Fluffy Golden Custard Donuts Recipe: A Sweet Homemade Treat

Sweet aromas of cinnamon and golden custard donuts dance through my kitchen, promising pure comfort.

Memories of childhood bakery visits rush back with each tender bite.

Crisp pastry shells cradle smooth, rich custard that melts instantly.

Delicate textures contrast beautifully between flaky exterior and creamy interior.

Baking these treats feels like wrapping yourself in warm nostalgia.

Kitchen novices and experienced bakers alike can master this delightful recipe with confidence.

You will absolutely fall in love with these irresistible golden delights.

Sides For Golden Custard Donuts Recipe

  • Brew Creamy Coffee Match: Rich espresso or cappuccino cuts through the sweetness, creating a balanced flavor explosion that complements the custard's smooth texture.
  • Pair Sweet Wine Delight: Moscato d'Asti or sweet Riesling enhances the donut's vanilla notes, offering a light and refreshing accompaniment that dances with the custard's richness.
  • Create Morning Breakfast Combo: Serve alongside fresh berries or a light fruit salad to add brightness and balance the donut's decadent profile, introducing a crisp contrast to the sweet treat.
  • Select Chai Tea Experience: Warm spiced chai tea brings depth and complexity, its aromatic notes harmonizing beautifully with the custard's creamy filling and golden exterior.

How To Store Golden Custard Donuts Recipe

  • Store glazed and filled donuts in an airtight container lined with paper towels. Refrigerate for up to 2 days to maintain freshness and prevent custard from spoiling quickly.
  • Wrap individual donuts tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for maximum 1 month to preserve texture and flavor. Label with date for tracking.
  • Keep donuts at room temperature for 6-8 hours maximum. Place on a plate covered loosely with plastic wrap to prevent drying out. Best consumed within same day of preparation.
  • Warm refrigerated donuts in microwave for 10-15 seconds on low power.

Golden Custard Donuts Recipe Questions

  • Can I make the donut batter ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the batter up to 24 hours in advance. Cover and refrigerate it, then bring to room temperature before frying.

  • What kind of oil works best for frying donuts?

Vegetable oil or canola oil are ideal because they have high smoke points and neutral flavors, ensuring crispy and clean-tasting donuts.

  • How do I know when the donuts are perfectly cooked?

They should be golden brown on the outside and have a light, fluffy texture inside. The color is key – a deep golden hue indicates they’re done.

  • Can I use store-bought custard for filling?

Absolutely! While homemade custard is great, good-quality store-bought custard works perfectly and saves time in preparation.

Golden Custard Donuts Recipe: What Makes Them Great

  • Craft with Ease: Simple ingredients and straightforward steps make this recipe approachable for home bakers of all skill levels.
  • Crowd-Pleasing Treat: These golden custard donuts bring pure joy to family gatherings, brunches, and dessert moments that call for something special.
  • Quick Delicious Reward: Prepare these donuts in minimal time, transforming basic pantry ingredients into a decadent sweet that feels like a bakery-quality indulgence.
  • Customizable Delight: Experiment with different glaze flavors or add sprinkles to make these donuts uniquely yours, perfect for personalizing your dessert experience.

Golden Custard Donuts Recipe Must-Have Items

Dry Ingredients:
  • Flour: A key ingredient that provides structure to the donuts.
  • Sugar: Adds sweetness to the donut batter.
  • Baking Powder: Helps the donuts rise and become light and fluffy.
  • Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the donuts.
Wet Ingredients:
  • Milk: Provides moisture and helps bind the ingredients together.
  • Egg: Adds richness and helps create a tender texture.
  • Vanilla Extract: Brings a warm, sweet flavor to the donut batter.
Coating and Filling:
  • Powdered Sugar, Milk, Vanilla Extract: Combines to create a smooth, sweet glaze for coating the donuts.
  • Custard Filling: A creamy, rich filling that adds an extra layer of flavor and indulgence to the donuts.
Frying Ingredient:
  • Oil: Used for deep-frying the donuts to achieve a golden brown, crispy exterior.

How To Prepare Golden Custard Donuts Recipe

Step 1: Prepare Dry Ingredients

Grab a spacious mixing bowl and combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk these ingredients together until they’re evenly blended, creating a smooth dry mixture.

Step 2: Create Batter

Pour in milk, crack an egg, and add vanilla extract. Stir everything thoroughly until the batter becomes completely smooth and free of lumps.

Step 3: Heat Cooking Oil

Set up a deep fryer or large pot, warming the oil to a precise 350F (180C). Use a thermometer to ensure the correct temperature for perfect frying.

Step 4: Fry Donut Batter

Carefully drop small spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil. Fry each batch until they transform into a beautiful golden brown color, which typically takes 2-3 minutes per side.

Step 5: Drain Excess Oil

Transfer the freshly fried donuts onto a paper towel-lined rack. This helps absorb any extra oil and keeps the donuts crisp.

Step 6: Whip Up Glaze

In a separate bowl, whisk together:
  • Powdered sugar
  • Milk
  • Vanilla extract

Blend until the glaze reaches a smooth, silky consistency.

Step 7: Glaze Donuts

Dip each donut into the prepared glaze, allowing excess to drip off. Place them on a cooling rack to set.

Step 8: Fill with Creamy Custard

Load custard into a piping bag. Carefully inject the center of each donut with the luscious filling.

Step 9: Serve and Enjoy

Plate your golden custard donuts and serve immediately while they’re warm and fresh.

Handy Ideas For Golden Custard Donuts Recipe

  • Use room temperature ingredients for smoother batter consistency and even mixing.
  • Maintain consistent oil temperature around 350F to prevent donuts from absorbing excess oil or burning.
  • Strain custard filling through a fine-mesh sieve for ultra-smooth texture before piping into donuts.
  • Test oil readiness by dropping a small amount of batter – it should sizzle and rise immediately without burning.
  • Allow donuts to cool completely before filling to prevent custard from melting and ensure clean piping.

Switch Up Golden Custard Donuts Recipe

  • Chocolate-Filled Donuts: Replace vanilla custard with rich chocolate cream for an indulgent chocolate lover's version.
  • Fruit-Infused Donuts: Swap traditional custard with fresh raspberry or strawberry cream for a vibrant, fruity flavor profile.
  • Maple Bacon Donuts: Top glazed donuts with crispy bacon bits and drizzle maple syrup for a sweet and savory combination.
  • Nutella Swirl Donuts: Inject Nutella instead of custard and sprinkle crushed hazelnuts on top for extra crunch and chocolate intensity.
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Golden Custard Donuts Recipe


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4.6 from 38 reviews

  • Total Time: 16-18 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x

Description

Indulgent golden custard donuts bring French patisserie magic right to home kitchens, promising sweet comfort with each delicate bite. Pillowy dough filled with silky vanilla custard creates a delightful dessert you’ll crave again and again.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • Custard filling (store-bought or homemade)

Leavening and Seasoning:

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Coating and Frying:

  • Oil for frying
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl, ensuring an even distribution of flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  2. Pour milk into the dry mixture, crack in the egg, and add vanilla extract. Whisk thoroughly until a smooth, lump-free batter forms.
  3. Prepare a deep fryer or heavy pot, heating oil to precisely 350F (180C) for optimal frying temperature.
  4. Using a spoon or small scoop, carefully drop batter portions into the sizzling oil, maintaining consistent size for even cooking.
  5. Fry donuts until they develop a rich golden-brown exterior, approximately 2-3 minutes per side, rotating to ensure uniform coloration.
  6. Transfer fried donuts onto a paper towel-lined rack, allowing excess oil to drain and preventing sogginess.
  7. Create a glossy glaze by whisking powdered sugar with milk and vanilla extract until silky and well-integrated.
  8. Dunk each cooled donut into the prepared glaze, ensuring complete coverage and allowing excess to drip off.
  9. Load custard into a piping bag fitted with a narrow tip, then gently insert and fill the center of each glazed donut.
  10. Serve immediately and savor the delectable golden custard donuts while fresh and warm.

Notes

  • Ensure oil temperature stays consistent at 350F to prevent donuts from becoming greasy or undercooked.
  • Use a thermometer for precise oil monitoring during frying to achieve perfect golden-brown color.
  • Pipe custard carefully and slowly to avoid overfilling or bursting the delicate donut shells.
  • Allow donuts to cool slightly before glazing to prevent the sugar coating from sliding off or becoming too thin.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 6-8 minutes
  • Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
  • Method: Frying
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 8
  • Calories: 280 kcal
  • Sugar: 18 g
  • Sodium: 180 mg
  • Fat: 14 g
  • Saturated Fat: 3 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 32 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 5 g
  • Cholesterol: 55 mg
Samantha Lee

Samantha Lee

Recipe Developer & Content Creator

Expertise

Plant-based and vegetarian recipes, Recipe testing and development, Food blogging and digital content creation, Culinary education and workshops​

Education

Oregon Culinary Institute (Portland, OR)

  • Program: Diploma in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Emphasized plant-based cooking, global cuisines, and recipe testing methodologies.​

Samantha sees cooking like painting, every fresh herb, every juicy tomato, a new splash of color on a canvas.
After graduating from Oregon Culinary Institute, she blended her love of global cuisines and plant-based cooking into recipes that feel fresh, fearless, and full of heart.
Samantha’s kitchen is a place where comfort food gets a modern remix and every meal feels like a little adventure. When she’s not cooking, she’s out exploring farmers’ markets, sketching new recipe ideas, or getting her hands dirty in a community garden.

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