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Donuts are one of the best treats to make at home. They’re simple, addicting, and require ingredients you already have in your pantry. It all comes down to the dough.

Accordingly, using the proper flour to make your donuts is crucial. While you can go for all-purpose flour, if you want your donuts to be indistinguishable from store-bought ones, go for flour with high-protein content, like bread flour.

In this guide, I’ll tell you how to make donuts with bread flour and how this simple ingredient will completely change the dessert’s texture. Let’s dive in!

Can You Make Donuts With Bread Flour?

Bread flour is a great option for making classic donuts. You can use bread flour on its own or mix it with all-purpose flour to get the balance of your liking.

Flour is the key to the unique texture of donuts. The exterior is perfectly crispy, while the interior is fluffy and chewy.

To achieve the ideal donut texture, you must first understand the science behind it all!

Well, donuts hold their shape through gluten. This means you need flour with enough protein, to create a strong dough that can trap air and keep its shape when baked or fried.

All-purpose flour also has a moderate amount of gluten, so your donuts will still have a mouthwatering consistency. That said, each type of flour bakes differently.

Bread Flour vs. All-Purpose Flour

Your choice of all-purpose vs. bread flour ultimately depends on your taste. The main distinction between the two is the texture.

Bread flour has 11 to 13% protein content, compared to all-purpose flour which has 9 to 10%. The difference might seem insignificant, but it makes a major difference in the texture.

Since bread flour has more protein, this results in more gluten formation. In turn, the resulting texture is denser than that of all-purpose flour.

The density is also affected by the preparation method. If you’re frying the donuts, they’ll be fluffier, with a crispier exterior.

They might also lose their shape due to the amount of oil. In this case, using bread flour is a better option, especially for beginners.

Alternatively, for softer donuts, or if you’re making cake donuts, all-purpose flour would be perfect.

Lastly, if you want the best of both worlds, you should try mixing bread and all-purpose flour. There isn’t one correct ratio. Instead, it’s best to experiment till you reach your desired texture and flavor.

How to Make Donuts With Bread Flour

Making donuts at home can be daunting, but it’s incredibly simple. In particular, using bread flour can be a life-saver, as the high protein content will ensure the donuts hold their shape.

If you already have a favorite donut recipe using all-purpose flour, there’s no need to search for a new one! Just replace the flour with bread flour in the same ratio, and you’ll get chewy, crispy donuts that are just as delicious.

Not sure how to make donuts with bread flour? Just follow this easy recipe:

Ingredients

For the dough:

4 cups bread flour
1 cup warm milk
2 teaspoons instant yeast
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
⅓ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
⅓ cup melted, unsalted butter

For the glaze:

2 cups Confectioners sugar
⅓ cup whole milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

First, combine the milk, yeast, and a tablespoon of sugar. Then, cover the mixture and allow the yeast to activate for about 10 minutes.
After the yeast gets foamy and frothy, add the sugar, eggs, butter, vanilla, salt, and half of the flour.
Mix the ingredients thoroughly with a spatula or beat with a stand mixer for a minute.
Next, add the remaining amount of flour, and keep mixing the dough on medium speed. The dough should pull away from the bowl but still be sticky.
After getting the desired texture, knead for an additional ten minutes. The dough should be soft or pass the windowpane test.
Grease a bowl with olive oil, and allow the dough to rise for at least two hours, doubling in size.
To make the donuts, shape the dough using a rolling pin and a donut cutter. Let the donuts rest for an additional 5 minutes.
Lastly, fry your donuts on medium heat, cooking for a minute on each side.
Dip the warm donuts in the glaze, or decorate as you please!

Final Thoughts

If you’re wondering how to make donuts with bread flour, you can substitute the all-purpose flour in your favorite donut recipe with bread flour.

In fact, bread flour is perfect for donuts due to the high amount of protein. This results in gluten formation, making the inside of the donuts chewy.

What’s more, if you’re worried about the donuts holding their shape, bread flour dough makes the donuts incredibly sturdy. So, they won’t break even when deep frying.

Sarah Bridenstine

Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.