Description

These Bavarian Cream Donuts are soft, pillowy yeast-raised donuts filled with a rich vanilla custard and finished with powdered sugar or chocolate glaze. They’re bakery-style perfection and worth every bite!

Ingredients

Scale

For the Donut Dough:

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 packet (2 ¼ tsp) active dry yeast
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup warm milk (110°F or 43°C)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Oil for frying

For the Bavarian Cream Filling:

1 cup whole milk
2 egg yolks
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup heavy whipping cream, whipped

For Topping:

Powdered sugar or melted chocolate for glazing

Instructions

1. Make the Donut Dough:

In a bowl, whisk together warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy. Add melted butter, egg, and vanilla, then mix in flour and salt until a dough forms. Knead for 8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Cover and let rise for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

2. Prepare the Bavarian Cream:

Heat milk in a saucepan until warm. In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch. Slowly pour the warm milk into the egg mixture while whisking. Return to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring until thickened. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, and let cool. Once chilled, fold in whipped cream for a light texture.

3. Shape & Fry the Donuts:

Roll out the dough to ½-inch thick and cut circles using a 3-inch round cutter. Place on a lined tray, cover, and let rise for 30 minutes. Heat oil to 350°F (175°C) and fry donuts for 1-2 minutes per side until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

4. Fill the Donuts:

Once cooled, poke a hole in each donut and pipe in the Bavarian cream using a piping bag with a round tip.

5. Add the Finishing Touches:

Dust with powdered sugar or dip in melted chocolate for a classic bakery-style look.

Notes

For extra vanilla flavor, add vanilla bean paste to the cream.
Make it chocolate-filled by adding melted chocolate to the custard.
For an easier version, use store-bought custard instead of making Bavarian cream

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes

Nutrition

Calories: ~200-220 calories