Vanilla Bean Custard Doughnuts are a great way to start the day. Find out how easy it is to make a fresh batch by checking out the recipe below.
The Classic Doughnut
I thought we'd all be in agreement about what the "classic" doughnut looked like. To me it's a plump, round, golden doughy ball, with sugar coated crust, filled to bursting with raspberry jam.
I decided to run a twitter poll and initially, that's what the poll said too, with 100% of voters in the first 5 days choosing raspberry jam over custard. But, it would seem there are an awful lot of custard doughnut lovers out there and almost as soon as I launched the twitter poll I had comments across social media telling me that nothing could beat a fresh vanilla custard doughnut. With just 2 days of the poll left #teamcustard had taken over.
As I was making these doughnuts for my Dad's birthday (I'm nice like that) I thought I'd run it by him. And whilst he too loves a raspberry jam doughnut, his all time favourite is custard!
If I'd have known before starting this post what a can of worms I would have opened just by asking what makes a true, classic doughnut I might have opted to just fill mine with Nutella instead! Nonetheless, I decided to make an extra large batch and fill half with jam and the other half with a fresh vanilla bean custard and today I'm sharing the recipe.
How do you make doughnuts?
Baked or fried?
In recent years there's been a bit of a craze for baked doughnuts. As we become increasingly conscious about our ever expanding waistlines deep fried doughnuts seemed to have fallen out of favour and baked doughnuts feature on blogs everywhere. (Mine included: Baked Cinnamon Doughnuts). But, if you want a traditional, classic doughnut you have to forget your Wilton pan and instead invest in a deep fat fryer. The only way to get that distinctive light fluffy dough and crisp sugary crust is to get frying! The clue is really in the (original) name; with the first doughnuts being called "olykoeks" meaning oil cakes.
Frying doughnuts can be a little nerve wracking because it involves heating oil to incredibly high heats. But trust me, if you want to start making fresh doughnuts at home you're going to need invest in a deep fat fryer. And the first bite of a fresh, warm doughnut is enough to convert anyone to deep fat frying.
Once you've got your fryer you'll next need a light and fluffy fool-proof doughnut dough. That's where my recipe comes in! I've tried this recipe plenty of times and know that it works every time. As with most doughnut recipes its a mix of strong bread flour, yeast, sugar, eggs and butter. It's a rich dough that can get quite sticky but creates beautifully light doughnuts.
Filling doughnuts
Once you've mastered the dough you really can fill them with anything. I've got grand plans for a zesty blueberry recipe (watch this space) as well as some over the top chocolate creations. The first batch of doughnuts we ever made we filled with a sticky, sweet salted caramel sauce. They were to die for.
Today we're sticking with custard. I make a mean fresh custard and I figure if you're going out of your way to make a batch of fresh doughnuts, you should only fill them with the most decadent, rich, freshest fillings possible. And so the Vanilla Bean Custard Doughnut was born.
To get the filling all the way through the doughnut you'll want to invest in a bismark nozzle (like this one). You can fill doughnuts with a normal piping bag and nozzle but you'll find it easier to get a good fill with a longer nozzle. No one wants to feel short changed on filling - especially with this delicious recipe!
Top tips
I know it sounds like A LOT of oil but it doesn't get used up in the cooking process at all. In fact, you can re-use the oil over and over again. I think after 5 times it's recommended you change it but up until that point it's still perfectly safe and edible.
This recipe also makes A LOT of custard doughnuts. You can easily reduce it down to make just 5 doughnuts which I have done on many an occasion. It still works just as well!
Unfortunately custard doughnuts don't keep as well as some other treats and they are best served fresh. They will still be tasty after 2 or 3 days but with the fresh custard I wouldn't recommend eating them much past this. (Not that I expect them to last that long anyway! How could you resist!)
The recipe
Vanilla Bean Custard Doughnuts
Ingredients
For the doughnut dough
- 75 ml milk
- 7 g fast action dried yeast
- 250 g plain flour
- 30 g sugar
- 1 pinch nutmeg grated
- 1 pinch salt
- 60 g butter melted
- 2 eggs
For frying
- 3 l vegetable oil
For dusting
- 200 g caster sugar
For the custard
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon cornflour
- 15 g caster sugar
- 1 vanilla pod split lengthways and seeds removed
- 125 ml milk
- 125 ml double cream
Instructions
To make the dough
- Heat the milk until warm to the touch and add the quick action yeast with a teaspoon of sugar.
- Whisk well and leave for 15 minutes until the yeast has activated and a froth has formed on top of the milk.
- Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl and make a well in the middle. pour in the melted butter and eggs (beaten) followed by the activated yeast and milk.
- Stir together until a wet sticky dough has formed.
- Let this sticky dough rest for 10 minutes.
- Lightly oil your hands and work surface.
- Tip the dough out on to the work surface and knead for 10 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
- Transfer the dough into a new, lightly oiled bowl and let prove for 2 hours or until it has doubled in size.
To make the custard
- Put the egg yolk in a saucepan with the cornflour, sugar and seeds from the vanilla pod.
- Whisk them together lightly before turning on the heat to low.
- Slowly add the milk stirring constantly on a low heat.
- Cook like this for roughly 5-8 minutes or until it is smooth, thick and glossy.
- Remove the custard from the heat and allow to cool completely.
To shape and fry the doughnuts
- Next, cut the dough into 10-12 balls just smaller than a tennis ball.
- Knead for a further 5 to 10 minutes and shape into circular disks.
- Place these on a lightly oiled plate and let rise again for a further 45 minutes or until doubled in size again.
- Heat your oil to 160C.
- Once the temperature has been reached, fry each doughnut for 2 minutes on each side until crisp and golden.
- Turn the doughnuts out on to kitchen roll to remove excess oil then roll in caster sugar and place to one side to cool down.
- Repeat until all of the doughnuts have been cooked and coated in sugar.
To fill the doughnuts
- Once the custard and doughnuts are both cool, fill an icing bag complete with bismark nozzle with the custard.
- Push the nozzle deep into the doughnuts and fill generously with custard.
- These are best eaten while fresh so try to enjoy within 2 - 3 days before they go stale.
Notes
Nutrition
More doughnuts recipes
What's your favourite doughnut filling?
Emily Coates says
Oh my! These look incredible and such mouthwatering pics too. Yum xx
Emma Walton says
Thanks Emily 😀 2/3rds of the batch have gone now! I don't think the last 4 will last til the end of tomorrow...
Lucy says
Ooh wow, they look amazing! I have also seen what else you've done with them afterwards and can't wait for that recipe! I think I am a jam doughnut fan, actually not even sure I've had one with custard in. So, naturally I must remedy this straight away and will be trying your doughnuts out ASAP! I don't have a fryer so will try to borrow one I think 🙂
Emma Walton says
Haha thanks Lucy! Keep your eyes peeled for that one 😉 may have peeked too soon sharing it on Facebook! I'm also normally a jam fan but today went for the custard and it was a nice change! Good luck hunting down a fryer. It will be worth it!
Penelope says
These look amazing - I'm a jam lover myself, but the custard ones sound so tempting!
Emma Walton says
Thanks Penelope. I did briefly toy with the idea of filling then with both jam AND custard! Maybe next time....
Christine | Vermilion Roots says
I can't believe how easy it is to make these delicious doughnuts! Need time though so will save this for a weekend. 🙂
Emma Walton says
Definitely needs a morning put aside but it's well worth it. Waking up early to do them in time for brekkie is fun too!
Tracy | Baking Mischief says
I'm totally on the jam side of things, but I won't begrudge anyone their custard filling. 😉 These look so good, and I'm sure your dad appreciates what a nice daughter he has!
Emma Walton says
Thanks Tracy! That's sweet of you to say 🙂
Valentina says
These are absolutely mouth-watering! Your dad is such a lucky man! 🙂
Emma Walton says
Thanks Valentina! I sent him home with a tray of his own 🙂
Sarah says
These look heavenly! ...worth every sit up, squat and push up! 🙂
Emma Walton says
Haha definitely Sarah! You have to treat yourself every now and then. I'll be going for a run tonight now though 😉
Matt @ Plating Pixels says
I've never made fried donuts but this totally makes me want to get a deep fat fryer now!
Emma Walton says
Do it Matt! !!!! I put off getting one for so long and I'm really glad I did! I'm putting together a buyers guide so come back soon to check it out x
Jan says
Oh wow these doughnuts look amazing! I've ever made doughnuts fried or baked but I;m now feeling inspired to make them asap.
Emma Walton says
You definitely should Jan. It does look like there are a lot of steps from. The recipe but essentially it's make dough, fry dough. That's it! 😀 let me know ho you get on.
Margot says
Oh, those look amazing!! I'm definitely custard not jam doughnut person but the rest of my family loves jam so I'm usually outvoted.
Thank you for linking to my Polish bakes 🙂
Emma Walton says
My pleasure Margot. Make sure you make a batch some jam some custard 🙂
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
These are so beautifully presented. I have had such a doughnut craving the past week, now I NEED a doughnut!
Emma Walton says
Thanks Dannii !
sue | theviewfromgreatisland says
I have to say this is such a nice change from all the baked doughnuts --- they're convenient, and pretty good, but nothing beats the REAL THING 😉
Emma Walton says
I couldn't agree more Sue!
Camilla says
Hats off to you Emma your doughuts look just perfect, I'll have one of each please:-) Thanks for linking to my recipe:-)
Emma Walton says
Thanks Camilla! It's deadly once you realise just how easy these are to make. We've had a steady supply of doughnuts since I first made them over a month ago. I'm glad you like them 🙂
Eileen says
These look so tempting. I could eat a dozen!
Emma Walton says
Thanks Eileen! Maybe double the batch otherwise your friends and family will miss out 😛
Janet @ Healthoop says
Nice food! It looks lovely. My daughter will like it. Thank your recipe! 🙂
Sonya Cisco says
Those look incredible - I love a deep fried doughnut - and am a big believer that a little of what you fancy does you good! Love the sound of the custard filling too - yum!
Emma Walton says
Thanks Sonya! Everything in moderation including moderation 😉 that's my motto! Glad you like them!
GALINA V says
Fab doughnuts! I haven't made my own, but always fancied having a go. Jam filling is the classic one, I think, though I do prefer the custard doughnuts, especially the Italian style.
Emma Walton says
Hi Galina! I can't say I've ever tried an Italian custard doughnut?! You'll have to give them a go and share the recipe 🙂
Gill Jacob says
These look fantastic and great timing, as the kids on holiday net week - donut theme night in order!!!
Emma Walton says
That is perfect timing Gill! If you do make them be sure to send me a pic over twitter 🙂 I love seeing when people use my recipes! (@KitchenGoddess3)
Estelle says
Omg, I'm craving now! Your pictures are so... mouthwatering! And the only thing I can bake is cookies... Don't know if I'll be brave enough to try your recipe ^^'
Emma Walton says
Estelle, thanks for your kind words. The beautiful thing about frying is you can SEE them cooking in front of you. No guessing and being too nervous to open the oven door 🙂 doughnuts are a lot easier than you think. Good luck!
Hannah says
These look delicious - I haven been trying to be healthy but that might have to change now!!
Emma Walton says
Haha sorry Hannah! That is the story of my life! I'm often "trying to eat healthily" but too tempted by recipes and videos I see online! These are delicious...go on, treat yourself!
Kara says
Now I need a donut! These look amazing and I really should attempt making our own
Emma Walton says
Thanks Kara. You really can't beat homemade! A fresh donut is ten times better than one from a supermarket!
Kate Tunstall says
These look so incredible! Of I'm honest, I've never been a jam doughnut fan... And I'm mortified to admit I don't think I've ever even tried custard - but if definitely like to if you'd like to post some to me!
Emma Walton says
Kate nows your chance! Perhaps I can convert you into a doughnut lover with this recipe? If you give them a go let me know what you think 🙂