Super Easy Jelly Doughnuts: A Deliciously Simple Recipe
Craving a warm, fluffy, jelly-filled doughnut but don’t want the hassle of traditional yeast-raised dough? You’ve come to the right place! This recipe for super easy jelly doughnuts skips the yeast and long proofing times, delivering a batch of delicious treats in under an hour. Perfect for a weekend brunch, a quick dessert, or a fun baking project with the kids, these doughnuts are guaranteed to be a hit.
## Why This Recipe Works
The secret to these quick doughnuts lies in using baking powder as the leavening agent instead of yeast. This means no waiting for the dough to rise! The result is a slightly denser, cake-like doughnut that’s still incredibly soft and satisfying. Rolling the doughnuts in granulated sugar while they’re still warm adds a delightful sweetness and a slightly crisp texture.
## Ingredients You’ll Need
Before you start, gather these simple ingredients:
* **All-Purpose Flour:** 2 1/2 cups (300g). This forms the base of the doughnut structure. Make sure to measure correctly by spooning the flour into the measuring cup and leveling it off with a knife.
* **Granulated Sugar:** 1/2 cup (100g). Adds sweetness and helps create a tender crumb.
* **Baking Powder:** 2 teaspoons. The leavening agent that makes the doughnuts rise.
* **Salt:** 1/2 teaspoon. Enhances the flavors and balances the sweetness.
* **Milk:** 1 cup (240ml). Adds moisture and helps bind the ingredients together. You can use whole milk, 2% milk, or even non-dairy milk like almond milk or soy milk.
* **Eggs:** 2 large. Contribute to the richness and structure of the doughnuts.
* **Vanilla Extract:** 1 teaspoon. Enhances the flavor of the doughnuts.
* **Vegetable Oil:** For frying. Choose an oil with a high smoke point, such as vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil. You’ll need enough oil to fill a large pot or deep fryer to a depth of about 3 inches.
* **Jelly or Jam:** For filling. Choose your favorite flavor! Strawberry, raspberry, grape, and apricot are all popular choices.
* **Granulated Sugar (for coating):** 1/2 cup (100g). For rolling the warm doughnuts in.
## Equipment You’ll Need
* **Large Mixing Bowl:** For mixing the doughnut dough.
* **Whisk:** For combining the dry ingredients.
* **Wooden Spoon or Rubber Spatula:** For mixing the wet and dry ingredients.
* **Rolling Pin:** For rolling out the dough.
* **Doughnut Cutter or Cookie Cutters:** For cutting out the doughnuts. You’ll need a larger cutter for the outer ring and a smaller cutter for the center hole.
* **Large Pot or Deep Fryer:** For frying the doughnuts.
* **Slotted Spoon or Spider:** For removing the doughnuts from the oil.
* **Paper Towels:** For draining the excess oil from the doughnuts.
* **Piping Bag or Ziplock Bag:** For filling the doughnuts with jelly.
## Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these easy steps to make your own batch of delicious jelly doughnuts:
**1. Prepare the Doughnut Dough:**
* In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Make sure there are no clumps of baking powder.
* In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, and vanilla extract until well combined.
* Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not overmix. A few lumps are okay.
**2. Roll Out and Cut the Doughnuts:**
* Lightly flour a clean work surface. Turn the dough out onto the floured surface and gently pat it into a disc about 1/2 inch thick.
* Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out to about 1/2 inch thickness.
* Use a doughnut cutter or cookie cutters to cut out the doughnuts. If you don’t have a doughnut cutter, you can use two different-sized round cookie cutters.
* Re-roll the scraps of dough and cut out more doughnuts until all the dough is used. This may result in slightly tougher doughnuts for the last batch, so try to avoid overworking the dough.
**3. Fry the Doughnuts:**
* Heat about 3 inches of vegetable oil in a large pot or deep fryer to 350°F (175°C). Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature of the oil. It’s important to maintain a consistent temperature for even cooking.
* Carefully place a few doughnuts into the hot oil at a time, being careful not to overcrowd the pot. Overcrowding the pot will lower the temperature of the oil and result in greasy doughnuts.
* Fry the doughnuts for 1-2 minutes per side, or until golden brown. Flip them carefully with a slotted spoon or spider.
* Remove the doughnuts from the oil and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain the excess oil.
**4. Coat with Sugar:**
* While the doughnuts are still warm, roll them in granulated sugar until they are evenly coated.
**5. Fill with Jelly:**
* Allow the doughnuts to cool slightly before filling them with jelly. This will prevent the jelly from melting and making the doughnuts soggy.
* Fill a piping bag or ziplock bag with your favorite jelly or jam.
* If using a ziplock bag, snip off a small corner of the bag.
* Insert the tip of the piping bag or ziplock bag into the side of each doughnut and squeeze in a generous amount of jelly.
**6. Serve and Enjoy!**
* Serve the doughnuts warm and enjoy! They are best enjoyed fresh, but can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
## Tips for Perfect Doughnuts
* **Don’t Overmix the Dough:** Overmixing the dough will develop the gluten, resulting in tough doughnuts. Mix the wet and dry ingredients until just combined.
* **Maintain the Oil Temperature:** Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature of the oil and adjust the heat as needed to maintain a consistent temperature of 350°F (175°C).
* **Don’t Overcrowd the Pot:** Frying too many doughnuts at once will lower the temperature of the oil and result in greasy doughnuts. Fry them in batches.
* **Drain the Doughnuts Well:** Place the doughnuts on a plate lined with paper towels to drain the excess oil.
* **Fill the Doughnuts After They Cool Slightly:** Filling the doughnuts while they are too hot can cause the jelly to melt and make the doughnuts soggy.
* **Experiment with Flavors:** Try different flavors of jelly or jam, or add spices like cinnamon or nutmeg to the dough.
* **Glaze Instead of Sugar:** For a different twist, try glazing the doughnuts with a simple powdered sugar glaze instead of rolling them in granulated sugar. To make a glaze, whisk together powdered sugar with a small amount of milk or water until smooth.
* **Make Mini Doughnuts:** Use smaller cookie cutters to make mini doughnuts for a fun and adorable treat.
## Variations
* **Cinnamon Sugar Doughnuts:** Add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the granulated sugar for coating the doughnuts.
* **Nutella-Filled Doughnuts:** Fill the doughnuts with Nutella instead of jelly.
* **Lemon Curd-Filled Doughnuts:** Fill the doughnuts with lemon curd for a tangy and refreshing treat.
* **Maple Glazed Doughnuts:** Dip the doughnuts in a maple glaze made with powdered sugar, maple syrup, and milk.
* **Chocolate Glazed Doughnuts:** Dip the doughnuts in a chocolate glaze made with melted chocolate, butter, and powdered sugar.
## Serving Suggestions
* Serve these doughnuts warm with a glass of milk or coffee.
* They are also delicious served as part of a brunch spread.
* Pack them in a lunchbox for a special treat.
* Bring them to a party or potluck.
## Storage Instructions
These doughnuts are best enjoyed fresh, but they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. They may become slightly stale after the first day, but they will still be delicious.
## Recipe Card
**Super Easy Jelly Doughnuts**
**Yields:** Approximately 12 doughnuts
**Prep Time:** 15 minutes
**Cook Time:** 10 minutes
**Ingredients:**
* 2 1/2 cups (300g) all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup (240ml) milk
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* Vegetable oil, for frying
* Jelly or jam, for filling
* 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar, for coating
**Instructions:**
1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, and vanilla extract.
3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
4. Lightly flour a clean work surface. Turn the dough out onto the floured surface and gently pat it into a disc about 1/2 inch thick.
5. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out to about 1/2 inch thickness.
6. Use a doughnut cutter or cookie cutters to cut out the doughnuts.
7. Heat about 3 inches of vegetable oil in a large pot or deep fryer to 350°F (175°C).
8. Carefully place a few doughnuts into the hot oil at a time.
9. Fry the doughnuts for 1-2 minutes per side, or until golden brown.
10. Remove the doughnuts from the oil and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain the excess oil.
11. While the doughnuts are still warm, roll them in granulated sugar until they are evenly coated.
12. Allow the doughnuts to cool slightly before filling them with jelly.
13. Fill a piping bag or ziplock bag with your favorite jelly or jam.
14. Insert the tip of the piping bag or ziplock bag into the side of each doughnut and squeeze in a generous amount of jelly.
15. Serve and enjoy!
Enjoy these delightful, easy-to-make jelly doughnuts! They are perfect for any occasion and are sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different flavors and fillings to create your own signature doughnut. Happy baking!