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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Sour Cream Doughnuts

breakfast· doughnuts and sweet rolls· Easter· Holiday Favorites· pastries
June 18, 2018

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Sour Cream Doughnuts – Dense and crispy on the outside, moist and cakey on the inside, these sour cream doughnuts are your favorite cake doughnuts that are ready in half the time as yeast doughnuts!

Sour Cream Doughnuts and doughnut holes

Doughnuts have always been a weakness of mine. Some of my happiest memories are when my dad would surprise us with a dozen doughnuts on a random Saturday morning. I’d almost always go for the yeast doughnut with chocolate icing.

But now, as an adult, I’ve gotten the chance to experience so many more kinds of doughnuts: powdered, cinnamon, cake, French crullers, jelly-filled, and my latest favorite, sour cream doughnuts.

Sour cream doughnuts – also known as old-fashioned doughnuts- are known for being the least dainty of the doughnut family. They’re bulky doughnuts that are firm on the outside but oh-so-moist on the inside. I’ve had them at a few coffee shops before and liked them, but it wasn’t until I had them at a local bakery that I truly fell in love. My husband works right by the bakery and loves to surprise me with them every once in a while. Do I have a great man or what?!

The best thing about these doughnuts is the combination of textures. Crunchy yet chewy, dense yet moist. It’s like having many doughnuts in one. Oh and let’s not forget the flavor – these doughnuts are made with hints of spice from nutmeg and cinnamon that are subtle enough that you probably won’t notice it immediately but you know there’s something different going on.

Alright…now that you know what sour cream doughnuts are all about, here is my homemade version that I make whenever I need my fix. Check out my Sour Cream Doughnuts!

Sour Cream Doughnuts and doughnut holes on a napkin Closeup of glaze on the Sour Cream Doughnuts Sour Cream Doughnuts and doughnut holes from the extra dough

In the two main categories of doughnuts – yeast vs cake- sour cream doughnuts are classified as cake doughnuts, for the simple fact that there is no yeast in the dough. That means these doughnuts are much less complicated and are ready much sooner than yeast doughnuts.

To make the dough, it’s very similar to a cake recipe, but instead of milk, we use sour cream. After the dough is mixed together, we chill it to help the dough thicken a bit and let the flavors come together.

Stack of Sour Cream Doughnuts

Then, all we have left is cutting the doughnuts and frying them. But, as simple as these steps sound, this is where your doughnuts can go wrong if you don’t follow the instructions exactly right. Here are the tips you must remember in these two key steps:

  1. Do not roll the dough if it’s way too sticky. Keep kneading in more cake flour into the ball of dough until it’s manageable and isn’t sticking to everything.
  2. Make sure you don’t roll out the dough too thin. Otherwise, the doughnuts will turn to hockey pucks when you fry them. In fact, you’re better off making the dough too thick than too thin. Thick dough produces tall, moist doughnuts.
  3. When frying the doughnuts, the temperature is very important, as it is when frying anything. I use a candy thermometer to make sure the oil stays at 350 degrees the whole time. If the oil gets too hot, the exterior will burn before the interior is cooked. Alternatively, if the oil isn’t hot enough, the doughnuts will take too long to cook and become greasy.
  4. To help keep the oil temperature steady, fry the doughnuts in batches. I did about 4 doughnuts at a time.

There you have it – my favorite doughnuts, as of right now. At any moment, I could switch back to my previous favorite – blueberry cake doughnuts. Maybe I’ll be making a batch of those sometime this summer to make use of all these fresh blueberries we have. Stay tuned!

Here are all the kitchen tools and serveware that I used in today’s recipe. For each item sold below, I make a small commission. I only recommend items that I own and love so you can trust that each recommendation is tried and true. Thank you for supporting CPA!

[show_shopthepost_widget id=”3173338″]
Closeup of a Sour Cream Doughnut
Print Recipe

Sour Cream Doughnuts

Dense and crispy on the outside, moist and cakey on the inside, these sour cream doughnuts are your favorite cake doughnuts that are ready in half the time as yeast doughnuts!
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Total Time31 mins
Servings: 12 doughnuts and holes

Ingredients

For the doughnuts:
  • 2 1/4 cup cake flour plus more for dusting
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons butter unsalted, softened
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • canola or vegetable oil for frying
For the glaze:
  • 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons corn syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup hot water

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, add cake flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Whisk together. Set aside.
  • In the bowl fitted for a stand mixer, add butter and sugar. Mix on low (with paddle attachment) until mixture turns sandy. Add egg yolks and increase speed to medium until mixture turns light yellow and smooth.
  • Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the egg yolk mixture. Beat just until combined. Add 1/2 of the sour cream and mix just until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, if needed. Repeat once more. Finish off with last 1/3 of flour mixture and beat just until combined. Cover mixture with plastic wrap, making sure to place wrap right on top of the dough to prevent drying. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
  • Remove chilled dough from fridge. Place dutch oven on stove and add oil so that it's about 2-3 inches deep. Turn heat to medium and insert candy thermometer to monitor temperature.
  • Dust counter with cake flour and scoop out dough onto surface. If dough is sticky and hard to manage, knead a little more cake flour into the dough so it's not sticky anymore. Roll our dough with rolling pin until 1/2 inch thick - don't make it too thin or the doughnuts will turn to hockey pucks!
  • Using a doughnut cutter (or a large and small biscuit cutter), cut out doughnuts and centers. Roll out scraps and cut out more doughnuts until the majority of the dough is used.
  • Check the temperature of the oil. Once it's 350 degrees, add doughnuts into hot oil in batches so the pan doesn't get crowded. Cook for 2 minutes on each side until golden brown (45 seconds for doughnut holes). If you notice the doughnuts getting too brown, turn down the heat a little. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels until room temperature.
  • Add ingredients for glaze into deep bowl. Whisk together until smooth. Carefully dunk tops of doughnuts into glaze and place on wire rack to drain off excess glaze. Let them sit for 20 minutes to let the glaze harden. Serve immediately. Doughnuts are best served on the same day they are fried.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Handle the Heat

Pin for later:

Sour Cream Doughnuts photo collage

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Glazed Doughnut Muffins

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Pistachio Cream Doughnuts

Pistachio Cream Doughnuts with pistachio cream leaking out

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39 Comments

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Comments

  1. Jennifer says

    June 27, 2018 at 7:25 pm

    I want to shove all of these in my mouth right now. Not very ladylike but they look so delish!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      June 28, 2018 at 12:50 pm

      Pshh when food is that good, rules go out the window!

      Reply
  2. Natalie says

    June 25, 2018 at 8:08 am

    I haven’t made donuts in a while and my family loves it. These recipe sounds so delicious and super tasty. I love addition of nutmeg and cinnamon.Sounds so flavorful. Making this.

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      June 28, 2018 at 1:57 pm

      There is nothing like homemade doughnuts!

      Reply
  3. Michele says

    June 25, 2018 at 6:49 am

    These donuts look like the picture of perfection! Glazed donuts are one of my favorites and these sound amazing! Pinning!

    Reply
  4. Sara says

    June 25, 2018 at 12:11 am

    These are literally what I visualize when I think of old fashioned doughnuts. You’ve absolutely nailed it! I can’t wait to make these at home!

    Reply
  5. Leslie says

    June 24, 2018 at 6:00 pm

    These donuts are a total weakness for me – and now I’m drooling over the pictures, which means I obviously need to go make these and eat them for dinner. Obviously.

    Reply
  6. Veronika's Kitchen says

    June 24, 2018 at 4:20 pm

    This recipe is just perfect for my hubby! He is a big donut fan and will appreciate your recipe!)

    Reply
  7. Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen says

    June 23, 2018 at 9:27 pm

    My husband absolutely loves old fashioned donuts. I didn’t realize that they were made with sour cream! These doughnuts look like the perfect accompaniment for a big cup of coffee.

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      June 28, 2018 at 2:03 pm

      Yesss you are so right!

      Reply
  8. Abby @ WinsteadWandering says

    June 21, 2018 at 11:25 pm

    I have a HUGE weakness for donuts, too, and old-fashioneds are also a favorite of mine. That signature denseness is what makes them SO good!

    Reply
  9. Amanda Mason says

    June 21, 2018 at 11:05 pm

    These look and sound divine!! I love your expert tips because I’ve never made homemade doughnuts before, but your recipe is inspiring me to do so!! Looks so delish!!

    Reply
  10. Nicoletta @sugarlovespices says

    June 20, 2018 at 9:32 am

    They look unbelievable! Make me want to grab one from the screen! Thanks for all the tips and tricks, very helpful!

    Reply
  11. Denise says

    June 19, 2018 at 3:53 pm

    Those look unbelievable good! I don’t eat doughnuts often because they make me want to sleep but when I do I want to eat a good one….like these. I want to savor ever bite. Great recipe!

    Reply
  12. Rai Zapata says

    June 19, 2018 at 7:25 am

    Donuts have been something I’ve been wanting to try, so this is speaking to me!

    Reply
  13. Natalie says

    June 19, 2018 at 1:04 am

    These donuts look so delicious! I love the glazing at the top!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      June 19, 2018 at 3:39 pm

      Thanks so much!

      Reply
  14. Kelli Kerkman says

    June 18, 2018 at 9:52 pm

    These look amazing! And your photos are gorgeous! I may have to overcome my fear of frying to try these 🙂

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      June 19, 2018 at 3:39 pm

      Aw thanks so much!

      Reply
  15. Shashi at SavorySpin says

    June 18, 2018 at 9:48 pm

    I had my first sour cream doughnut at Blue Star Doughnuts in Portland this summer and these look heavenly! Bet they are way way better than store bought ones

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      June 19, 2018 at 3:39 pm

      Thanks Shashi!! I think they come pretty darn close!

      Reply
  16. Gloria says

    June 18, 2018 at 9:19 pm

    Homemade donuts are the best. When I was a child my baba would make “cinnamon cake donuts”….OMG they were so good. These sound delicious, and I would love them for brunch on the weekend….and afternoon latte breaks too.

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      June 19, 2018 at 3:40 pm

      Ooooh I love cinnamon cake doughnuts too! Such a classic flavor

      Reply
  17. Diana says

    June 18, 2018 at 9:19 pm

    I love such classic recipes like these sour cream doughnuts! My Mum always made something very similar to this, I’ll have to try it myself now.

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      June 19, 2018 at 3:41 pm

      Yes!! You will not regret it!

      Reply
  18. Lisa Bryan says

    June 18, 2018 at 8:29 pm

    Wow – these sound amazing! Can’t go wrong with a moist cake donut!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      June 19, 2018 at 3:41 pm

      You really can’t!!

      Reply
  19. camila says

    June 18, 2018 at 8:20 pm

    Wow baking powder donuts, that’s new to me! Crazy! Id love to try this and see what its all about!

    Reply
  20. Jenni LeBaron says

    June 18, 2018 at 1:40 pm

    This doughnut recipe looks fantastic. I love a classic like this!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      June 18, 2018 at 1:47 pm

      Thanks so much! Can’t go wrong with a classic!

      Reply
  21. Mimi says

    June 18, 2018 at 12:37 pm

    They look delcious! Such a yummy recipe

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      June 18, 2018 at 1:48 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  22. Marta Rivera Diaz says

    June 18, 2018 at 10:57 am

    Oh, I just LOVE your recipes, Sharon. You and I are kindred pastry spirits.

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      June 18, 2018 at 1:48 pm

      Aw I love that! Thanks Marta!

      Reply

Trackbacks

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Hi, my name is Sharon. I’m an accountant by day, risk-taking baker and food enthusiast by night. Come join me as I share my favorite recipes and test out new ones along the way!

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