Donut Recipes

Donut Recipes

Is it doughnuts or donuts? Call them what you will, these little gems of hot dough, sprinkled with confections and fried to a golden brown are a breakfast staple in homes and offices all over the planet. So, just where did these little nuts of dough originate?

As with many of our most beloved treats, the donut originated in Europe and came to America via European immigrants in the 1800s. Originally, the Dutch called it the "olykoek," which turned out to be a simple delight Dutch immigrants created by frying leftover bits of bread dough in hot oil. The origin of the name is more difficult to determine, though. Some people think the Dutch twisted their dough into knots before they fried it, and these turned into "dough knots," and then the term we know and love today. Others aren't so sure, and think it had to do with pressing nuts into the center of the rounds, hence "dough nuts." Wherever the name originates, there's no controversy around the popularity of these sweet treats, and the good news is, they really aren't that difficult to whip up in the home kitchen!

Donut Tips

You can add just about any fruit or vegetable, whole or puree, to donuts for additional flavor, texture, and color. Try pumpkin or applesauce in the fall, and citrus or blueberries in the spring or summer. Donuts are usually fried, but you can find some recipes that requiring baking, too, for lower fat content. Special donut baking pans are available at cooking stores and online. Yeast in the dough creates lighter "raised" donuts, while dough without yeast creates a cake-type variety.

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