A warm Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut practically melts in your mouth – light, airy, and dipped in a glossy glaze. This copycat recipe recreates that magic at home, and there is nothing like eating them fresh and warm.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Light, airy, melt-in-your-mouth texture
Classic glossy sweet glaze
Best enjoyed warm and fresh
Easier to make than you think

Copycat Krispy Kreme Glazed Doughnuts

A copycat of Krispy Kreme's glazed doughnuts - pillowy soft yeast-raised doughnuts dipped in a sweet, glossy sugar glaze while still warm.

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Prep Time 30

Cook Time 15

Total Time 2

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 290

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

Doughnuts

1 cup warm milk
2.25 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter melted
2 eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
oil for frying

Glaze

2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Equipment

Deep pot
Thermometer
Doughnut cutter

Method

Dissolve the yeast and a pinch of sugar in the warm milk and let it foam, 5 minutes.
Mix in the remaining sugar, melted butter, eggs, flour, and salt, then knead until smooth. Let rise 1 hour until doubled.
Roll out to 1/2 inch and cut doughnut rings. Let them rise 30 minutes until puffy.
Fry in 350F oil for about 1 minute per side until golden, then drain.
Whisk the glaze ingredients smooth and dip the warm doughnuts, letting the excess drip off. Serve fresh.

Notes

The dough should be soft and light. Glaze the doughnuts while warm so the glaze sets into a thin, glossy shell.

Tips for the Best Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

Do not over-flour the dough – keep it soft for airy doughnuts
Fry at a steady 350F so they cook through quickly
Glaze while warm for that thin, glossy shell
Let the cut doughnuts rise until puffy before frying

Storage & Reheating

Best the day they are made. Store leftovers airtight at room temperature for a day and warm briefly before eating.

Variations to Try

Add a chocolate glaze instead of classic
Fill with custard or jam for filled doughnuts
Add sprinkles before the glaze sets

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my doughnuts dense?

Too much flour or insufficient rising leads to dense doughnuts. Keep the dough soft and let it fully double, then puff up after cutting.

What oil is best for frying doughnuts?

A neutral oil with a high smoke point, like vegetable or canola, works best at 350F.

Can I bake these instead of frying?

You can bake them at 375F for about 10 minutes, though the texture will be more cake-like than the classic fried doughnut.

Copycat Krispy Kreme Glazed Doughnuts (Melt-in-Mouth)

Why You’ll Love This Recipe