Cake Doughnuts

Recipe Ingredients

Here are the ingredients that come together to create these delicious homemade Cake Doughnuts!

All-Purpose Flour: Flour provides the structure and body for the dough.

Granulated Sugar: Sugar helps tenderize the dough, contributes to browning, and keeps our doughnuts moist and delicious.

Milk: Adds moisture to the dough, helping to create a tender crumb. It also contributes to the overall flavor and richness of the doughnuts.

Baking Powder: This magical ingredient reacts when wet and heated, creating gas bubbles that make our doughnuts light, airy, and wonderfully fluffy.

Ground Cinnamon: Adds a warm, aromatic spice that complements the sweet dough beautifully.

Ground Nutmeg: Another classic spice for doughnuts, nutmeg provides a subtle, earthy warmth that is essential for that traditional flavor profile.

Shortening: Contributes to the tenderness and richness of the dough, helping to create a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture in our cake doughnuts.

Other Ingredients You’ll Need: Vegetable oil, salt, eggs

How to Make Cake Doughnuts

Making these delicious homemade Cake Doughnuts is simpler than you might think, and with a few tips, you'll be frying up perfect batches every time. See the full recipe below for all the details.

1. Heat Your Oil

Use a deep-fry thermometer to monitor the oil temperature and keep it at 375°F. This is crucial for perfectly cooked doughnuts – too cool and they'll be greasy, too hot and they'll burn outside before cooking inside.  

2. Mix the Dough

Don’t overmix the dough which can develop too much gluten, leading to tough doughnuts. Mix until just combined.

3. Roll and Cut

Be sure to flour your surface and cutter, this prevents sticking and makes cutting easier. Also, don't overwork the dough when re-rolling scraps, as this can make them tough.

4. Fry Them Up

Let the oil return to 375°F between batches for consistent results. Drain doughnuts on paper towels to soak up excess oil.

5. Finish with Toppings

For powdered or granulated sugar doughnuts, roll them while they are still warm. For a decadent chocolate glaze (recipe in Tips below!), let the doughnuts cool completely before dipping or spreading the glaze.

How to Store Cake Doughnuts

Proper storage is key to keeping your delicious homemade Cake Doughnuts fresh and enjoyable. Here's how to store them.

Room Temperature

The doughnuts are best enjoyed on the day they are made but will stay fresh for 1-2 days in an airtight container.  Make sure they are completely cooled before storing.

Freezer

Allow the plain doughnuts to cool completely. Then place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid (about 1-2 hours). Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw them at room temperature and glaze, or warm them slightly in a microwave for a few seconds on high before dusting with powdered or granulated sugar.