Homemade Munchkins / Dunkin Donuts / Doughnuts Recipe

Homemade Munchkins is my copycat version of Dunkin Donuts Sugar Munchkins or Doughnuts and they are amazingly easy to make. Buttery rich yeast dough are deep fried and rolled in cinnamon - sugar...and so crisp...yet so tender and soft inside.

I first heard of munchkins from my classmate and a dear friend, Binu, who lives in Lancaster, USA; whom I have not seen in the last 16 years! We chat, talk over phone....and amazingly that 16-year-old gap is never felt! She finds new recipes for me and yes, this dunkin doughnuts recipe is from her.......she does incredible things to get me new recipes.

Doughnuts are all American, which is becoming quite popular here in Kerala. I have seen them in bakeries but they do cost a fortune though.....since I do not own a doughnut maker, Binu suggested dunkins version of munchkins....and believe me these are so easy to make. I have to confess that I did not grow up munching on doughnuts, these were unheard of in Kerala, but my kids having tasted it during one of our holidays wanted me to make them.....and thus these Buttery Munchkins were born!

I wanted to dip them in melted chocolate or make a sugar glaze, but surprisingly both my kids wanted them sugar coated with cinnamon flavor.....okay! so, leaving that option for you to try out.

I used instant yeast and the dough was doubled up in 1 hour and got around 40 doughnuts.....and it is so easy to make....because, unlike the usual doughnuts with the hole....where you need to roll out, and then cut them with a doughnut cutter, this one is minus all that hardwork...you just have to pinch dough off and roll into lemon size...and deep fry!! EASY!!

Author: Nisa Homey.
Yields: Around 35-40 lemon sized doughnuts.
Ingredients:
Flour: 3 cups.
Butter: 50 gms/1/2 stick.( I used unsalted butter)
Sugar: 1/2 cup (for me this is fine, but if you have a sweet tooth...you can add a tbsp or two, though if you plan to dip in melted chocolate then I think 1/2 cup would be fine)
Milk: 3/4 cup.
Yeast: 1 tsp
Eggs: 2.
Salt: 1/4 tsp
Oil for frying.
Cinnamon flavored powdered sugar: 1/4 cup to dust or coat the doughnuts.

Method:
Heat milk in a saucepan and add butter.

Once it reach boiling stage add sugar, mix well....switch off the fire.

Allow it to cool down to almost room temp.....when temperature is perfect for yeast, add in 1 tsp yeast. Mix well.

Add in beaten egg.

Add in 3 cups of flour in a larger bowl and add salt, mix. Make a well in the center and pour the wet mix into it....I would advised you reserve 1/3 cup of the wet mix and add if needed.....so that the dough may not become very lose.....although, when I made this I poured the whole wet mix and it was perfect!

I like to mix the dough first with sturdy spoon.

Transfer to your work surface and knead it into a soft dough.

Put it back into the bowl....and I let it sit for 1 hour....

Though it might vary with climate...so if you are living in a cold place....make sure you keep it undisturbed till it is doubled.....mine just took 1 hour. I started making the dough at about 3 pm and by 4.30 pm when kids came from school...I could surprise them with these yummy munchkins :)

Once the dough has doubled, lightly punch it down to release the trapped air.

Pinch off from the dough and roll into small lemon sized balls.....the balls will be slightly larger after frying.

Heat oil in a pan....and deep fry the balls until golden brown.

Once all of them are fried, allow it to cool down....I dusted cinnamon coated powdered sugar or you can roll in powdered sugar or even dip in melted chocolate and top with sprinkles...

Doughnut making is so easy and fun....the best part is you can make them at home...and save a trip to the bakery!

These were so YUM.... My kids loved it....and I am sure yours will too :)

Nidhi drizzled homemade chocolate sauce over her Munchkins :)