A while back, I experimented with a few homemade Paraguayan-style doughnut recipes and came up with these crispy orange doughnuts. They were such a huge hit in my home that I had to share them with others.
The dough is flavorful and extremely easy to prepare; the only downside is the patience required to wait for the doughnuts to fry.🤭 However, I think the extra time and effort are well worth it because these Crispy Orange doughnuts are out of this world!
How to Make Crispy Orange Doughnuts
Note: The full instructions are provided in the recipe card below.
Add the flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. In a liquid measuring cup, whisk the eggs, orange juice, orange zest, vinegar, and orange extract until well combined.
Add the shortening, gradually pour in the milk mixture, and knead at medium speed until smooth. The mixture forms a ball, leaves the sides of the bowl, and climbs up the dough hook for about 5 to 10 minutes.
Remove the dough from the bowl. Using your hands, form the dough into a smooth ball. Lightly oil a bowl. Place the dough in the bowl and turn it to oil on all sides. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rest for 15 to 30 minutes.
On a lightly floured work surface, roll the orange doughnuts into a log, cut about ½-inch thick pieces of dough, and gently roll each piece into a roughly ¼-inch thick rope with your hands.
Shape the rope into a circle, bringing the ends together; remember that they expand during the frying. Alternatively, you can divide it into golf-sized portions. Roll each piece into a ball, then use your finger to make a hole in each center.
Next, gently stretch the balls to an oval ring. Continue the same process with the remaining dough. Place a sheet of plastic wrap over the rolled-out dough.
The dough must stay moist. When the crispy orange doughnuts come out of the oil, set up a paper towel-lined sheet tray to place them on.
Make the Coating: In a small bowl, add the sugar to coat the crispy orange doughnuts. Heat 3 to 4 inches of oil in a straight-sided heavy saucepan until a deep-frying thermometer registers 350 degrees F.
Fry the crispy orange doughnuts just a few at a time for 2 minutes on each side until puffy and golden brown. You can fry two or more Crispy orange doughnuts simultaneously; don't overcrowd the pan.
Using a slotted spoon or spider, transfer the crispy orange doughnuts to the prepared baking sheet. While the doughnuts are still warm, coat them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Crispy orange doughnuts are best served warm.
Related Recipes:
- Paraguayan Fry Bread
- Paraguayan Bollos
- Crispy Orange doughnuts
- Paraguayan Style Orange Doughnuts
- Bolinhos de Chuva
📖 Recipe
Easy Orange Doughnuts
Tools
Ingredients
- 660 g (5 cups) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled.
- 4 tablespoons shortening , such as Crisco or unsalted butter, softened or any neutral-flavored oil
- 200 ml fresh orange juice , room temperature
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon orange extract or pure vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs , room temperature
- 200 g 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ tablespoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon orange zest , no white bitter pith
For Sugar Coating:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- Peanut oil or Canola oil for frying
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, add the flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar; stir to combine.
- In a liquid measuring cup, whisk the eggs, orange juice, orange zest, vinegar, and orange extract until well combined. Add the shortening and gradually pour in the milk mixture and knead at medium speed until smooth and the mixture forms a ball, leaves the sides of the bowl, and climbs up the dough hook, about 5 to 10 minutes.Remove the dough from the bowl. Using your hands, form the dough into a smooth ball. Lightly oil a bowl. Place the dough in the bowl and turn it to oil on all sides. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rest for 15 to 30 minutes.
- On a lightly floured work surface, roll the orange doughnuts into a log and cut about ½-inch thick pieces of dough, and roll each piece gently with your hands into a rope roughly ¼ inch thick. Shape the rope into a circle, bringing the ends together; keep in mind that they expand during the frying.
- Alternately, you can divide it into golf-sized portions. Roll each piece into a ball, then use your finger to make a hole in the center of each. Next, gently stretch the balls to an oval ring. Continue the same process with the remaining dough. Place a sheet of plastic wrap over the rolled-out dough. The dough must stay moist. Set up a paper towel-lined sheet tray to place the crispy orange doughnuts when they come out of the oil.
- Make the Coating: In a small bowl, add the sugar to coat crispy orange doughnuts. Heat 3 to 4 inches of oil in a straight-sided heavy saucepan until a deep-frying thermometer registers 350 degrees F. Fry the crispy orange doughnuts just a few at a time for 2 minutes on each side until puffy and golden brown.You can fry two or more Crispy orange doughnuts at a time; just don't overcrowd the pan.
- Using a slotted spoon or spider, transfer the crispy orange doughnuts to the prepared baking sheet.While Crispy orange doughnuts are still warm, toss them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat.crispy orange doughnuts are best served warm.
Notes
- To store: Allow them to cool completely to room temperature. Once cooled, place them in an airtight container or zip-top bag. Storing them in a single layer or with layers separated by parchment paper is important to prevent sticking. Store the doughnuts at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you want to extend their shelf life, you can refrigerate them for an additional day, but remember that refrigeration may slightly affect their texture.
- To reheat: When it comes to reheating Crispy Orange Doughnuts, the best method is an oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and place the doughnuts on a baking sheet. Heat them in the oven for about 5 minutes or until they are warmed through. This will help restore their crispness and revive their flavors. Avoid using a microwave for reheating, as it can make the doughnuts soggy.
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
