Sweet French Crullers Recipe: Airy Pastry Magic in Minutes

Delicate and airy, these French crullers dance between crisp exterior and soft interior with delightful grace.

Crafting the perfect French crullers recipe requires skill and a touch of culinary magic.

Light pastry choux dough creates these heavenly rings that melt in your mouth.

Professional bakers and home cooks alike adore this classic French pastry for its elegant simplicity.

Piping the dough into delicate rings takes practice but delivers spectacular results.

Each cruller promises a golden, glossy finish that beckons with sweet promise.

Prepare to indulge in a pastry that transforms an ordinary moment into a delectable celebration.

Why French Pastry Donuts Are a Breakfast Dream

• Master French Technique: Learn an authentic European pastry method that transforms simple ingredients into a stunning dessert with professional-grade results.
• Quick Kitchen Adventure: Create restaurant-quality crullers without advanced baking skills, perfect for home cooks wanting to impress family and friends with minimal complicated steps.
• Crowd-Pleasing Dessert: Deliver a delightful treat that appeals to all ages, offering a crispy exterior and soft, tender interior that will spark joy around the table during gatherings or celebrations.
• Customizable Flavor Experience: Experiment with different glaze variations and toppings, allowing personal creativity to shine while maintaining the classic cruller structure and texture.

French Pastry Donut Ingredients to Gather

• Water: A crucial liquid that helps create the pastry dough's structure.
• Butter: Provides rich flavor and contributes to the pastry's tender texture.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with golden browning of the donuts.
• Flour: The primary dry ingredient that forms the base of the pastry dough.
• Eggs: Bind the ingredients and add richness to the donut texture.

• Vegetable Oil: Essential for deep-frying the donuts to achieve a crispy golden exterior.

• Powdered Sugar, Milk, Vanilla Extract: Combine to create a smooth, sweet coating that enhances the donuts' flavor and appearance.

Making French Pastry Donuts: A Guide

Step 1: Create Dough Base

Bring water, butter, and sugar to a rolling boil in a medium saucepan.

Ensure all ingredients are fully incorporated and bubbling.

Step 2: Integrate Flour

Add flour all at once and vigorously whisk until mixture transforms into a smooth, compact ball.

Continue stirring with wooden spoon.

Step 3: Develop Dough Consistency

Cook dough over low heat, stirring constantly.

The mixture will start pulling away from pan sides and form a dense texture.

Step 4: Transfer To Mixing Station

Move hot dough to stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment.

Begin mixing at medium speed to release steam.

Step 5: Stabilize Dough Temperature

Allow dough to cool slightly while mixing, approximately 2-3 minutes.

Dough should feel warm but not scorching.

Step 6: Incorporate Eggs

Add eggs individually, mixing thoroughly after each addition.

Dough will become glossy and elastic.

Step 7: Prepare Piping Setup

Fill piping bag with star tip.

Pipe uniform rings onto parchment paper squares, ensuring consistent shape.

Step 8: Prepare Frying Environment

Heat neutral oil in deep pot to 375°F.

Use thermometer for precise temperature control.

Step 9: Initial Frying Process

Carefully place parchment-attached rings into hot oil.

Fry with paper side facing upward.

Step 10: Remove Paper

Use tongs to gently separate and remove parchment paper once it naturally detaches.

Step 11: Complete Frying

Continue frying until crullers achieve deep golden color on both sides.

Rotate for even browning.

Step 12: Cool And Drain

Transfer fried crullers to wire rack or paper towels.

Allow excess oil to drip and pastries to cool.

Step 13: Create Glaze

Combine glaze ingredients in mixing bowl until smooth and glossy.

Step 14: Finish With Glaze

Dip cooled crullers into glaze, allowing excess to drip.

Place on wire rack for glaze to set.

Donut-Making Tips for Bakery Results

• Sift flour before adding to hot liquid to ensure smooth, lump-free dough texture.
• Use steady, consistent pressure when piping rings to create uniform, professional-looking crullers.
• Use a thermometer to maintain precise 375F for even, golden-brown frying without burning.
• Add eggs at room temperature and mix thoroughly to create a silky, stable pastry dough.
• Let crullers cool completely before glazing to achieve a clean, crisp coating that adheres perfectly.

French Pastry Donuts – Exciting Variations

• Gluten-Free Crullers: Replace wheat flour with almond or coconut flour for a celiac-friendly version that maintains the classic pastry texture.
• Chocolate Lovers' Delight: Swap vanilla glaze with rich dark chocolate ganache and sprinkle crushed hazelnuts for an indulgent flavor profile.
• Vegan French Pastry: Use plant-based butter, aquafaba instead of eggs, and create coconut milk glaze to transform the traditional recipe into a dairy-free option.
• Low-Sugar Alternative: Substitute sugar with monk fruit sweetener and use a light honey-based glaze for a diabetic-friendly pastry that reduces overall sugar content.

Serving Ideas for French Pastry Donuts

• Sweet Brunch Companion: Pair these delicate French pastry donuts with freshly brewed espresso or cappuccino for a delightful morning treat.
• Dessert Centerpiece: Arrange donuts on a elegant tiered serving platter, dusted with powdered sugar and garnished with fresh berries for a stunning presentation.
• Party Platter Magic: Create a colorful donut display by drizzling different glazes like chocolate, vanilla, and lavender over the crullers, perfect for gatherings and celebrations.
• Seasonal Twist: Customize the glaze with seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice in autumn, peppermint during winter, or strawberry in spring to match current mood and occasion.

Storage for Pastry Donuts the French Way

• Store unfilled French pastry donuts in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature to maintain their crisp texture.
• Wrap individual donuts tightly in plastic wrap, then place in freezer bag and freeze for maximum 1 month to preserve quality.
• Keep glazed donuts at room temperature for 2-3 hours before serving to prevent soggy coating and maintain crisp edges.
• Place paper towel beneath donuts in storage container to absorb excess oil and prevent soggy bottoms during storage.

FAQs

• What type of dough is used for French Pastry Donuts?

The dough is a classic choux pastry, made by boiling water, butter, and sugar, then adding flour and eggs to create a smooth, elastic mixture that puffs up when fried.

• Why do I need to pipe the dough onto parchment squares?

Piping onto parchment squares helps maintain the perfect ring shape and makes it easier to transfer the delicate dough into hot oil without losing its structure.

• What makes these donuts different from regular donuts?

These are French crullers, which use choux pastry instead of traditional yeasted or cake donut dough, resulting in a lighter, airier texture with a crisp exterior and soft interior.

French Crullers Recipe

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4.6 from 17 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Sweet French crullers bring delicate, airy pastry magic straight from Paris bakeries. Golden rings of choux pastry, glazed with sugar, melt effortlessly on your palate with elegant French charm.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 cup water
• 6 tablespoons (90 milliliters) butter
• 1 cup (120 grams) all-purpose flour
• 3 eggs

Sweeteners and Liquid Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons (25 grams) sugar
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) honey
• 1 1/2 cups (180 grams) powdered sugar
• 4 tablespoons (60 milliliters) milk

Cooking Ingredient:

• Vegetable oil for frying

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Instructions

1. In a saucepan, vigorously combine water, butter, and sugar, bringing the mixture to a rolling boil.
2. Swiftly incorporate flour into the bubbling liquid, whisking energetically until a smooth consistency forms.
3. Continuously stir the developing dough with a wooden spoon, cooking until it pulls away from pan edges and appears dry.
4. Transfer the hot mixture to a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment for thorough blending.
5. Allow the dough to cool momentarily while mixing, preventing egg scrambling.
6. Introduce eggs individually, mixing thoroughly after each addition until fully integrated.
7. Load the prepared dough into a piping bag with a decorative star tip, carefully creating uniform rings on parchment paper squares.
8. Preheat cooking oil to precisely 375°F for optimal frying temperature.
9. Carefully lower parchment-backed rings into hot oil, paper side facing upward, using tongs to separate and remove paper once it releases.
10. Fry donuts until achieving a rich, deep golden color on all surfaces, rotating as needed.
11. Transfer freshly fried pastries to a wire rack or absorbent paper towels for drainage and cooling.
12. Prepare glaze by combining ingredients in a mixing bowl until smooth and glossy.
13. Delicately dip completely cooled crullers into glaze, positioning on wire rack to set and crystallize.

Notes

• Nail the Perfect Dough Consistency by whisking flour vigorously and cooking until the mixture pulls away from pan sides, creating a smooth, non-sticky texture.
• Prevent Egg Scrambling by adding eggs gradually and mixing thoroughly at medium speed, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next.
• Control Oil Temperature precisely using a deep-fry thermometer to maintain 375F, which guarantees crispy exterior and fully cooked interior without greasy absorption.
• Glaze Application Technique involves dipping crullers when they’re completely cool, allowing excess glaze to drip off naturally for an even, glossy coating.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 220
• Sugar: 12 g
• Sodium: 100 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 25 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 150 mg