This is my version of the sugar-coated donuts found at Chinese-American buffets! They are soft and fluffy and incredibly easy to make with simple pantry ingredients. I didnโt use any yeast, but I still found them to be super light and fluffy.
Can't get enough of Chinese buffet desserts? Try my jello recipe next!
I think there must be some kind of underground network amongst all the buffets in North America because every buffet I go to always has the exact same food items. I can't tell if they all share the recipes or if they get a lot of the items in bulk from the same supplier.
One of the things I always see is the sugar-coated donuts. They are my absolute favorite. They are soft and fluffy and absolutely to die for. Growing up, I remember stuffing myself with these until my stomach almost exploded. Fun fact: I would dip the donuts in the leftover sauces on my plate (like from the sweet and sour pork). My parents thought it was disgusting.
Its been ages since i went to a real Chinese buffet. I live in Vancouver, and we don't really have them around here. It's not really popular amongst the locals because there are so many other good, authentic Chinese places. I've been having a craving for the donuts, so I decided to try making my own version at home. They came out surprisingly well! Maybe just a little bit less fluffy than the ones I remember, but I think they still tasted really good.
Ingredients
The ingredient list is extremely common pantry ingredients, so no excuses for not making this. Youโll need flour, milk, one egg, oil, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Because there is no yeast, I use a bit more baking powder so the inside gets more airy and fluffy.
How to make it
STEP 1. Combine the dry and wet ingredients separately, then combine them together to make the dough. Knead for 30-60 seconds until you have a well-combined dough (but not necessarily smooth). You do not want to overwork the dough because it already has some bubbles inside it from the baking powder.
STEP 2. Use a rolling pin to flatten the dough about 8 inches wide.
STEP 3: Use a cookie cutter to cut the dough into small circles. Transfer to a baking sheet for holding.
STEP 4. Deep-fry the donuts for 2-3 minutes on each side. I recommend keeping the oil around 325F. I found this is the perfect temperature to cook the inside all the way through without burning the outside.
STEP 5. Immediately transfer to the plate of sugar and coat evenly.
๐ Recipe
Chinese Buffet Donuts
Ingredients
- 2 ยฝ cups all-purpose flour
- ยผ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ยผ teaspoon salt
- โ cup milk
- ยผ cup oil
- 1 large egg
- sugar (about ยฝ cup for coating the donuts)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar baking power, and salt.
- In a liquid measuring cup, add the milk, oil, and egg. Whisk until well combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms. Knead the dough for 30-60 seconds until it's well combined. Be careful not to overwork the dough since the baking powder has added some air to it, which we don't want to push out.
- Roll the dough into a ยพ-inch thick rectangle. Cut into circles and set aside on a baking sheet.
- Pour ยฝ cup of sugar into a shallow dish and set aside.
- When you're ready, heat 1 inch of oil to 325ยฐF in a Dutch oven or pot. Add the pieces of dough and cook each side for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Transfer to the plate of sugar and coat evenly. Enjoy!
Leave a Reply