Heart Shaped Donuts Recipe
Making these heart shaped donuts at home is surprisingly simple. With a soft, pillowy dough and a quick fry or bake, you can have a tray full of adorable Valentine donuts ready in under an hour.
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- Whisk
- Measuring Cups & Spoons
- Rolling Pin
- Heart-shaped cookie cutter
- Deep-frying pan or pot
- Slotted spoon
- Cooling Rack
- Small bowl & spoon
Ingredients
For the Donuts:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 packet 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup warm milk about 110°F/43°C
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Oil for frying vegetable or canola works best
For the Glaze & Toppings:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 –3 tbsp milk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Sprinkles chocolate chips, or crushed nuts for decorating
Instructions
Activate the Yeast
- Warm your milk to about 110°F (43°C). It should feel pleasantly warm, not hot.
- In a small bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the warm milk and add 1 tsp of sugar.
- Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until it becomes frothy.
- Pro Tip: If your yeast doesn’t foam, it might be old—don’t skip this step or your donuts won’t rise properly!
Make the Dough
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, remaining sugar, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, softened butter, and vanilla extract.
- Pour the yeast mixture and the egg mixture into the dry ingredients.
- Stir until a sticky dough forms.
Knead the Dough
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface.
- Knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Pro Tip: If the dough is too sticky, sprinkle a little flour at a time—too much flour will make the donuts dense.
Let the Dough Rise
- Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap.
- Let it rise in a warm, draft-free spot for 1–2 hours, or until it doubles in size.
- Pro Tip: I like to preheat the oven to 150°F (65°C) and turn it off, then place the dough inside for a consistent warm rise.
Shape the Donuts
- Punch down the dough gently to release air.
- Roll the dough out to about ½-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.
- Use your heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out donuts.
- Re-roll the scraps and continue cutting until all dough is used.
Fry the Donuts
- Heat oil in a deep pan to 350°F (175°C).
- Carefully place donuts into the hot oil, a few at a time, avoiding overcrowding.
- Fry each side for 1–2 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a cooling rack lined with paper towels.
- Pro Tip: Keep a close eye on the temperature—too hot and the donuts will burn outside while staying raw inside.
Prepare the Glaze
- In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Adjust the milk a little at a time for your desired consistency.
Decorate the Donuts
- Dip the warm donuts into the glaze or drizzle it on top with a spoon.
- Sprinkle with decorations like sprinkles, chocolate chips, or crushed nuts before the glaze sets.
- Pro Tip: Work quickly while the glaze is still wet for the toppings to stick perfectly.
Notes
Nutritional Value (Per Donut – Approximate)
- Calories: 260 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
- Sugar: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Sodium: 180 mg