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    Home » Dessert Recipes

    Fried Dough Recipe

    BY: Ben Rayl PUBLISHED: 16 Nov, '22 UPDATED: 16 Nov, '22 Leave a Comment

    RecipePrintComments
    5 from 2 votes
    Fried dough socials

    Whether you want something sweet or savory, this fried dough recipe will surely hit the right spot with its chewy dough and crispy exterior. They take 15 minutes to make from scratch, so they're perfect for a quick, tasty snack, and best of all, the recipe uses JUST 6 pantry ingredients!

    Fried-dough - featured
    Contents
    • 🌟 Why this recipe works
    • 🍽 Key Ingredients
    • 🔪 How to make
    • 💭 Cooking tips
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥗 What to serve with
    • 🙋 Frequently asked questions
    • 🧊 Storing and ♨️ reheating
    • 🍳 Related Comforting Recipes
    • 👪 Serving size
    • 📋 Recipe

    🌟 Why this recipe works

    Fried dough is simple to make, delicious, and can be made savory or sweet. This recipe uses a basic dough mixture made with flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, butter, and milk.

    The dough is then fried in hot oil until it is golden brown and crispy. Once it's cooked, the fried dough can be sprinkled with powdered sugar or topped with your favorite toppings.

    Fried dough comes by many names in the US, from elephant ears to funnel cake and county fair fried dough. No matter what you call it, we can all agree that it's a delicious chewy fried treat coated in sugar that is just heavenly in the fall.

    This yeast-less recipe is perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy a classic country fair treat at home that is a delicious and easy-to-make snack. And if you're looking for delicious donuts or croissants, we have you covered with the homemade cronut recipe that is a mix between the two.

    🍽 Key Ingredients

    This homemade fried dough recipe is so easy to make using 6 everyday household ingredients.

    Fried dough ingredients

    Flour - All-purpose flour is the best flour to use for this recipe which gives the dough its chewy texture.

    Baking powder - This helps the soft dough rise and gives it a lighter texture.

    Salt - A pinch of salt is required to balance the sweetness of the sugar.

    Sugar - This recipe uses granulated sugar to sweeten the dough.

    Melted butter - The unsalted butter helps to bind the ingredients together and gives the dough a richer flavor.

    Milk - Any type of milk can be used for this recipe.

    Powdered sugar - This is used for sprinkling on top of the fried dough.

    Oil - Any type of oil can be used for frying the dough. Vegetable oil, canola oil, and peanut oil are

    Substitutions

    Baking powder

    If you don't have baking powder, you can use ¼ teaspoon of baking soda.

    Fried dough serving

    🔪 How to make

    Fried dough tastes amazing fresh and hot and coated in powdered sugar. Just mix the ingredients together, form dough disks, and fry them. Simple and delicious to make in minutes. Very similar to my empanada dough for frying.

    Preparations

    • Melt the cold butter in the microwave for 10 seconds in a small bowl.

    Cooking instructions

    Step 1
    Mix the sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl.

    Mix the sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl.

    Step 2
    Pour the milk and melted butter into the dry ingredients and mix well with a fork.

    Pour the milk and melted butter into the dry ingredients and mix well with a fork

    Step 3
    Transfer the dough to a clean work surface and knead for 2 to 3 minutes until stretchy.

    Step 4
    Form the dough into a ball and let it rest for 10 minutes.

    Form the dough into a ball and let it rest for 10 minutes.

    Step 5
    Divide the soft dough into 8 pieces. Roll each piece of dough into a dough disk.

    Roll each piece of dough into a dough disk.

    Step 6
    Heat a deep pan or skillet over medium heat with 1-inch of vegetable oil to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius).

    Step 7
    Carefully lower each dough disk into the hot oil. Cook in batches for best results.

    Cook for 1 minute on either side until puffed and golden brown

    Step 8
    Cook for 1 minute on either side until puffed and golden brown, then repeat with the remaining fried doughs.

    Step 9
    Transfer the fried bread dough to a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess grease.

    Step 10
    Sprinkle each fried dough with powdered sugar, and enjoy!

    Sprinkle each fried dough with powdered sugar, and enjoy

    💭 Cooking tips

    Get a thermometer

    Heating the oil to the right temperature is key for perfect fried dough. The dough fries nicely when the oil is 350 degrees F, so buy a thermometer to make temperature gaging easier.

    Do not overcrowd

    Don't try to cook all the dough disks at the same time, as the temperature of the oil will drop, and they will not cook evenly. Cook in small batches to create that perfectly light brown color and crispy exterior.

    Fried dough serving

    📖 Variations

    This fried dough recipe is delicious dusted with some powdered sugar, but if you want to try something different, there are a few variations you could try.

    Fried dough with cinnamon sugar

    Sprinkle the fried dough with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar while it is still hot. Mix 1 teaspoon of cinnamon with ¼ cup of confectioners sugar.

    County fair fried dough

    This is a popular variation that is often sold at county fairs. Add teaspoons of active dry yeast to the dry ingredients and combine with the milk and butter in a pastry blender with a dough hook.

    Mix for 5 minutes, form into a ball and allow to rise in a bowl covered with a towel. Once the dough has doubled in size, divide it into 8 pieces and roll it out into disks.

    Maple-flavored fried dough

    Mix 2 tablespoons of maple syrup into the dough for a delicious maple-flavored twist.

    Fried dough serving

    🥗 What to serve with

    Fried dough can be enjoyed on its own as a sweet treat or snack. Like my easy sweet empanada dough recipe. However, it also goes well with savory dishes such as:

    Texas roadhouse chili

    This delicious Texas roadhouse chili recipe is the perfect comfort food to enjoy on a cold winter day. The chili is hearty and flavorful and goes great with a piece of fried dough on the side.

    Southern fried cabbage

    This southern fried cabbage recipe is a great side dish to serve with fried dough. The cabbage is crispy and flavorful with bacon, paprika, cayenne pepper, and garlic and pairs perfectly with the fried dough.

    Corn nuggets

    Whip up a batch of these easy corn nuggets and marinara sauce to go with the fried dough.

    🙋 Frequently asked questions

    What is the best oil to use for fried dough?

    The best oil to use for fried dough is vegetable oil, as it has a high smoke point and can withstand the high heat required for frying.

    Why does my fried dough taste greasy?

    If your fried dough tastes greasy, it is likely because the oil was not hot enough when you added the dough. Be sure to heat the oil to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) before adding the dough. Also, be sure not to overcrowd the pan, as this will also cause the fried dough to be greasy.

    🧊 Storing and ♨️ reheating

    This fried dough recipe is best eaten fresh when it's warm and crispy, but you can also store it for another day once it has cooled.

    Room temperature - store leftover fried dough in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

    Fridge - the fried dough can be stored in the fridge for up to 1 week.

    Freezer - you can freeze the fried dough for up to 3 months in a freezer container.

    Reheating - when you are ready to eat, reheat them in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until warm and crispy.

    🍳 Related Comforting Recipes

    If you're in the mood for more comforting recipes, we've got you covered with the best American comfort food recipes and the best comfort food recipes per state.

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    👪 Serving size

    This fried dough recipe yields 8 servings, so there will be plenty to go around! The recipe is easily scalable to cater to more guests.

    Whether you enjoy soft fried dough on its own as a sweet treat or paired with savory dishes like chili or fried cabbage, it is sure to be a hit!

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    Try one of my comfort dinner recipes for your next family meal! And if you have any questions, I'm here to help!

    📋 Recipe

    Fried-dough - featured

    Fried Dough Recipe (15-Minute!)

    Whether you want something sweet or savory, this fried dough recipe will surely hit the right spot with its chewy dough and crispy exterior. They take 15 minutes to make from scratch, so they're perfect for a quick, tasty snack, and best of all, the recipe uses JUST 6 pantry ingredients!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved! Share
    Course: Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 13 minutes
    Cook Time: 2 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 143kcal
    Author: Ben Rayl

    Ingredients
     

    • 1¾ cups Flour
    • 1 teaspoon Baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon Salt
    • 1 tablespoon Sugar
    • 2 tablespoons Melted butter
    • ⅔ cup Milk
    • Powdered sugar for sprinkling
    • Oil for frying

    Instructions

    Preparations

    • Melt the cold butter in the microwave for 10 seconds in a small bowl.

    Cooking instructions

    • Mix the sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
    • Pour the milk and melted butter into the dry ingredients and mix well with a fork.
    • Transfer the dough to a clean work surface and knead for 2 to 3 minutes until stretchy.
    • Form the dough into a ball and let it rest for 10 minutes.
    • Divide the soft dough into 8 pieces.
    • Roll each piece of dough into a dough disk.
    • Heat a deep pan or skillet over medium heat with 1-inch of vegetable oil to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius).
    • Carefully lower each dough disk into the hot oil. Cook in batches for best results.
    • Cook for 1 minute on either side until puffed and golden brown, then repeat with the remaining fried doughs.
    • Transfer the fried bread dough to a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess grease.
    • Sprinkle each fried dough with powdered sugar, and enjoy!

    Notes

    Get a thermometer
    Heating the oil to the right temperature is key for perfect fried dough. The dough fries nicely when the oil is 350 degrees F, so buy a thermometer to make temperature gaging easier.
    Do not overcrowd
    Don't try to cook all the dough disks at the same time, as the temperature of the oil will drop, and they will not cook evenly. Cook in small batches to create that perfectly light brown color and crispy exterior.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 143kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g

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    Chef Ben Rayl

    Hi, I'm Ben!

    I believe comfort food unites us, and I want to inspire you to cook at home with everyday ingredients. It is easier and takes less time than you think, costs less than eating out, and tastes a million times better.Read More

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