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Quick Fried Donut Recipe

Fried donut recipe – is a simple donut recipe that can be made in about 15 minutes. This tasty donut without yeast is the perfect combination of a lightly crisp exterior with a soft, airy interior.

Plus, this donut recipe is made with farmer’s cheese, so this can count as a protein donut recipe too. Whip up a batch of these for your next breakfast and wow your whole family. Learning how to make donuts couldn’t be simpler!

Quick Fried Donuts stacked on a board with a cup of milk in the back.

Whether you prefer your donut rolled in cinnamon-sugar, drizzled with icing or with no toppings at all, this recipe will let you have it all. Once you learn how to make donuts, you’ll want to make these more often than you should 😉

Donut Recipe with Protein

Most donut recipes are full of carbs—and only carbs. This protein donut recipe is made with tvorog, commonly known as farmer’s cheese, which boasts 4 grams of protein per ounce. By using a combination of the cheese along with buttermilk, this donut has an incredibly moist and airy interior that’s filled with good-for-you protein.

Fried Donuts filled with lots of protein, covered with sugar glaze, placed on a board.

Simple Donut Recipe Without Yeast

Generally, donuts can take quite a long time to make, thanks to the process of waiting for the yeast to rise. This, on the other hand, is a donut recipe without yeast.

This means that an entire batch of fresh donuts can be thrown together in the morning before everyone runs out the door for work or school, or saved as a special treat for a weekend family brunch.

Where can I get Farmers Cheese?

Look in the dairy section of your store. If you have a Russian section or Russian store in the area, they typically sell it as well. The cheese can be sold under “Amish Cheese” name as well.
As an alternative, you can make your own, following the recipe here or here.

Quick Sugar Glazed Farmer's Cheese Donuts

What can I substitute for farmers cheese?

If you are unable to find farmers cheese, you can substitute it with ricotta. Because this recipe calls for dry farmer’s cheese, the ricotta will have more liquid in it. To counterbalance that, you will need to add a lot less buttermilk than this recipe calls for. You can also use this Quick Farmer’s Cheese Recipe to make your own.

Alternatively, you can simply try this 15-minute ricotta donut recipe instead.

What is the best oil to fry donuts with?

One important thing to consider when learning how to make donuts is finding the best oil to fry donuts with. The oil must have a high smoke point so it can withstand the high temperatures needed for evenly frying. Additionally, the oil should be flavorless to let the flavor of the donut recipe itself shine without distractions.

A few oils for frying donuts include:

  • canola oil
  • grapeseed oil
  • safflower oil
  • vegetable oil
  • light olive oil

Tips for Making this Fried Donut Recipe

Whichever oil you choose, make sure to add at least 1.5-2 inches of oil to a heavy-bottomed pot, such as a cast iron pot. Heat the oil to 350F degrees, and use a frying thermometer to help with the continuous temperature reading. Discard your oil once you are done frying.

Ingredients for a Quick and Easy Donut Recipe

This protein donut recipe uses dry farmer’s cheese or tvorog. The more moisture the tvorog has, the less buttermilk you will need to add to bring it all together. Essentially, just add enough buttermilk to bring the dough together.

Ingredients for Donut Glaze (Optional)

  • powdered sugar
  • lemon juice or milk (use lemon juice if you like the glaze tart, or milk if you don’t)

How to Make Quick and Easy Fried Donuts

  • Combine all ingredients but the buttermilk together, then add enough buttermilk to bring it together into a dough.
  • Roll the dough and use a doughnut cutter or an upside down glass to cut out circles for the doughnuts.

Step by step photos for making Quick Fried Donuts

  • Heat the oil and fry doughnuts on both sides until golden. Remove to a paper towel-lined rack.
  • Make the glaze and dip the doughnuts. Or coat in granulated or powdered sugar while hot.  Alternatively, you can dip donuts into powdered sugar or a cinnamon-sugar blend. Enjoy while fresh!

Dipping donuts into the powdered sugar glaze

Also, try these other amazing Fried Recipes

Quick Fried Donut Recipe

Easy Sugar Glazed Donuts
5 from 1 vote

Fried donut recipe - this simple recipe can be made in about 15 minutes. The yeast-free donuts are a perfect combination of a lightly crisp exterior with a soft, airy interior.

Author: Marina | Let the Baking Begin
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American, Ukrainian
Keyword: lemon sugar glaze, soft donut, sugar donuts
Calories: 277 kcal
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 12 donuts

Ingredients

Donut Ingredients

Powdered Sugar Donut Glaze

Instructions

  1. Mix: Combine the farmer's cheese, egg, vanilla extract, and flour, then slowly add up to 1 cup of buttermilk to bring the dough together. Just mix enough to bring the ingredients together—do not overmix or the donuts will be tough. Make sure not to add too much flour, or the donuts will be dense and heavy. 

  2. Roll & Cut out:

    Roll out or pat down the dough to about 3/4 inch thickness on a well-floured surface. Cut out the donuts using a donut cutter, or a 3-inch cookie cutter (or glass) with a 1-inch cutter to remove the center. Collect all the dough scraps, combine and roll out again, repeating the step until the dough is all used.

  3. Fry: Heat a non-flavored, high smoke point frying oil to 350 degrees by utilizing a frying thermometer. Fry the donuts for a few minutes until golden brown, then flip and fry the other side similarly. 

  4. Remove donuts from frying oil with a slotted spoon or a skimming ladle. Shake lightly to remove excess oil, then transfer to a dish lined with paper towels.

  5. Glaze: Mix powdered sugar and lemon juice. Dip the donuts into the glaze while still warm. Alternatively, you can dip donuts into powdered sugar or a cinnamon-sugar blend. Enjoy while fresh!

Nutrition Facts
Quick Fried Donut Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 donut)
Calories 277 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Cholesterol 36mg12%
Sodium 69mg3%
Potassium 111mg3%
Carbohydrates 47g16%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 30g33%
Protein 8g16%
Vitamin A 240IU5%
Vitamin C 1.5mg2%
Calcium 118mg12%
Iron 1.2mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Marina | Let the Baking Begin

Welcome to Let the Baking Begin! I'm Marina and my love and passion for eating only the most delicious foods drive me to share that love here on Let the Baking Begin (since 2009). With over 20 years of experience in the kitchen, you know the recipes are tested and retested until perfect. I'm so happy to have you here. Enjoy! Read more...

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  • Bonnie

    Can you use cottage cheese instead of farmers cheese?

    · Reply
    • If you use cottage cheese I would rinse it in a colander, then set it over a paper towel to let it dry before using in the recipe.

      · Reply
    • Jo

      I’ve seen Donut recipes that call for Ricotta Cheese or Farmers Cheese. I know you asked about Cottage Cheese, but I thought I’d mention the Ricotta in case that helps ya out.

      · Reply
  • Who doesn’t love donuts?! Can’t wait to make these!

    · Reply

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