Have you ever wondered why coffee and donuts are a match made in heaven? There’s a reason behind their popularity, and my coffee glazed donut holes recipe is here to show you why.
Combining the robust flavor of coffee with the irresistible sweetness of a glaze, these homemade donut holes deliver a perfect balance of flavors and textures, and are yeast free, making them an easy treat to kickstart your day or to spoil your guests at your next gathering.
So, whether you’re on the hunt for innovative mini donuts ideas or a creative twist on classic Italian zeppole, my mini glazed donut recipe is sure to delight.
Why You’ll Love This Glazed Donut Holes Recipe
- Perfect Flavor Combo – The sweet coffee glaze pairs beautifully with the fluffy fried donut hole mix, creating an irresistible balance of sweetness and richness.
- Bite-Sized Fun – Coffee donut bites are easy to make, share, and enjoy on the go – they’re perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a mid morning pick-me-up. Small donut bites also shine as easy party finger foods that will wow your guests.
- Great Coffee Pairing – Coffee lovers will adore how these fried donut holes complement their favorite brew, enhancing the experience with every bite!
- No Yeast – I’ve kept this yeast free fried donuts recipe super simple, with no proving time or kneading required!
If you love coffee flavored breakfast recipes, try these delicious coffee waffles, my easy mocha muffins or this healthy coffee smoothie bowl.
Mini Fried Donuts Ingredients
You’ll need just 9 ingredients to make these yummy glazed mini donuts. Let’s cover a few of them before moving on to how to make fried donuts.
The specific quantities and steps are listed in the recipe card below.
- Espresso Powder – Superfine espresso powder is the essential ingredient for our coffee glaze. It easily dissolves in liquid and has a strong coffee flavor.
- Milk – I use whole milk in my donut recipe as it produces the best dough.
- Baking Powder – As these are yeast-free donuts, baking powder is essential to help the dough rise and give it the right texture.
- Vegetable Oil – You will need 1-2 quarts of oil to fry the donuts.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Espresso Powder – You can use instant coffee granules, but you will need to increase the quantity to achieve the same coffee flavor. I don’t recommend using brewed coffee as it doesn’t tend to have enough coffee flavor in such a small quantity for the glaze.
- Milk – I recommend using whole milk, as I haven’t tested the recipe with plant based milks. However low fat dairy milk is a suitable substitute in a pinch – but note it may impact the flavor of the dough.
- Vegetable Oil – Canola oil is a suitable substitute.
Equipment Needed
You will need the following items to make these fried mini donuts:
- Heavy bottomed large saucepan
- Oil thermometer
- Slotted spoon or spider strainer
- 1-inch cookie scoop or spoon
- Mixing bowls
- Cooling rack.
How To Make Coffee Donut Holes
Let’s take a look at how to make donut holes at home. The full recipe with detailed steps and ingredient list can be found in the printable recipe card below.
Step 1: Add the dry ingredients to a large bowl and whisk until combined. Then in a separate bowl whisk together the milk and egg. Pour this wet mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Add the melted butter and mix to form the donut dough.
The dough will be slightly sticky but should still be manageable to form balls. If too sticky add 1 tablespoon of extra flour and stir.
Step 2: Use a 1-inch cookie scoop to measure the donut bites into small balls. Set the balls aside on a tray or plate.
Pour enough oil into a deep saucepan till it is 1/3 full (1-2 quarts). Place the oil thermometer on the side of the pan and heat over a medium heat until the oil reaches 350F (175C).
Step 3: Once the oil is at temperature, carefully and gently place 3-4 balls into the hot oil at a time (or more if you have a very large pot). Cook for 1-2 minutes each side, turning occasionally, until golden brown and fully cooked.
Carefully remove the donut balls with a spider strainer or long handled slotted spoon and transfer to a paper lined plate or tray to drain.
Tip: Before proceeding with the second batch, cut one cooked donut open and check it is fully cooked inside. If still wet or a little gooey inside, check the oil temperature and adjust your cooking time to ensure the next batch are cooked through.
Wait for the oil temperature to come back up to the target temperature then continue frying in batches until all mini doughnuts are cooked. Once finished, turn the heat off the pan.
Step 3: Glaze the donuts. Prepare the glaze in a medium sized bowl, then while the donut holes are still warm, dip each donut into the coffee glaze. Turn to coat well then transfer to a cooling rack to allow the glaze to set – around 5-10 minutes.
Enjoy these yummy doughnuts with a cup of your favorite coffee!
Deep Frying Tips
- Use a deep pan with a heavy base to reduce spatter and ensure an even temperature.
- Pay full attention while frying and ensure the oil temperature stays on target by adjusting the heat up or down as necessary.
- Place the donut balls gently into the oil using two spoons or a strainer and keep hands well clear of the hot oil.
Recipe Tips For Success
- Dissolve the espresso powder in warm milk before adding to the powdered sugar for a smooth, strong flavored coffee glaze.
- Glaze the donuts while they are still warm.
- Place parchment paper under the wire rack when glazing to catch the drips and make clean up easier.
How To Serve Donut Holes
Mini donut holes are a delicious weekend breakfast idea or brunch treat, especially when served warm. They are also great to serve at parties as an easy finger food dessert idea.
These coffee donut holes would be delicious paired with my mocha iced coffee, this iced caramel latte, or with a mug of my cozy hot biscoff cookie latte.
How To Store Mini Donuts
Donut bites are best enjoyed fresh, but they can also be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
When storing, I recommend placing parchment paper in between each layer of donuts as the glaze will get sticky when stored and as a result the doughnuts can stick together if not separated. I do not recommend freezing them.
More Coffee Flavored Recipes You’ll Love
Find more breakfast coffee recipes here or browse all the coffee recipes.
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Coffee Glazed Donut Holes
Ingredients
FOR THE DONUTS
- 1 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons white sugar granulated
- 4½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 quart Vegetable oil for frying
FOR THE GLAZE
- 2 tablespoons milk warmed
- 2 tablespoons espresso powder
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk extra, if needed
Instructions
FOR THE DONUTS
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the milk and egg until well combined. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt until combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Add the melted butter and gently fold it into the dough until fully combined. The dough will be slightly sticky but should still be manageable.
- Pour the oil into a deep frying pot or heavy duty saucepan. The oil should fill the pan to be around 1/3 full. Fit an oil thermometer to the side of the pan and heat the oil on a medium heat until the oil reaches 350℉ (175℃). The oil needs to stay at this temperature throughout the frying process (see note 1).
- While the oil is warming up, use a 1-inch scooper or a tablespoon to scoop small portions of dough into balls. Set aside.
- Generously line a large tray or plate with paper towel in preparation for frying the donuts.
- Once the oil comes to temperature, carefully place 3-4 donut holes into the hot oil at a time. Do not overcrowd the pot. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side, turning occasionally, until golden brown and fully cooked inside.
- Use a spider strainer or metal slotted spoon to carefully scoop the donuts out of the pan and transfer them to the paper lined plate to drain off the excess oil. Check the first batch to ensure the cooking time is correct (see note 2).
- Fry in batches, cook the remaining donut holes, ensuring the oil comes back to 350℉ (175℃) between batches. Once you have cooked all the donut holes, turn off the heat.
FOR THE GLAZE
- Place a wire rack over the top of a large tray lined with a piece of parchment paper underneath to catch the glaze drips.
- In a small bowl mix together the warmed milk and espresso powder until the powder dissolves.
- Place the powdered sugar in a medium bowl. Add the coffee flavored milk to the sugar and stir to combine. If the glaze is too thick, add a little more milk (1 tablespoon at a time) until it reaches a smooth, pourable consistency.
- While the donuts are still slightly warm, dip each one into the coffee glaze, ensuring all sides are well coated. I like to use small tongs or two forks to coat the donut bites. Place the glazed donuts on the wire rack and allow the glaze to set for 5-10 minutes before serving.
- Best enjoyed fresh, these donuts can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Notes
- Constantly monitor the oil temperature. You want it to stay around 350℉ (175℃). If is rises, turn the stove heat down a little. If the temperature drops, turn the heat up slightly. Ensure the oil thermometer is not touching the bottom of the pan.
- To ensure your donut holes are cooked inside, check one from the first batch before cooking the rest. Fry the donuts and once cooled, cut open to check the inside of the donut is cooked. If still gooey, check the oil temperature and adjust the cooking time for the next batch. The cooking time will vary depending on the size of the donut holes and the temperature of the oil while cooking.
- Ensure the oil comes back to the target temperature before adding the next batch of donut holes.
- These donut holes are best enjoyed fresh, but they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. I recommend you place a piece of parchment paper between each layer of donuts, as the glaze may become sticky when stored.
- For a stronger coffee flavor, add an extra teaspoon of espresso powder to the glaze.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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