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Coconut Cake Doughnut served on a small plate.
5 from 3 votes

Coconut Cake Doughnuts with Coconut Milk Glaze

Fried cake donuts made with coconut milk. Adapted from traditional buttermilk doughnuts, this version is a little crisp on the outside, yet crumbly and soft on the inside.
Yield: 8 doughnuts and 8 doughnut holes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American, Filipino
Servings: 10

Ingredients

Coconut Cake Doughnuts:

  • 3 1/2 cups + 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 3/4 cup canned coconut milk*
  • 2 large eggs, whisked
  • 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • vegetable shortening or vegetable oil, for frying*

Coconut Milk Glaze:

  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 4 Tablespoons canned coconut milk
  • pinch fine sea salt
  • unsweetened dried shredded coconut, as needed to top

Instructions

  • Attach candy thermometer to a large heavy bottomed pot (cast-iron or Dutch oven, preferred). Fill pot about 3-inches deep with shortening or oil. Set over low-medium heat to 375 degrees. Prepare dough while oil heats.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine 1 cup of flour with sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Add coconut milk, whisked eggs, and melted butter. Mix on low speed until smooth. Add remaining flour and continue to mix on low speed until thoroughly combined. Scrape down bowl as needed.
  • Transfer dough to a floured work surface. Dough will be rather sticky. Lightly flour the top of dough and pat or roll dough to a thickness of 3/4-inch. Using a floured 3 1/2-inch doughnut cutter (or round cookie cutters), stamp out doughnuts. Transfer doughnuts and doughnut holes to baking sheet. Gather scrape dough, knead together, and re-roll to stamp out more doughnuts.
  • Brush off any excess flour from the cut doughnuts. Carefully place about 3-4 doughnuts at a time into hot oil. Do not overcrowd the pot. Cook for 1 minute on each side, until golden in color. Cook doughnut holes for about 45 seconds on each side. 
  • Drain cooked doughnuts on wire rack or paper towel lined baking sheet. Keep an eye on candy thermometer and adjust head accordingly to maintain a constant cooking temperature.

Coconut Milk Glaze:

  • Mix together confectioners' sugar, coconut milk, and salt until mixture is smooth. Add additional coconut milk one teaspoon as a time if glaze is too thick to your liking.
  • Dip warm doughnuts into glaze, allowing excess glaze to drip. Immediately sprinkle shredded coconut over glaze. Set on a wire rack for glaze to set. Enjoy while doughnuts are warm, or enjoy at room temperature. 

Notes

  • Use well shaken, full-fat canned coconut milk. Light coconut milk will yield different results. 
  • Frying in shortening with result with a crispier doughnut. Cooked doughnut will also feel less greasy than oil fried doughnuts.
  • Use a candy thermometer to maintain proper cooking temperature.
  • Use this 3 1/2-inch doughnut cutter, or a 3 1/2-inch round cookie cutter paired with a 1-inch round cookie cutter.
  • These doughnuts actually taste better the following day. Store any leftover doughnuts in a breathable box (like cardboard bakery box or container with lid slightly jar) to prevent glaze from melting.