Description
Homemade cherry doughnut holes offer a delightful twist on classic pastry treats. Sweet spheres of fried dough combine tart cherry glaze with delicate powdered sugar coating, inviting you to savor each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tsps baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ⅓ cup (65 g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup (180 ml) milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup (100 g) chopped maraschino cherries or cherry pie filling
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsps milk
- ½ tsp almond or vanilla extract (optional)
- Extra chopped cherries or sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Oil Preparation: Heat vegetable oil in a deep saucepan or fryer to a precise 350F (175C), maintaining consistent temperature for uniform frying.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: Whisk flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large mixing bowl until thoroughly combined, creating a smooth dry base.
- Wet Component Blending: Combine egg, milk, vanilla extract, and melted butter in a separate bowl, whisking until achieving a homogeneous mixture.
- Dough Formation: Delicately incorporate wet and dry ingredients, minimizing mixing, then gently fold in chopped cherries to distribute evenly throughout the dough.
- Frying Process: Using a small cookie scoop, portion uniform dough balls and carefully drop them into hot oil in small batches, ensuring temperature stability.
- Cooking and Browning: Rotate doughnut holes during frying, monitoring their transformation until a rich golden-brown exterior develops, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Oil Drainage: Remove doughnut holes with a slotted spoon, transferring to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil and cool momentarily.
- Glaze Creation: Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and almond or vanilla extract in a shallow bowl to produce a silky, glossy coating.
- Glazing Technique: While warm, delicately immerse each doughnut hole in the glaze, ensuring complete coverage and allowing excess to drip away.
- Finishing Touch: Position glazed doughnut holes on a wire rack, permitting the coating to set and slightly harden, then optionally garnish with additional chopped cherries or sprinkles before serving.
Notes
- Maintain Precise Oil Temperature: Keep the oil consistently at 350F to prevent undercooked or greasy doughnut holes, using a reliable kitchen thermometer for accuracy.
- Minimize Dough Handling: Mix ingredients gently and sparingly to avoid tough, dense doughnut holes, stopping stirring the moment ingredients are just combined.
- Control Batch Size: Fry small quantities to preserve oil temperature, preventing overcrowding that leads to uneven cooking and soggy texture.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Swap regular flour with gluten-free alternatives, use plant-based milk and egg substitutes for vegan-friendly doughnut holes, ensuring inclusive recipe adaptation.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg