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+ servings
beignet au four

Light and Fluffy Baked Donuts

4.84 de 12 votes
Easy Oil-Free Baked sugar donuts Recipe, Soft, Light as Cotton, and Just as Delicious as Traditional Fried Doughnuts! Perfect for a guilt-free treat!
SERVING:12
COOKING TIME12 minutes
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Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: American, French
Author: Rachida

INGREDIENTS 

For 18 beignets

  • 500 g all-purpose flour (17.6 oz)
  • 10 g dry yeast or 21 g fresh yeast (0.35 oz / 0.74 oz)
  • 180 ml whole milk (6.4 oz)
  • 30 g butter (1 oz)
  • 78 g granulated sugar (2.8 oz)
  • 45 g orange blossom water (1.6 oz)
  • 2 small eggs
  • 2 pinches of salt
  • Melted butter + sugar for finishing
  • A little milk for glazing

For 10/12 beignets

  • 320 g all-purpose flour (11.3 oz)
  • 14 g fresh yeast or 5/6 g dry yeast (0.49 oz / 0.18-0.2 oz)
  • 120 ml whole milk (4.2 oz)
  • 20 g butter (0.7 oz)
  • 50 g granulated sugar (1.8 oz)
  • 30 ml orange blossom water (1 oz)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • Melted butter + granulated sugar for finishing
  • A little milk for glazing

PREPARATION

  • In a small saucepan, combine the milk, sugar and butter. Bring to the boil to melt the butter and dissolve the sugar. Do not boil.
  • Remove from heat and allow to cool.
  • Mix the dry yeast with 2 spoonfuls of orange flower water. If using fresh yeast, crumble it over the flour.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a mixing bowl, sift the flour and mix with the salt.  Add the eggs, lukewarm milk, orange flower water and yeast.
  • Knead for 4-5 minutes until the dough is elastic and smooth. It is slightly sticky. If it is very sticky, it means your flour absorbs less liquid. Add a little flour, just enough to bring the dough together into a ball. You can see its texture below.
  • Gather the dough into a ball and place in a mixing bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel.
  • Let it double in size at room temperature for 1 hour in a draft-free place.  In winter, you can heat your oven to 30°C (86°F), then turn it off and place the dough inside.
  • Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down with your hand to deflate it. Roll it on the work surface to form a smooth ball.
  • Flour the work surface and gently roll out the doughnut dough to a 1.5 cm / 0.6 inches thickness. Using a cup or cookie cutter the size you like, cut out rounds.
  • I used a 8.5 cm / 3.4 inches cookie cutter for the ones with holes and a 7.5 cm / 3 inches for the ones without holes.
  • Gently place them on the baking tray and, using a piping tip or the cap of a water bottle, make a hole in the center.
  • Rework the scraps, let the dough relax a little and roll out to form doughnuts.
  • Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rise for 30 minutes.
  • After this time, preheat oven to 190°C (375°F)
  • Place a heatproof bowl filled with water at the bottom of the oven.
  • Brush the donuts with milk using a pastry brush and bake for about twelve minutes. Keep an eye on the baking, they should develop a light golden color to prevent them from hardening and ensure they stay soft. If you cook them too long, they will dry out.
  • Take them out of the oven, brush each one with melted butter, and roll them in granulated sugar, with or without cinnamon. Place on a serving dish.
  • Once lukewarm, you can top them with a spread or jam. Enjoy with a cup of coffee!
Tried this recipe? Don't forget to tag me on @gateau_et_cuisine_rachida or #gateauetcuisinerachida!