My mom and I decided to try out Ree Drummond’s doughnut recipe one Monday. We knew these homemade glazed donuts were irresistible, and just one bite confirmed it! To avoid eating the entire batch ourselves, we packed them up and took them to my brother Andy’s office in Manhattan.
Walking through the city, everyone noticed our donuts. Even street vendors stopped to ask about them. “What’s that?” one asked, and we proudly announced, “Doughnuts!” Sharing these treats brought smiles to everyone we met.
Andy and his colleagues were equally thrilled. He grabbed a donut immediately, his eyes widening with delight. Later, texts flooded in: “OMG,” “Everyone raved about them,” and “They vanished quickly!” It was clear – these Pioneer Donuts were a hit.
You absolutely need to make these Pioneer Woman donuts for your loved ones. Just be sure you have a crowd to share them with, or you might find yourself enjoying them all! There’s truly nothing better than a fresh, warm, soft, and sweet pioneer donut.
ree drummond
Ree Drummond’s Homemade Glazed Doughnuts Recipe
This recipe, inspired by The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, makes approximately 18 delicious pioneer donuts. Get ready to enjoy light, airy, and perfectly glazed homemade donuts that are sure to impress.
Doughnut Ingredients:
- 1-1/8 cup Warm Whole Milk
- ¼ cup Sugar
- 2-1/4 teaspoons Instant or Active Dry Yeast (1 package)
- 2 Large Eggs, Beaten
- 1-1/4 sticks Unsalted Butter, Melted
- 4 cups All-purpose Flour
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- Canola Oil, for frying
Glaze Ingredients:
- 3 cups Powdered Sugar
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ½ cup Cold Water or Milk
Doughnut Instructions:
- Prepare the Yeast Mixture: Ensure the milk is warm (not hot). Dissolve sugar in the warm milk. In a separate small bowl, add yeast. Pour the milk and sugar mixture over the yeast, stir gently, and let it sit for 10 minutes until foamy. This activates the yeast, crucial for light and fluffy pioneer donuts.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: Melt butter in a separate bowl, ensuring it’s not too hot. Add beaten eggs to the melted butter, stirring constantly to temper the eggs.
- Mix the Dough: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the egg and butter mixture with the yeast mixture. Mix on medium-low speed for a couple of minutes. Gradually add flour in ¼ to ½ cup increments until all flour is incorporated. Mix for five full minutes, then scrape the bowl and mix for another 30 seconds.
- First Rise (Refrigeration): Let the dough rest in the bowl for 10 minutes. Transfer to a lightly oiled bowl, coat the dough, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight. This long, cold rise develops the flavor and texture of these pioneer donuts.
Homemade Glazed Doughnuts
Frying and Glazing Instructions:
- Shape the Doughnuts: Remove dough from the refrigerator and roll it out on a lightly floured surface to ¼ to ⅓-inch thickness. Use a 3-inch cutter to cut out doughnut rounds and a 1½-inch cutter to make the holes. Place doughnuts and holes on a floured baking sheet.
- Second Rise (Proofing): Cover the doughnuts with a tea towel and let them rise in a warm place for 1 to 1 hour 15 minutes. They should become noticeably puffier and airy – this is essential for light pioneer donuts.
- Fry the Doughnuts: Heat canola oil in a large pot to 375-380°F (190-193°C). Maintain this temperature throughout frying. Gently place 1-2 doughnuts at a time into the hot oil. Fry for 1 minute per side, until golden brown. Doughnut holes fry faster, about 30 seconds per side.
- Drain Excess Oil: Remove fried pioneer donuts with a slotted spoon and place them on paper towels to drain excess oil. Flip them after a few seconds to ensure even draining.
- Glaze the Doughnuts: Whisk together glaze ingredients until smooth. Dip each donut halfway into the glaze (completely submerge doughnut holes). Place glazed pioneer donuts on a cooling rack over a cookie sheet to catch drips.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve these delicious pioneer donuts warm if possible, or at room temperature. They are perfect for sharing and are guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser!
