Light and Fluffy Glazed Sourdough Donut Recipe

Light and fluffy glazed sourdough donuts are the BEST morning treat (or any-time-of-day treat!) and they’re so fun to make!

I love making homemade donuts… there’s something extra-special about it and so much fun for the whole family, and not to mention, delicious!

Light and Fluffy Glazed Sourdough Donut Recipe

Have you ever thought about making your own donuts!? Ok, it is so much fun. It’s one of my favorite “fancy” weekend treats to make for the whole family, and this version is perfect if you’re nurturing a sourdough starter! If you don’t have a starter but want one, here’s a post all about how to get started and make your own sourdough starter! And if you don’t have or want a starter, I have another homemade donut recipe that’s just as simple as this one. Find that here!

Donuts just add happiness to everything. And while you might think they’re tough to make, they really are straightforward! These ones do take some time, though, because you need to wait for the dough to rise twice. Make sure you account for that when you make them… If you get up early on a weekend morning, you’ll have them in time for a late brunch! Perfection! They are so soft, light, and fluffy with the most heavenly glaze that you’ll love and want to make again and again!

Sourdough Glazed Donut Ingredients:

You need a handful of key ingredients to make sourdough donuts, namely: an active sourdough starter! Here’s what else you need:

Milk: Milk adds a nice creaminess to the donut dough.

Sugar: Sugar gives the donuts a kick of sweetness.

Butter: Butter helps to make the donut flavor rich and also helps the dough to be less sticky.

Sourdough starter: This is essential for sourdough donuts! Make sure yours is active and bubbly.

Salt: Salt helps to balance and bring out the flavors.

Eggs: Eggs contribute to helping the donuts puff up and rise.

Flour: Flour is the essential binder for the dough.

Vegetable or canola oil: You’ll fry the donuts in a few quarts of hot oil.

Glaze ingredients: The glaze is simply made of butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk!

How to Make Glazed Sourdough Donuts:

Sourdough donuts take some time, but they’re so easy and fun to make, and definitely worth the time!

1. Heat the milk, sugar, and butter in a microwave-safe container, just until the milk is warm and the butter is melted.
2. Add the milk mixture, the sourdough starter, salt, 2 eggs, and 2 cups of flour to the bowl of your stand mixer.
3. Mix with the dough hook on low speed; mix on medium-low speed to knead very well for 4 to 5 minutes.
4. Let dough rest for 10 minutes in the bowl.
5. Add about 1/3 cup flour to the mixture; let the machine knead the mixture for another 4 to 5 minutes.
6. Turn the very soft dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead by hand until the dough is no longer sticky.
7. Lightly grease the mixing bowl; return the dough to the bowl.
8. Cover the dough with a damp kitchen towel; let it rise for 3 to 6 hours at room temperature.
9. Gently remove the dough from the bowl onto a lightly floured work surface.
10. Roll dough so that it’s ½-inch thick.
11. Cut out your donuts and donut holes.
12. Place the donuts on a baking sheet that is sprayed with cooking spray.
13. Re-roll any remaining dough; repeat until you’ve cut all of the dough into donuts.
14. Cover the baking sheets with damp kitchen towels; let them rest in a warm spot for 1 to 3 hours.
15. Preheat oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pan over medium to medium-high heat.
16. Make your glaze by melting the butter in a medium bowl. Add the vanilla and stir to combine. Add the powdered sugar and stir to form a thick paste. Thin out the paste with milk, one tablespoon at a time.
17. Add the donuts to the hot oil; fry until golden-brown, about 1 1/2 minutes per side.
18. Use a slotted spoon to remove the donuts from the hot oil; place them on a paper towel-lined baking sheet.
19. Dip the hot donuts in the glaze, and enjoy right away.

Tips for The Best Sourdough Donuts:

I love how these sourdough donuts turn out! Keep these tips in mind when you give them a try:

• Don’t over-heat the milk and butter: If they’re too hot, it’ll kill the yeast in the sourdough starter, and the donuts won’t rise. It should just be warm to the touch but not hot.
• Glaze both sides of the donuts: This is personal preference, but I think these donuts are best if you dip both sides in the glaze to cover the whole thing!
• Eat fresh: There’s nothing better than hot, fresh donuts. They just taste better. Eat them fresh!

How to Store Sourdough Donuts:

These really don’t store well and taste way better fresh. However, if you don’t polish off your batch, I recommend storing them in a parchment-lined, airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. I wouldn’t recommend reheating them unless it’s a super quick pop in the microwave. Anything longer will melt off the glaze!

Try these amazing sourdough recipes:

• Sourdough Waffles
• Sourdough Biscuits
• Sourdough Bread Troubleshooting Guide
• Soft Sourdough Sandwich Bread
• Sourdough Pizza Crust
• Herb and Garlic Sourdough Crackers

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Sourdough donuts are such a fun recipe that yields the lightest, fluffiest, most melt-in-your-mouth donuts that you and your family will adore!