Caramel Glazed Crunchy Donuts
Golden, cinnamon-sugar donuts drizzled with warm, buttery caramel glaze for the perfect crunchy-soft bite in every donut.
Ingredients
For the Donuts
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup milk
- 3 tbsp melted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Oil for frying
For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
For the Caramel Glaze
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 4 tbsp butter
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
Prepare the Donut Batter
- In a bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
- In another bowl, mix the eggs, milk, melted butter, and vanilla.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients and whisk until smooth. Let the batter rest for 5 minutes.
Fry the Donuts
- Heat oil to 350°F (175°C).
- Pipe or shape the dough into rings.
- Fry 1–2 minutes per side until golden.
- Transfer to a rack or paper towel to drain.
Coat the Donuts
- Mix cinnamon and sugar in a bowl.
- Roll each warm donut in the mixture to coat evenly.
Make the Caramel Glaze
- Melt butter and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the cream and whisk until smooth.
- Stir in vanilla and a pinch of salt.
- Drizzle the warm caramel over the donuts before serving.
Notes
Tips
- Don’t overmix the batter to keep the donuts light and fluffy.
- Maintain the oil temperature at 350°F for even frying.
- Coat donuts while they’re still warm so the cinnamon sugar sticks well.
- Use a kitchen thermometer for the most consistent results.
Variations
- Salted Caramel: Sprinkle a little flaky salt over the caramel.
- Chocolate Drizzle: Add melted dark chocolate on top for extra richness.
- Apple Spice: Add ¼ teaspoon nutmeg and ¼ cup apple purée to the batter.
- Filled Donuts: Pipe pastry cream, custard, Nutella, or fruit compote inside.
Storage
- Room Temperature: 1–2 days in an airtight container.
- Refrigerator: Up to 4 days; reheat gently before eating.
- Freezer: Freeze unglazed donuts for up to 2 months.
- Reheating: Warm in the microwave for 10 seconds or in the oven at 300°F (150°C) for 4 minutes.