For a long time I wasn’t confident enough to make my own doughnuts even though I love eating them. That changed, after I ate this amazing Simpsons doughnut at Universal Studios in LA (of all places!), and once I got back home I absolutely wanted to replicate it. It was the best decision ever. Well, maybe one of.
I’ve made them plenty of times now, with different variations, like this cardamom and blueberry glazed doughnuts for example. I’ve shared a comprehensive tutorial on how to make perfect doughnuts! Being a caffeine aficionado, it was no surprise when one day not too long ago, the idea came to me while having my morning coffee. Coffee doughnuts (or Coffee donuts)! After all, millions upon millions enjoy a warm cup of joe with a doughnut every morning, correct? So why not integrate the two for a true coffee fan’s delight? Enter, Glazed Coffee Flavoured Doughnuts with Caramelized White Chocolate Pastry Cream Filling!
Making your own doughnuts/donuts can seem a little daunting at first, but having made them several times already, I can tell you that it’s actually really easy. I’m here to show you how and maybe convince you enough so that you’d want to make a few right away! 🙂
I’ve been to a few fairs and carnivals as a kid which was always really exciting. Apart from the rides, the games, the attractions, the open theater, little stalls with merchandise, what never failed to excite me was the mini doughnut stand! You guys know what I’m talking about right? The ones with the doughnut machine that drops little circles of batter through this funnel shaped device into hot oil which then travels down this oil tank where they get flipped over and then covered in powdered sugar and finally gets served to you in a brown paper bag? For a seven year old kid, that whole process was pure magic in action.
As far as making your own doughnuts go, I feel like they’ve gotten a bad rap as being something difficult to make. It may be because of the need to deep fry them, or maybe because you’re working with a dough (as opposed to a batter), but I’m here to tell you that you need not fear anymore! 🙂 While I have nothing against baked doughnuts (in fact I do love eating those too), they are just not as satisfying as a fried doughnut with a crispy outside and a light and fluffy inside. Yes, it takes a little longer to make them than baked ones, but to me it’s worth it, at least once in a while. And if they are made properly, they aren’t oily at all.

These doughnuts are just fantastic with a strong hit of coffee flavour and the sweet and salty white chocolate creme patissiere (pastry cream) filling. They have a thin coffee glaze (you can make it thicker if you like) too, because hey, these are coffee doughnuts and I’m not holding back! The doughnut itself isn’t sweet, but the glaze and the pastry cream filling give it that indulgent sweetness that makes it perfect with your morning coffee or even as dessert!

DOUGHNUT TUTORIAL
Flavour – These doughnuts are made with 1 tbsp of instant dry yeast. This may seem like a lot, but it ensures that the dough rises well, especially in the refrigerator, and gives the doughnut that characteristic flavour we all love.
The overnight rise is preferable for developing flavour. Much like my favourite pizza dough, the cold rise of any yeasted dough lends characteristic flavour to the doughnut, that the “warm place” rise just cannot replicate. Why? A cold rise slows down the process of yeast growth, allowing the yeast to develop a deeper flavour as they grow and multiply. On the plus side, it also makes the dough easier to handle.

It’s important to incorporate the butter properly too. You could possibly melt the butter and add it in a stream while kneading, but the method I’ve described in this recipe is what works best for me. I love the way the dough turns out and feels this way. Why change something that works right? Kneading while adding the butter distributes the butter evenly through the dough.

You can roll out the dough and cut out circles, or doughnut shapes. In this recipe, I simply divided the dough more or less equally in to 20 rolls. When you cut out doughnut shapes, you end up with scraps. These scraps can be re-rolled (after a one hour resting time in the fridge) and then cut, once. You want to cut out as many as you can from the first roll, because the 2nd re-roll is harder to handle, and can end up being thicker than your first batch (due to over handling and the dough not resting enough). So re-rolling a second time is not really ideal. To avoid that I try to use up as much of the remaining dough scraps to make doughnut holes instead! 🙂

Knowing when the doughnuts are ready to be fried – The second proofing usually only takes 1 hour at 72°F- 75°F (22°C- 25°C). However, if it’s summer and it’s hot, it might take a little less time, and in winter, a little longer.
Overproofing – leads to oily, collapsed, flat doughnuts.
Underproofing – leads to stiffer (or denser) doughnuts with low volume.
Cracked Doughnuts – If you used a cutter, it may not have been sharp enough to cut the doughnuts cleanly. Or the dough is underproofed or too cold.
Balled up doughnuts (applies mostly to cut doughnuts) – If the dough has not had time to rest (especially doughnuts cut from the second re-roll) they tend to shrink in width (not height) and ball up when frying.
After I leave the doughnuts to rise (covered with plastic wrap), I check on them after 30 minutes and then every 10-15 minutes. Check the first doughnut you cut out/roll up and lightly prod/press it.
If the indentation you make with your finger disappears – dough is not done yet (under proofed)
If the indentation stays – It’s ready! Take the plastic sheet off and it’s time to heat up the oil!
If the cut dough starts to deflate – It has over proofed, and will need to be re rolled, and re-chill the doughnut dough for at least an hour (to rest).

If the doughnuts have been made, rested and proofed correctly, frying is the next step.
Importance of using shortening that’s heated to the right temperature
Oil Temperature too low – [lower than 360ºF/ 183°C – Optimum 370°-375°F (188-191°C)] you will end up with very oily doughnuts. Frying in oil/shortening that is not heated correctly means the oil gets trapped and absorbed by the dough.
If you use oil that is at the correct temperature (~190°C) the oil does its job, and then when the doughnut is being drained, the excess oil gets drained out, so no oily residue!
Using oil/shortening that is too hot results in doughnuts that have a raw center, or burnt doughnuts (or even both). We don’t want that either!
Another tip for frying – You want the doughnut to float in the oil/shortening. Since only half of the doughnut gets fried at a time (due to buoyancy only one half will be submerged in the oil), you might be tempted to shallow fry it (with less oil). Please don’t do that! Make sure there is a good amount of oil allowing the doughnuts to float freely while cooking.
I find it easier to maintain the temperature of the oil when there is a sufficient amount of it, and this prevents uneven heating and results in evenly browned/cooked doughnut.
If you are only glazing the doughnuts, you don’t have to wait till the doughnuts have cooled completely. Once they are cool enough to handle, you can go ahead and glaze your doughnuts. But if you’re filling them as well, I prefer to let them cool first, then fill them and finally glaze them.
The glaze tends to protect the doughnut from drying out too quickly. They are best eaten the same day they are made, but are still great the next day. They are so-so on the third day, by which time you could probably consider making doughnut bread pudding instead? That tastes amazing too! 🙂
So are you ready to make some doughnuts?? If you do have any questions, please leave a comment below and I’ll be at your service.
You will need 1 recipe of the Caramelized White Chocolate Pastry Cream for this. Find out how to make it here.
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Glazed Coffee Doughnuts with Caramelized White Chocolate Filling
Ingredients:
Coffee Doughnuts
- 17.6 oz/500g All purpose flour
- ½ cup 120mL water (room temperature)
- ½ cup 120mL milk (room temperature)
- 1 tbsp instant dry yeast
- 3 heaped tbsp of instant coffee granules
- ½ cup / 100g white sugar
- 1 whole egg
- 1 egg yolk
- ½ tsp salt
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter at room temperature
- Shortening to deep fry
Caramelized White Chocolate
- Recipe link just above the recipe
Coffee Glaze
- 2 tsp instant coffee
- 11 oz / 310g Confectioners sugar/ Icing sugar
- Milk or water to thin it out
Instructions:
Coffee Doughnuts
- In a large mixing bowl, place the flour, sugar, and yeast. In a separate jug/container, dissolve the instant coffee in the water and add the milk and eggs to it. Whisk until mixed well. With the dough hook attached to the mixer, add the wet ingredients to the flour mix and knead until you form a dough. Knead for a further 10 minutes.
- Add the butter in 4-6 additions, mixing well between each addition, ensuring each time that the butter has incorporated properly. Scrape the bottom to ensure all the dough is being kneaded and knead for a further 10 minutes after all the butter has been incorporated. You should end up with a beautifully shiny, soft, slightly sticky dough.
- Oil a large bowl and place the dough in it. Turn the dough once so that the dough is covered with oil as well. Cover with plastic wrap and leave it in the fridge overnight (at least 8 hours)
- Next day, line two cookie trays with parchment paper. Turn out the dough on to a floured surface and divide the dough into 20 portions (medium sized doughnuts - about 2 ½ inch balls) or 30 portions (small doughnuts about 2 inch balls). Knead them (just enough) into smooth balls using lightly floured hands, making sure there are no cracks or creases.
- Place each ball on the parchment paper and cover with plastic wrap. Leave these to rise until they almost double in size. About 1 hour. However, check after 30 minutes and every 10-15 minutes thereafter to make sure it’s proofed and not over-proofed (tips in the tutorial section above). Uncover the doughnuts and let the top dry out while you heat the oil.
- When the doughnuts have proofed, heat the oil/shortening in a heavy bottomed saucepan with a thermometer attached, until it has reached 365°F/185°C. The temperature of the shortening should never go below 360°F and it shouldn't go beyond 395°F/ 200°C. (The right temperature will brown a 1 inch cube of bread in about 8-10 seconds).
- Slowly and carefully drop a doughnut into the oil (avoid splashing!). You can fry 2-3 doughnuts at a time if the saucepan is wide enough, but make sure the oil temperature doesn't drop too low.
- Once you drop the first doughnut in, set your timer for 1 minute and 15 seconds. Flip the doughnuts over and fry the other side for a further 1 minute and 15 seconds. There is no hole in these doughnuts so this is long enough to cook the doughnut all the way through.
- Place the doughnuts on paper towels to drain the oil. Repeat until you have fried all the doughnuts.
- Fill the pastry bag with a large round tip, with the chilled pastry cream. Make a cut on the side of the doughnut with a sharp knife. Insert the nozzle tip deep into the doughnut.
- With medium pressure, pipe in the filling (adjust the amount of filling to your preference).
- Dip each side in the glaze and place it on a cake rack to let the excess drip off.
- Enjoy! 🙂
- These doughnuts can be stored in an airtight container and kept in the fridge for up to two days.
Coffee Glaze
- Place the Confectioner's sugar/Icing sugar and the coffee powder in a large bowl.
- Add 2 tbsp of milk/water, while whisking. Add more, a tablespoon at a time (I used a mix of milk and water), until you get the consistency you prefer - I wanted it thin, but you make it thicker if you prefer. I liked having visible flecks of instant coffee granules in the glaze, but you can dissolve it prior to mixing as well.
“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”
Tony Georg says
This recipe was very good.
Aruna says
I am drooling all over my keyboard! These donuts look absolutely delicious.
Vasunthara says
Gorgeous! Gorgeous!
skd says
These are absolutely fantastic. You could give the best brands a run for their money. The tutorial is complete and in detail. You have inspired me to get out of my comfort zone and try it
frugal hausfrau says
Wow these are gorgeous and I loved your photos and explanations! This is great!
CakeSpy says
Whaaaaaat. They were already good and then I came to the ooze. You are a genius.
Dini says
Thank you so much!!! Coming from you that is a huge compliment! 😀
I have to confess we did pig out on that filling just on its own too… :p
Kaila (GF Life 24/7) says
These look amazing. I love the filling on the inside too. So beautiful, and thanks for all the guidance along the way too. Have a wonderful weekend, and happy FF!
Loretta says
I’ll take a dozen of those yummy donuts with my favorite centers please…..your tutorial is fabulous!
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life says
I have said it before and I will say it again, your desserts are going to do me in! This is absolutely incredible, Dini! Are you taking applications for taste testers? LOL
Dini says
Thank you so much Michelle!! I am ALWAYS happy to have taste testers!! 😀
Julianna says
Oh… now this is my idea of a doughnut! You could start a new trend with these! Wow! 😀
Dini says
Thank you Julianna! 😀 I’m not sure which I’m going crazy with yet… the white chocolate or the doughnuts!!
Jhuls | The Not So Creative Cook says
Did you say coffee and donuts together in one?? Ha! You better show those you’re hiding behind you, I cam smell them and give all those to me or there will be war! Bwahahaha!
Dini says
How did you know Jhuls?? 😀 hahaha! You crack me up!
I’ll surrender them to you… 😉
zita subasinghe says
Mouth watering as usual and so well explained and easy to make really.
You make it so interesting and it becomes fun to make it.
Many thanks!
All the best for still greater things in the future.
Zita
Dini says
Thank you so much Zita! I really appreciate all your encouragement! 😀
It definitely makes my day!!
-Dini
Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake says
These look soooo good! and that’s coming from somebody who doesn’t like coffee!
I’ve fried my own doughnuts a couple of times but I always have such a hard time keeping the oil the right temperature, I usually end up with only about half of the doughnuts done right which is such a waste! This may be a stupid question but when you shortening do you mean the solid vegetable fat? Not tried that, I usually use vegetable oil.
Dini says
Thank you Michelle! 😀 I find that keeping the oil constant is harder too… I’m always tinkering with the heat and if it weren’t for my thermometer it would be harder!
For some reason (I can’t explain it) but shortening seemed to give better results for this! But you can use vegetable oil too!! (Shortening is solid Vegetable oil :D!) The most important part is to make sure there is a good volume of oil in there! I read somewhere that there should be a 3-5 inch depth below the doughnut…
Quinn Caudill says
Wow! those would taste awesome in the morning. Thanks for the tutorial , very informative.
Dini says
Thank you Quinn!! 😀 I hope it comes in handy!
Winnie says
WOWWW !!
Dini – these look absolute AMAZING !!
Dini says
Thank you Winnie!! 😀
Oana @AdoreFoods says
Dini, these donuts look amazing! I don’t know if I am able to make them but for sure, I would love a dozen, right now! Great tutorial! That dough is perfection 🙂
Dini says
Thank you so much Oana! 🙂 It used to be intimidating for me, but now I love making doughnuts! The only thing that prevents me from making it every week are those sneaky “calories”!!
Holly- Twisted Tastes says
Oh heck yeah, that looks right up our alley! Thanks for sharing, Dini!
CarpeBriem says
I just fell in love. Thank you for posting the step-by-step process!
I absolutely have to try make these.
Dini says
Thank you so much! 🙂 I hope you do make them and let me know what you think!
Kim - Liv Life says
I’m positively swooning at these little treats! Total Coffee Donut LOVE!!
Dini says
Thank you Kim! So glad you love them 🙂
Katie @ Recipe for Perfection says
Great in-depth tutorial! So, do you do mail order? 🙂
Dini says
Thank you Katie! 🙂 I think the doughnuts might be finished off before I could get the chance to mail them!
Mila says
Wow! I almost can feel the smell!!! They look so tasty! yumyum 🙂
Dini says
Thank you Mila 🙂 There definitely was a good whiff of coffee!
mila furman says
Dini these are absolutely gorgeous! AND your tutorial on how to make doughnuts is fantastic!!! YUM!
Dini says
Thank you Mila! 😀