Cinnamon Doughnut Holes are the most delicious, bite sized morsels of deep fried goodness. Find out how you can make them by scrolling down to the recipe below.
I will never be skinny. I’ve tried it a few times and I just can’t keep up the healthy eating and exercising for very long before I see something deep fried or coated in sugar and I cave. I do try to live by the mantra “everything in moderation” but that includes moderation right?!
Another reason why I’m not skinny is that I own not one, but two deep fat fryers. The first is your regular purpose built long, rectangular deep fat fryer which is perfect for whipping up home made fish and chips. The second is my Optimum Pressure Cooker PRO which doubles up as a small fryer. How clever is that?
Want to find out more about the Optimum Pressure Cooker PRO? Read my review here.
Deep fat fried goodness
When I shared my first fried doughnut recipe (Vanilla Bean Custard Doughnuts) I touched on how fried doughnuts were falling out of fashion. But since then it seems the traditional fried doughnut is having a bit of a revival with the likes of Crosstown Doughnuts becoming must eats for anyone visiting the capital. If you’ve not been instagrammed devouring a Crosstown Doughnut are you even a London foodie?!
These miniature Cinnamon Doughnut Holes are the perfect introduction to making fresh fried doughnuts at home. They take less time to cook than a regular doughnut, can be made in a smaller fryer (or even a pan) and don’t require too many ingredients. They really are ideal for doughnut beginners.
What’s a doughnut hole anyway?
The idea behind doughnut holes is that they are the centre cut out of regular ring doughnuts. So that they don’t go to waste they are fried and coated in sugar to make miniature doughnuts.
But I have a confession, I didn’t make ring doughnuts at the same time as making these. I took my regular doughnut dough and rolled the balls smaller than usual (just smaller than a golf ball).
By making miniature doughnuts there are more to go around – something which I’m sure Jon’s colleagues were grateful for! These are great for parties or a dessert where the diners around the table can help themselves before dipping into a fondue or chocolate sauce. I like to serve mine with melted Nutella – and I’m sure you will too!
The recipe
You can deep fry using a regular sauce pan an the lovely Becca at Amuse Your Buche has a handy guide if you’re brave enough to try it. If, like me, you’re not that brave then I’d recommend in investing in a deep fat fryer. You can read my guide to buying one here. You can also find links to deep fat fryers on Amazon below the recipe.
Ingredients
- 75ml milk
- 7g quick yeast
- 250g plain flour
- 30g caster sugar
- Pinch of nutmeg
- Pinch of salt
- 60g butter (melted)
- 2 eggs
- 3 litres of frying oil
- 150g caster sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon sugar
Instructions
- Heat the milk until warm to the touch and add the quick action yeast with a tsp of caster 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.
- Cut the dough into small pieces and roll until they are just smaller than the size of a golf ball.
- Place these on a lightly oiled tray 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 1-2 minutes on each side until crisp and golden.
- Turn the doughnuts out on to kitchen roll to remove excess oil then roll in the granulated sugar and cinnamon then place to one side to cool down.
- Repeat until all of the doughnuts have been cooked and coated in sugar.
Pin it for later
The next time you need something sweet to keep the family happy, fry a batch of these tasty Cinnamon Doughnut Holes – make sure you’ve got the recipe pinned for any eventuality!
These definitely look worth braving the fryer for 😀 I must try homemade doughnuts one time (or doughnut holes, since they look easier!)
It’s funny I had never heard of doughnut holes before I stumbled on a picture of them today on Pinterest, and now I see this! They sound amazing! I think I would prefer these to a ‘real’ doughnut since they’re bite size. Everything is better bite sized in my opinion 😀
I got addicted to the doughnut holes when Duncan Donuts used to make them. They are perfect for popping into your mouth between sips of coffee!
So true Heidi, they really are addictive!
Aaaah, these babies look so good. When I was on my weight loss journey I received a deep fat fryer but with the way things going I sadly gave it away. I’ll live vicariously through you instead!
Haha thanks Michelle. I really should get rid of (both) of mine for the sake of my own waistline!!!
These mini doughnuts look sooo delicious! Well, I don’t have 2 fryers like you or even 1 but that does not stop me from deep frying 🙂 I had a go at something similar about a year ago. Found it in a magazine-well, let’s just say the recipe did not work at all! Gotta try yours!
Eek! I hate it when you try a recipe and it’s a flop 🙁 let me know how you get on with these!
These look absolutely amazing! I great treat to add to brunch or have on hand to snack on in the afternoon with a cup of tea 🙂
These look so good! I love donut holes, but have never thought of making them myself. Definitely going to try!
Let me know how you get on 🙂 and send me a picture if you can! I’d love that!!!
Doughnuts are completely en vogue again here in the States which is a thing I, for one, am over the moon about. Doughnut holes were a favorite treat of my youth though so I’m surprised to see so many people in your comments don’t know them! I love to make homemade doughnuts, and you may have convinced me of two things. I should get a fryer, for one! And two, Crosstown Doughnuts. My husband is from London and we come over often to visit family, but I haven’t been there! Remedying that this December!
Jeni if you’re serious about getting a fryer keep an eye out for a post of mine coming soon which will tell you all you need to know about chosing one! I spent hours agonising over getting the right make and model so you don’t have to!
Also you should DEFINITELY try out Crosstown Doughnuts while you are over here 😀 hope you have a fab time visiting.
I was going to say you must be my soul sister, but perhaps it’s deep-fried-delights sister? I love doughnuts and no, I ain’t ever going to be skinny either. 😉 Please can I come to visit next time you make doughnuts? 😀
These look just amazing. Doughnuts and Nutella are probably my son’s most favourite foods at the moment, how delighted he would be if we made these. Thanks for the recipe!
My pleasure Rachel! Keep your eyes peeled as I’ve got another Nutella and doughnut recipe coming very soon!
I prefer these too to the doughnuts. Because they bite sized you’re happy with one or two, but a whole doughnut is normally too much for me.
You have a lot more self discipline than me Eva! 🙂
Oh goodness, these look so amazingly tasty 🙂 Way to go making these treats.
These look so tasty, your close up photographs have made my mouth water!! I love cinnamon too.
Wow!!!!! They look amazing! Going to make these this weekend. I’ll tag you on Instagram in the results
How did you get on Lu!? Can’t wait to see the results!
Oh wow these look DELICIOUS!! I can’t have donuts with being gluten free but my kids go crazy for them as a treat! We’ve never made our own, I would love to give it a go!
These look and sound delicious. I’ve never come across cinnamon doughnuts before but I imagine the smell is amazing.
Aw man, now these look and sound amazing. To be honest, anything with cinnamon is a winner for me! Never tried anything like this… One for the recipe list!
I will never be skinny either as I love a variety of food so much. Homemade Donuts always remind me of my childhood as my nan and I use to make the sausage rolls and my grandad and I the donuts. Haven’t actually made myself as an adult so this has just reminded me x
Awww how lovely! I love how foods can evoke long lost memories 🙂
These look amazing! I’m horrendous at following recipes, but I’m definitely going to try this!
Oh my goodness – YUM!! I don’t have a deep fat fryer but might brave this bad boys on the pan. They look so good!!
These look so yummy! Bookmarking for the weekend 🙂 x
Let me know if you get a chance to make them! I’d love to see pics!
I so need to try this recipe. The doughnuts look delicious. My kids would just love them.
These look so yummy that I nearly licked my phone! I need to cancel all my plans and make donut holes today!
Hahaha Leigh-Ann your comment made my day! Glad you like the recipe!