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A plate full of fried donut bites next to a jar of burnt caramel sauce

10-Minute Fried Donut Bites With Burnt Caramel Sauce (No Yeast)

AndreeaB
These 10-Minute Fried Donut Bites are super quick and easy to make. Spiced with orange zest and cinnamon, and dipped in a delicious homemade burnt caramel sauce, these little donuts are a sweet and delicious indulgence.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 20
Calories 160 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the donuts:

  • 250 ml buttermilk (or 200 ml yogurt mixed with 50 ml milk) (approx. 1 cup)
  • 30 g melted butter (approx. 1/8 cup)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 300 g all-purpose flour (approx. 2 1/4 cups)
  • 3 tbsp caster sugar (I used unrefined caster sugar)
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • orange zest (from one orange)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg (or all-spice)
  • 700 ml frying oil (I used coconut oil) (approx. 3 1/4 cups)

For the burnt caramel sauce (optional):

  • 100 g caster sugar (I used unrefined caster sugar) (approx. 1/2 cup)
  • 150 ml double cream /heavy cream (approx. 5/8 cups)
  • 35 g butter (approx. 1/8 cup)

Instructions
 

Make the donut bites:

  • In a large frying pan, melt the coconut oil (or alternative frying oil) and bring it to about 180°C (356 °F).
  • Mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
  • In a small bowl, mix the wet ingredients. Start adding the melted butter to the buttermilk (or alternative). Make sure the melted butter has cooled off before adding it in. Mix well.
  • Add the eggs to the buttermilk and butter mixture. Mix well.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients.
  • Add the orange zest as well.
  • Mix everything together until well incorporated. Don't overmix as it will develop the gluten, resulting in a dense dough.
  • The donut batter should be thick and gooey, but not dry.
  • When your frying oil is ready, use a spoon to drop the batter into the hot oil. Don't take more than a tablespoon of batter. The smaller the donuts, the better.
  • Fry them until golden brown on all sides. This should only take a few minutes.
  • Take them out of the frying oil with a slotted spoon and lay them in a single layer on a large plate lined with kitchen paper. This should help absorb the excess oil and avoid leaving the donuts soggy and oily.
  • The donuts should be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
  • Powder them with some caster sugar.
  • Eat them while warm.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Make the burnt caramel sauce:

  • In a small heavy-bottomed pan, add the sugar and let it cook on low heat. DO NOT STIR THE SUGAR AT ALL (to avoid crystallization)
  • After a few minutes, you will start to notice a dark liquid coming through the sides of the pan. This is the sugar caramelizing. Keep an eye on the pan and leave it alone until you start to see more liquid coming through. KEEP THE HEAT ON LOW AT ALL TIMES.
  • Once the sugar is almost done caramelizing and there is only some sugar left in the center of the pan, start swirling the pan gently in circular motions. This will help cover the sugar that is left and finish the caramelization faster. SWIRL THE SUGAR GENTLY TO AVOID THE LIQUID STICKING TO THE WALLS OF THE PAN AND BURNING.
  • When all the sugar has turned into caramel, add the butter and whisk it well quickly. Don't worry if your sauce looks weird at this point. Just keep whisking.
  • Now add the heavy cream and whisk continuously. Your caramel sauce should come together nicely now.
  • Turn off the heat and set it aside to cool off a bit.
  • Pour it into your desired container and either use it for dipping the spiced donut bites in or put it in the fridge for future use. YUMMY!

Notes

Make sure your ingredients are at room temperature.
You can substitute buttermilk with sour cream or yogurt mixed with milk (follow the exact measurements in the recipe card).
Make sure you mix the wet ingredients really well before adding them to the dry ingredients. Once you add them in the flour mix, only whisk until everything is well incorporated.
To ensure your frying oil has reached the right temperature, either use a cooking thermometer or drop a pinch of flour in the oil. If the flour is sizzling, the oil is ready for frying.
The donuts will rise and puff up a bit. Turn them with the slotted spoon once golden brown on one side. Make sure all sides are well done before taking them out.

Nutrition

Serving: 36gCalories: 160kcal
Keyword 10-minute donut bites, burnt caramel sauce, buttermilk donut bites, comfort desserts, Fried donut bites, homemade fried donuts, quick and easy donuts, spiced donut bites
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