Do you love Greek food? Or are you at least curious about including more of it in your diet? If so, you’re going to love our Greek donuts recipe!
This dessert (or breakfast food!) is made with cinnamon and honey, and it’s perfect for special occasions. We’ll show you how to make them, using a few simple ingredients.
Ready to check it out? Let’s get started!
What are Greek Donuts and Where Do They Come From?
The Greek version of donuts are called loukoumades. They are a type of fried dough that’s popular in Greece, resembling little bite-sized balls.
They’re traditionally served in hot honey syrup with a sprinkling of cinnamon and chopped walnuts, or you can also sprinkle them with sesame seeds and dried fruit. Or if you want to switch things up, you could drizzle decadent chocolate sauce over the top instead. It’s perfect for a slice of indulgence in your day!
As far as history goes, Greek donuts are thought to have originated clear back during the times of Ancient Greece. Legend has it that it was offered to the winner of the first Olympic games, and they’ve been a popular treat ever since!
Ingredients You Will Need
Trust us, once you try these sweet honey puffs, you are going to love them. In order to cook your own loukoumades (or Greek donuts), you’ll need to gather a few simple kitchen tools and ingredients.
Kitchen Tools
- A large bowl
- A small bowl
- A slotted spoon
- A frying pan
- A small saucepan (optional)
- An oven
Ingredients
To make Greek donuts:
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 15 grams of active dry yeast
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 cup lukewarm water
- 1 cup lukewarm milk
- 4 tbsps olive oil
- Vegetable oil for frying
To garnish your Greek donuts, you can use just about anything you’d like, but here are a few suggestions:
- 3/4 cup of hot honey syrup (or 7 ounces of chopped dark chocolate melted with 4 ounces of water and 3 ounces of sugar)
- chopped walnuts (or sesame seeds)
- cinnamon powder (or dried fruit)
Step by Step How to Make Greek Donuts
Making Greek donuts is easier than you might think! Just follow these simple instructions and you’ll be on your way to donut perfection.
- To make the dough, start by whisking together the water, yeast, and sugar in a bowl. You’ll want to whisk the ingredients until fully incorporated and then let it sit for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, add all the other donut ingredients to a large mixing bowl.
- Once the yeast mixture has been set up for a bit, then add it to the mixing bowl. Whisk everything together vigorously for about 2 minutes or until fully incorporated. Then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit in a warm place for 1 hour.
- Close to the 1-hour mark, you can start preparing to fry. Put a medium frying pan on the stove over medium heat and add enough vegetable oil to deep fry the Greek doughnuts. About enough oil to come up about halfway up the side of the Greek donuts.
- Heat until it reaches 375 degrees Fahrenheit. You want the donuts to gently sizzle when you place them in the oil.
- Now it is time to make the dough balls from the batter. First, you’ll want to cover a tablespoon with oil so that it has a non-stick surface. You can do this by either spraying it with non-stick cooking spray, or you can dip it in your oil and let the excess drip off.
- Then you’ll want to remove the plastic wrap from the bowl and pinch off tablespoon amounts between your thumb and forefinger. Hold the dough ball in your open palm and scoop it up with your oiled tablespoon. Gently drop it into the hot oil.
- Carefully place the Greek donuts into the hot oil (about three or four at a time, or however many sit comfortably in the frying pan) and gently turn them every so often until they are golden brown on all sides. Use a slotted spoon to remove them from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb any excess oil. Do these with all of the Greek donut dough.
- While the Greek donuts are cooling, prepare your honey syrup by boiling honey and water in a small saucepan. Once it comes to a boil, whisk in some cinnamon powder. Or an alternative method is to just drizzle honey on a plate and sprinkle cinnamon over it.
- When the Greek donuts are cool enough to handle, and the honey is at room temperature, dip each one in the honey syrup or on the plate of honey. Then sprinkle them with chopped walnuts (or whatever other topping you desire).
Serve immediately while they are still warm. Enjoy!
Tips for Success
Here are a few tips to help you make the perfect Greek donuts:
- Greek doughnuts are best served fresh and warm, so be sure to fry them just before serving.
- You will probably want to oil your tablespoon for each Greek donut so that they maintain their round shape and don’t stick to the spoon.
- If you want your Greek donuts to be extra fluffy, be sure to let the dough rise for the full hour.
- Be sure not to make the frying pan too crowded while frying these Greek loukoumades. It will keep them from cooking consistently.
- It works best if the honey syrup is room temperature when you dip the Greek donuts in it.
In Conclusion
Greek doughnuts are a delicious and simple treat that can be enjoyed on any occasion! We hope you enjoyed this recipe. Be sure to follow the tips above for success. Happy cooking!
What is your favorite way to serve loukoumades? (Chocolate syrup, honey syrup, walnuts, sesame seeds, etc.) Let us know in the comments below!