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4.4 from 1,020 votes

Copycat Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

These doughnuts are light, airy and covered in a barely-there glaze, reminiscent of the famous Krispy Kreme doughnuts!

Prep Time
50 mins
Cook Time
50 mins
Additional Time
12 hrs
Total Time
13 hrs
Servings: 12 doughnuts
Calories: 323 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

For the Doughnuts:
  • 2¼ teaspoons instant yeast
  • ¾ cup warm water
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2½ to 3 cups  all-purpose flour
  • 3 to 4 cups vegetable shortening, for frying
For the Glaze:
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Make the Doughnuts: Combine the yeast and water in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Let stand for 10 minutes.
  2. Add the sugar, salt, butter, egg, egg yolk, vanilla extract and 2½ cups of the flour. Knead on low speed until a dough begins to form. If the dough is quite sticky, add more flour a tablespoon at a time until a soft, tacky dough forms. The dough should clear the sides of the bowl, but not the bottom.
  3. Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap and place in a warm, draft-free spot for 2 hours.
  4. Gently press to deflate the dough, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours, or overnight.
  5. On a floured work surface, roll the dough out to a ½-inch thickness. Using a doughnut cutter (if you don't have one, use one larger and one smaller round cutters) dipped in flour, cut out the doughnuts and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. (You can roll any leftover dough scraps into balls for more doughnut holes.) Cover with a clean dish towel and allow to rest for 1 hour.
  6. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with a double layer of paper towels and place a wire cooling rack on top.
  7. When ready to fry, heat the vegetable shortening in a large cast iron skillet (or other wide, heavy-bottomed skillet or pot) to a maintained temperature of 360 to 370 degrees. Gently lower the doughnuts into the oil, being careful not to overcrowd the pan (I cooked in three batches). Cook until golden brown, about 1 minute per side. Carefully remove the doughnuts from the oil and place on the cooling rack. Repeat until all of the doughnuts have been fried.
  8. Make the Glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, water and vanilla extract until smooth. Working one at a time, dip each doughnut into the glaze, flip to coat the other side, and return to the cooling rack. Allow the glaze to set for about 15 minutes, then serve.

Notes

  • Note: My husband said that reheating leftover doughnuts for 8 seconds in the microwave is perfect!
  • Note
  • Nutritional values are based on one serving

Nutrition Information

Calories 323kcal (16%) Carbohydrates 46g (15%) Protein 4g (8%) Fat 13g (20%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Cholesterol 40mg (13%) Sodium 106mg (4%) Potassium 54mg (2%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 25g (50%) Vitamin A 160IU (3%) Calcium 9mg (1%) Iron 1.4mg (8%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12doughnuts

Amount Per Serving

Calories 323

% Daily Value*

Calories 323kcal 16%
Carbohydrates 46g 15%
Protein 4g 8%
Fat 13g 20%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 40mg 13%
Sodium 106mg 4%
Potassium 54mg 1%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 25g 50%
Vitamin A 160IU 3%
Calcium 9mg 1%
Iron 1.4mg 8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.