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    Ultimate Brioche Donuts: A Recipe for Perfectly Fluffy Delights

    This Brioche Donuts Recipe yields the most delightful brioche donuts you’ll ever experience. Buttery and rich, yet still airy, brioche donuts are simple to prepare and make for a delicious dessert or sweet snack any time during the day.

    Recipe Details

    I adore this Brioche Donuts recipe as it represents the pinnacle of indulgent and flavorful donuts. We like to incorporate various fillings, such as Nutella or fruit preserves, transforming these into a special treat perfect for weekends or when hosting guests.

    • TASTE: These Brioche Donuts are incredibly rich and buttery, featuring a delightful flavor that will leave you craving more.
    • TEXTURE: Fluffy and light, these donuts offer an extraordinary texture that is wonderfully complemented by creamy fillings.
    • TIME: The entire process takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes, most of which involves proofing.
    • EASE: Although making donuts can seem challenging, this recipe provides clear instructions to help you create your own homemade brioche donuts with ease.

    What You’ll Need

    Ingredients for Brioche Donuts: flour, water, milk, eggs, butter, yeast, sugar, and salt.Ingredients for Brioche Donuts: flour, water, milk, eggs, butter, yeast, sugar, and salt.

    Ingredient Notes

    • Water: Warm, to activate the yeast.
    • Whole milk: Should also be warm.
    • Active dry yeast: Using instant yeast helps the donuts achieve their fluffiness.
    • Granulated sugar: Essential for activating the yeast and sweetening the dough.
    • Salt: Enhances flavor.
    • Eggs: Contributes to a richer flavor profile.
    • Unsalted butter: Provides the distinctive buttery taste associated with brioche.
    • Flour: All-purpose flour is preferable to bread flour for this recipe.

    Add-ins and Substitutions

    • For a chocolate flavor: Incorporate some unsweetened cocoa powder into the dough to create chocolate donuts that can be filled with chocolate ganache or custard.
    • For a fruity option: Mix in lemon zest and a lemon filling, or enjoy the donuts with raspberry or strawberry preserves.
    • To make them gluten-free: Substitute with all-purpose gluten-free flour to create a gluten-free treat everyone can enjoy.
    • For toppings: Drizzle your favorite frostings on top and add sprinkles, crushed cookies, or other sweet or savory garnishes for an outstanding dessert.

    How to Make the Best Brioche Donuts

    • Activate the yeast: In a measuring cup, combine warm water and milk with 1 tablespoon of sugar and the yeast. Whisk together. After about 10 minutes, the mixture should appear frothy.
    • Combine the ingredients: In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the flour, salt, sugar, frothy yeast, and eggs. Using the hook attachment, blend the ingredients at medium-high speed.
    Steps to prepare Brioche Donuts: activate the yeast in warm milk and water mixed with sugar, then incorporate it with flour, salt, sugar, and eggs.Steps to prepare Brioche Donuts: activate the yeast in warm milk and water mixed with sugar, then incorporate it with flour, salt, sugar, and eggs.
    • Incorporate the butter. As the dough begins to combine, introduce the softened butter and continue mixing for approximately 8 minutes until the dough achieves a smooth and elastic consistency.
    • Allow the dough to rise. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl and cover it with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel. Let it rest in a warm area for about an hour or until it has doubled in volume.
    • Punch down and proof again. Deflate the dough, reshape it, and let it rise for a second time until it doubles in size again (around one hour).

    Pro Tip: Take care not to let the dough rise for too long, as it can negatively affect the flavor and texture of the donuts. A rise time of about an hour to double in size is ideal.

    Steps in making Brioche Donuts: add softened butter, then let the dough rise, deflate it, and proof once more.Steps in making Brioche Donuts: add softened butter, then let the dough rise, deflate it, and proof once more.
    • Roll out the dough. Place the dough onto a floured surface, adding more flour on top, and roll it out with a rolling pin until it is approximately 3/4-inch thick.
    • Cut and allow to rise. Use a biscuit cutter to cut the dough and transfer the donuts to a baking sheet. Let them rest for another 30 minutes to rise.
    • Fry the donuts. Pour about two inches of oil into a heavy-bottomed pot and heat it to between 360-375ºF. Fry each donut for a few minutes per side until they achieve a golden brown color.
    Brioche Donuts preparation steps: roll the dough out, cut out the donuts, allow to rise, and then fry.Brioche Donuts preparation steps: roll the dough out, cut out the donuts, allow to rise, and then fry.
    • Allow to cool. Move the fried donuts to a baking sheet lined with paper towels to soak up any excess oil. Let them cool before rolling in sugar. Once they are at room temperature, you can fill them with Nutella, raspberry jam, or Boston cream custard.
    Brioche Donuts preparation steps: allow to cool, then roll in sugar.Brioche Donuts preparation steps: allow to cool, then roll in sugar.

    Helpful Tips for the Recipe

    • Exercise patience during proofing- Allowing your dough sufficient time to proof is crucial, so avoid rushing this stage. This process is what creates the airy texture that brioche donuts are known for.
    • Consider an overnight rise- An alternative method involves letting the dough rise in the refrigerator overnight. This technique helps to prevent over-fermentation.
    • Maintain proper oil temperature- It’s essential to keep your frying oil’s temperature between 360-375 degrees Fahrenheit. Oil that is too hot will scorch the exterior while leaving the inside uncooked, whereas oil that is too cool can lead to longer cooking times, resulting in a dry interior.
    Brioche donuts in a pan, coated in sugar with raspberry filling inside.Brioche Donuts coated in sugar and filled with Nutella in a pan.Brioche Donuts covered in sugar and with a Nutella filling in a pan.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What distinguishes brioche donuts from standard donuts?

    Brioche donuts are essentially a more luxurious variation of traditional donut recipes. While a typical donut recipe consists of water, flour, salt, and yeast, brioche incorporates an abundance of eggs, milk, and butter. This richness gives rise to the term “rich bread.”

    How do brioche donuts taste?

    Brioche donuts are flavorful confections, boasting a rich buttery flavor balanced with a hint of sweetness and a gentle yeasty undertone. They complement sweet fillings beautifully, such as Nutella, strawberry jam, and both vanilla and chocolate custards.

    Brioche Donuts coated in sugar and filled with Nutella in a pan.

    Serving Ideas

    The Best Brioche Donuts offer flexibility and incredible flavor. They can be complemented with your preferred desserts, coffee, or enjoyed as a special morning treat. Here are some excellent ways to serve them:

    • Cake pops: Pair these donuts with a small treat, such as Chocolate Cake Pops, Oreo Cake Pops (VIDEO), Red Velvet Cake Pops (VIDEO), or Vanilla Cake Pops (VIDEO).
    • Cookies: Enjoy your homemade Brioche Donuts alongside White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies, Double Chocolate Cookies (VIDEO), or Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies.
    • Breakfast: Pair these delightful donuts with a savory breakfast treat, such as a Croissant Breakfast Sandwich, a Crispy Breakfast Burrito (VIDEO), or Easy Poached Eggs with Caramelized Onions.
    • Coffee: Enjoy these donuts alongside a Pumpkin Spice Latte, a Caramel Frappuccino (Starbucks Copycat), or an Iced Caramel Macchiato.

    Prepare This Recipe Ahead of Time

    Make ahead: You can prepare this donut recipe the day before by allowing your covered brioche dough to rise in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, before using, be sure to punch down the dough and reshape it. Then, let it rise again before rolling it out and cutting out the donuts.

    Storing: Store these brioche donuts tightly wrapped in an airtight container or bag. They can be kept at room temperature for 1-2 days, in the refrigerator for up to a week, and in the freezer for 2-3 months. If your brioche donuts are filled, they should always be kept in the fridge or freezer and not left out at room temperature.

    Freeze: Wrap them well in aluminum foil, then place them in a ziplock freezer bag. When you’re ready to enjoy them, let them thaw at room temperature before reheating in the oven, or microwave for about 15-20 seconds, checking for doneness after the first 10 seconds.

    More Irresistible Donuts!

    Complete Recipe Instructions


    Best Brioche Donuts

    These brioche donuts are rich and buttery while still being fluffy, making for a delightful dessert or sweet snack at any time.


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    Course: Dessert

    Cuisine: American, European, French

    Prep Time: 10 minutes

    Cook Time: 30 minutes

    Proof: 2 hours 30 minutes

    Servings: 26 donuts

    Calories: 157kcal

    Instructions

    • In a bowl, mix 1/2 cup of warm water (at 110 degrees Fahrenheit), 3/4 cup of warmed milk, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 2 teaspoons of yeast. Whisk briefly and let it sit until foamy, about 10 minutes.
    • In a mixing bowl of a stand mixer, combine 5 1/2 cups of flour (spooned and leveled), 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt, 1/3 cup of sugar, the foamy yeast mixture, and 5 large eggs. Use the hook attachment to blend on medium-high speed.
    • When the brioche dough starts to form, add in 1/2 cup of softened unsalted butter. Keep mixing on medium-high for about 8 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic.

    • Transfer the donut dough to a greased bowl, cover it with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm location for approximately 1 hour, until it has doubled in size.
    • Once the brioche has risen, punch it down, reshape it, and allow it to rise again until it doubles in size (around 1 hour).

    • Remove the dough from the bowl and place it on a floured surface. Sprinkle more flour over it and roll the dough out with a rolling pin until it is about 3/4 inch thick.
    • Cut out the donuts using a biscuit cutter and arrange them on a baking sheet. Let them rise for another 30 minutes.
    • In a heavy-bottomed pot, heat about 2 inches of corn or vegetable oil to between 360-375 degrees Fahrenheit (an instant-read thermometer is useful for this). Fry each donut for a few minutes on each side until they are golden brown.
    • After frying, transfer the donuts to a baking sheet lined with paper towels to soak up excess oil. Allow them to cool to room temperature before rolling in sugar. Once cooled, fill them with Nutella, raspberry jam, or Boston cream custard.

    Notes

    Storing brioche donuts

    These brioche donuts can be stored in an airtight container or bag. They will remain fresh for 1-2 days at room temperature, up to 1 week in the refrigerator, and 2-3 months in the freezer. If filled, store the brioche donuts in the fridge or freezer, rather than at room temperature.
    If you enjoy brioche recipes, consider trying these brioche buns!

    Nutritional Information


    Calories:
    157
    kcal

    |

    Carbohydrates:
    24
    g

    |

    Protein:
    4
    g

    |

    Fat:
    5
    g

    |

    Saturated Fat:
    3
    g

    |

    Cholesterol:
    42
    mg

    |

    Sodium:
    62
    mg

    |

    Potassium:
    58
    mg

    |

    Fiber:
    1
    g

    |

    Sugar:
    3
    g

    |

    Vitamin A:
    166
    IU

    |

    Calcium:
    18
    mg

    |

    Iron:
    1
    mg



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