Eggless Doughnut Recipe

Experience Soul-Satisfying Pleasure with the Ultimate Eggless Doughnut Recipe

Doughnuts, also known as donuts, are a very simple yet classic sweet dessert that have long been relished in different flavours in almost every corner of the world. 

Doughnuts have roots in Middle Eastern and European cuisine. They are sweet, deep-fried balls of dough popularised by Americans. However, you now have a healthier version of these—baked doughnuts. These dense, rich, sweet doughs are either baked or fried until they turn crisp from outside and fluffy from inside.

The ring doughnuts with a hole in the center are the most popular, but you can also find these whole with a jam, custard or cream filling in the middle. 

Their extreme versatility helps every baker create a distinctive version of a doughnut recipe. From chocolate, fruit preserves, caramel, matcha, to the classic whipped cream or old fashioned donuts, choices are endless. 

Doughnut Ingredients:  Eggless Recipe

You may encounter different techniques for making doughnuts. Some use yeast to activate the dough, while others use the classic cake batter. These are then fried or baked. Traditionally, doughnuts are made using eggs. But if you don't eat eggs, here is the recipe for eggless doughnuts. 

Read on to learn about the ingredients you need to make doughnuts at home. 

• Milk - ¾ cup
• Instant Yeast - ½ teaspoon
• All-purpose flour - 2 cups
• Castor sugar - ¼ cup or 36 grams
• Grated nutmeg - ¼ teaspoon
• Melted butter - ¼ cup
• Vanilla extract - 1 teaspoon
• Oil - For frying

How to Make Doughnuts at Home: Complete Process 

Doughnuts can be topped with chocolate, caramel, whipped cream, jams, etc. If you learn how to make doughnuts, you can experiment with various toppings and even try the centre-filled doughnuts. What's more, you won't have to make the trip to the local bakery or the commercial doughnut chain every time you crave one. 

Step 1 - Preparing the Dough Mixture 

Warm the milk and add it to a mixing bowl. Make sure that it is lukewarm, as temperature matters. Add sugar and then the instant yeast, and mix everything well. Sift 1 cup of all-purpose flour two to three times to air it and remove lumps. Add this to the milk, sugar and yeast mixture. Use a spoon or spatula to combine everything. Make sure there are no lumps. Add a few teaspoons of warm or room-temperature milk to the batter, if it is too thick. The perfect doughnut recipe calls for a lump-free, smooth mixture. 

Step 2 -  Let it Rest

Use a lid or a towel to cover the bowl. Leave it to rest for 30 to 40 minutes. This will give the yeast enough time to work and leaven the dough mixture. After resting, it develops air pockets and becomes stringy. 

Step 3 - Preparing the Dough 

To the leavened dough mixture, add the remaining all-purpose flour, 3 tbsp of melted butter, nutmeg, and vanilla extract. Mix this with a spatula. Then, knead it into a dough. Add milk to this while kneading to make it soft and smooth. The secret of how to make doughnuts lies in the texture of the dough. The doughnut will be hard and dry if it is not soft enough. 

Step 4 - Rest the Dough Again

Once you are satisfied with the dough's texture, cover the bowl and let it rest for 45 minutes to 1 hour. This will give time for the dough to rise and grow double in size. Remember that the time to let the dough rest may vary depending on the environmental temperature. The dough may rise quickly in hotter weather. 

Step 5 - Shaping the Doughnut 

Once the dough is ready, knead it again. Now, sprinkle some flour on the work surface to roll out the dough for this veg doughnut recipe. Roll it into a circle that is ½ to ¾ inch wide. Using a dough cutter, cut out the doughnuts. Knead the remaining dough and make more doughnuts, following the same process as before. Cover the doughnuts with a damp cloth and leave them to rest for 15 minutes or till they rise again. 

Step 6 - Prepping for the Bake 

Line the baking tray with parchment paper. If you don't have parchment paper, you can grease the dish and sprinkle flour. This will work equally well. Set the oven to preheat at 180° for 15 minutes. 
In case of frying, heat some oil in a deep flat pan. Once it’s properly hot, carefully place the doughnuts and let them fry on each side until they turn into a nice golden brown colour on both sides.

Step 7 - Time to Bake 

Place the doughnuts on the baking tray and pop them in. Wondering how to make donuts in the oven without overcooking them? Ideally, they should take 15 to 25 minutes to bake. Keep an eye on them, as this can differ based on the size and temperature of the oven. Once done, take them out and let them cool a bit. Top these with a chocolate glaze or a sugar sprinkle, and enjoy!! 

Conclusion

The veg donut recipe is a boon for all vegetarians who love baked goods but steer clear of eggs. These sinful delights are irresistible when topped with your favourite fruit preserves, sprinkles, or gooey chocolate. These baked goods can be your guilty pleasure and a treat for your loved one. So, now that you have learned how to prepare donuts at home, you can make them whenever you are in the mood for something sweet. 

FAQs

Can I use fresh or dry active yeast instead of instant yeast? 

Though instant yeast is the best choice for this recipe, you can also use fresh or dry active yeast. However, you will have to alter the quantity that you use. Add 1 ½ teaspoon of fresh yeast to the warm milk or ¾ teaspoon of dry active yeast. 

How long can I store homemade doughnuts? 

You can store your doughnuts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. However, as the butter tends to solidify, causing them to become a bit dense, you can reheat it for 10 seconds before eating.