab a frosting bag and tip, fill with your favorite jelly, compote, or custard/pudding, and fill these sugary donuts up.
• Powdered Sugar – instead of rolling in granulated sugar, roll in powdered sugar for a melt-in-your-mouth experience.

More Donut Recipes to Try!

This is not my first rodeo when it comes to donuts. Try these other certifiably delicious recipes:

• Old Fashioned Pumpkin Donuts
• Mini Chocolate Donut Muffins
• Carrot Cake Donuts
• Red Velvet Donuts
• Cranberry Orange Donuts
• Pancake Mix Donuts
• 3-Ingredient Nutella Donuts
• The Puddin Donut {Gourdough’s Copycat}
• S’mores Donut

That’s it, people- easy peasy, tasty Donut Holes ready to eat! I loved these, and of course so did my family (who doesn’t love a good donut?).

The printable recipe card is down below. Enjoy!

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.