Fluffy Donuts (Strawberry Jam)

Indulge in the soft, sweet, and fluffy goodness of these homemade strawberry-filed Donuts!

Out of all the dessert recipes I have cooked for my kids, these donuts are definitely on top of their favorites. It’s the perfect recipe to cook for your entire family.

With this recipe, you won’t have to buy donuts in the bakery because you can make them right in your kitchen. Unleash the inner pastry chef in you with this easy homemade donut recipe!

These are not just ordinary fresh donuts because you will infuse them with fruity and sweet strawberry jam filling. Every bite will surely taste like a kiss from heaven!

How to Make Donuts 

Once you try this recipe, you will realize how easy it is to make donuts at home. I will teach you how to make the donuts and the filling for a two-in-one recipe!

Ingredients

What ingredients do you need to make strawberry filling and homemade donuts?

Strawberry Filling

Making your own strawberry filling couldn’t be simpler!

Strawberry

There are many donut fillings you can make, but strawberries are some of the best fruits to use. The strawberries have a sweet, fruity, and tarty flavor to bring out the best in the donuts.

Moreover, these fruits have a vibrant red color that will make the dessert appealing. In fact, these berries can also add a floral and saccharine aroma to the filling.

According to Healthline, strawberries are good for heart health and cancer prevention. They can also boost immunity, brain function, and gut health.

Once they have been transformed into a jam, they’ll turn into a rich, sweet, and smooth texture. I love using strawberries for Strawberry Ice Cream Bars, Strawberry Banana Milkshake, and Banana Strawberry Milkshake Popsicles.

Sugar

Balance the sweetness of the strawberry filling with sugar. Once you cook it with the berries, the sugar will give the jam a caramelized and thick consistency.

It tones down any sourness of the strawberries for the right level of sweetness. The sugar can also serve as a preservative for the jam so that you can use it for more recipes.

Lemon juice

Tasting Table suggests cooking the jam with lemon juice to give it a jam-like consistency. The lemon juice will also intensify the acidity of the strawberries for better flavor.

Additionally, it can keep the strawberries fresh for long-term use of the jam. I suggest using fresh lemon juice, but you can also try bottled lemon juice.

Donuts

Now, let’s talk about everything you will need for the donuts.

Plain flour

When it comes to puff pastry, you need to use plain flour as the base for the dough. The gluten from the flour will make the donuts fluffy, light, and airy inside.

It will also evenly distribute the ingredients for well-formed and seasoned donuts. You can also use plain flour for baked goods or deep-fried food.

I can guarantee you that your donuts will have the best quality with flour. It’s always on my grocery list because I also use it to cook Chin Chin, Nigerian Egg Rolls, and Sausage Rolls!

Skimmed milk powder

Give your donuts a sweet and milky flavor with skimmed milk powder. In fact, this powder can also help with the golden brown color of the donuts. It can even improve the crust of the donuts for a slight crispiness.

I also use it for other puff pastry recipes such as Coconut Buns, Coconut Chin Chin, and Egg Rolls!

Sugar

Your donuts will surely have an enriched flavor once you add the sugar. Not only does it add sweetness, but it also gives the dessert a perfectly textured and colored crust.

Aside from adding it to the dough, you will also need sugar to garnish the donuts.

Yeast

Achieve the fluffiest donuts by adding yeast to your dough. It’s a powerful leavening agent that will react with the flour to expand the donuts as it cooks.

Dry yeast creates an airy and velvety appearance and texture in the donut. You can also use it for Puff Puff, Air Fryer Bread, and Pizza Margherita.

Butter 

It won’t be the best donut recipe without butter. The butter will give the donuts a smooth and glazed quality that you will surely love.

Moreover, it can give the donuts a fragrant aroma and rich flavor that will keep you wanting more.

Egg 

Along with yeast, use egg as a leavening agent for airy and puffy donuts. The egg can also help give the dish light and soft crumbs once you cut it into the pastry.

It will also be the wet ingredient to bind everything together for a well-formed dough.

Seasoning

Adding sugar to the dough will not be enough, so make sure to season it with salt and nutmeg for an even better flavor. These condiments can balance the diverse palette of the donuts. 

Sunflower oil

Frying donuts can take time, so use sunflower oil or other oils with high smoke points to fry them. The oil will surely help give the donuts a crispy yet soft texture while bringing out the sweet flavors.

Even the ingredients sound easy enough, right? Well, it’s about to be fun because we’re going to be the ultimate indulgent dessert, No-Bake Strawberry Jam Donuts! 

Directions

Come and make strawberry jam and donuts with me!

Strawberry jam

1. In a frying pan, combine chopped strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice.
2. Mix them together with a spatula until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Then, let the mixture stand for an hour.
4. Once you notice juices coming out, turn on the heat of the stove. 
5. Cook the jam on medium-low fire for about 30 minutes or until it thickens.
6. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
7. Use a masher to achieve a smooth and thick consistency.
8. Pour this into a glass jar or container and set it aside. 

Donuts

1. Mix plain flour, dried skimmed milk, sugar, nutmeg, and salt in a bowl.
2. Add yeast and stir with a spatula.
3. Incorporate the egg and water.
4. Mash them together using your hands until they form a dough. 
5. Then, add butter and knead for ten minutes or until smooth.
6. On a clean surface or silicone mat, slightly flatten the dough.
7. Cut it into 12 pieces using a dough cutter.
8. Roll each dough piece into small tight buns.
9. Place them on a lined tray and lightly coat them in flour. 
10. Use a dough scraper or rolling pin to flatten the dough buns.
11. Place them back on the lined tray and cover them with cling film and a kitchen towel.
12. Leave for an hour or until the dough doubles in size.

Deep frying time!

1. In a pan, pour sunflower oil and allow it to heat.
2. Cook the donuts in a pan in batches.
3. Flip and fry until golden on both sides.
4. Once cooked on both sides, place them on a lined plate.
5. In a bowl, put sugar, and toss the donuts to coat them.
6. Place them back on the lined tray.
7. Fill a piping bag with strawberry jam.
8. Make a hole in the donuts using a skewer or knife.
9. Pipe the jam into the doughnut.
10. Once done, serve the donuts for snacks or desserts!

Wasn’t that the easiest donut recipe you have tried? Just imagine biting into the perfectly cooked and seasoned donut and the rich strawberry jam bursting with tremendous flavor and texture!

Tips

Strawberries

Buying strawberries

• According to Ohio State University Extension, strawberries must be in bright red color with firm yet plump flesh. 
• The caps should also be fresh and green in color.
• Small to medium-sized strawberries are usually sweeter and juicier than larger ones. 

Storing strawberries

• Strawberries will keep well for up to two days at room temperature.
• Refrigerating them unwashed can further keep them fresh for up to a week.
• Strawberries should only be washed or rinsed when you’re about to use them.
• They can also be frozen in freezer bags to last up to weeks.

Dough ingredients

Basic dough elements such as plain flour, yeast, and skimmed milk powder can be stored in their original packaging. You can also transfer them into containers. 

Put labels on the packages to check for freshness. Place them in cool and dry areas of your kitchen. 

Storing yeasted dough

At room temperature, the shelf life of yeasted dough depends on the amount of yeast you use and the temperature of the room.

The more yeast you use, the faster it will rise. But, the colder the temperature, the slower it will leaven. 

Donuts Recipe Variations

One of the best things about this recipe is that you can customize the filling! Aside from strawberry jam, you can use chocolate, vanilla, and other fruit jams. You can make the donut alone and pair it with ice cream or dips. 

Aside from plain flour with yeast, you can also use flour with baking powder or self-raising flour. There are also vegan sugar options you can try, such as caster sugar.

Meanwhile, the butter can be substituted with vegan margarine for a similar effect. Instead of powdered milk, soy milk or almond milk can also be a good alternative.

Alternative Ways to Make Donuts

Air fryer

1. Grease the air-fryer basket with oil or butter.
2. Cook the dough at 220°C for about four minutes or until golden brown.
3. Then, flip it over to the other side for even browning.
4. Cook them in batches.

Oven

1. Line the baking tray and distribute the dough.
2. Preheat the oven and bake the donut at 180°C for 13 minutes.
3. Once golden brown, rotate it to bake the other side as well.

Recommended Tools

• Piping bag: Fill the donuts with the jam using a piping bag. 
• Dough cutter & scraper: Utilize this to flatten and cut the dough into pieces. 
• Spatula: Combine the ingredients using a spatula
• Frying pan: Cook the strawberry jam and donuts in a pan.
• Glass jar: Store the strawberry jam in airtight glass jars. 
• Glass bowl: Prepare the ingredients in bowls.
• Palette knife: Make a hole in the donut for the filling. 
• Masher: Puree the strawberry jam with a masher.
• Silicone mat: You can knead the dough on a silicone mat.
• Rolling pin: Roll out the dough with a rolling pin.
• Cling film: Cover the dough with cling film to leaven.
• Kitchen towel: Place it over the cling film to give the dough more rise.
• Skewer: Poke a hole in the donut for the filling.

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How to Serve Donuts

Donuts are best served as snacks or desserts, or breakfast. You can pair it with other fruits to balance the sweetness. Alternatively, you can use it as a glaze instead of piping in the strawberry jam. 

It is not suggested for breakfast on its own because it cannot supply you with the complete nutrients you will need for the day. Start your day with a full meal and have a donut for dessert instead. 

Here are also dishes you can serve to pair with these recipes:

• Vanilla Ice Cream
• Frozen Yogurt
• Chocolate Almond Milk
• Pineapple Pomegranate Juice
• Fruit Smoothie
• Fruit Popsicles
• Peanut Butter Banana Milkshake

Storage Tips

• At room temperature: Donuts without filling can last up to two days at room temperature. On the other hand, piped donuts should be eaten within a few hours. 

Frequently Asked Questions