What is a Spudnut Donut?

Spudnuts donuts are the lightest, fluffiest doughnuts made from mashed potatoes that you’ll ever experience! These are also sometimes called potato donuts. The mashed potatoes, or in our case the sweet potatoes take the place of some of the flour in a typical donut recipe. Spudnuts are must lighter than traditional donuts, and are prepared much in the same way.

How to make Spudnut Donuts

Preheat the oil to 350°F

Combine cinnamon and sugar. Set Aside.

Combine hot and cold milk together to create luke warm milk.

Make the dough: Activate yeast. To activate the yeast combine yeast and water together in a small bowl. Cream together sugar and shortening. Add sweet potatoes. Continue to cream. Add eggs, milk, yeast water, and salt and continue to mix until well combined.
Gradually add flour, 1 cup at a time and continue to mix until dough forms.

Prep dough: Dump dough into a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth but sticky dough forms, about 5 minutes. Place dough into a lightly greased bowl and cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap and set in a warm area until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Punch the dough down and dump onto a lightly floured surface once again. Roll dough into a ½ inch thick slab.

Cut out donuts: Using a 3 inch circle cutter cut Spudnuts from the slab and poke a hole in the center of each with your fingers (handle gently to ensure you don’t deform your Spudnuts) place onto a baking sheet with lightly greased parchment.

Let dough rise: Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm area until Spudnuts double in size.

Fry donuts: Carefully remove Spudnuts from parchment and slide into the oil, 2 to 3 at a time. Fry each Spudnut for about 3 minutes on each side or until a light orange-golden color.

Toss with sugar and cinnamon: Drain Spudnuts onto paper towels and while still warm, lightly brush each with melted butter on both sides, and toss in cinnamon-sugar mixture until fully coated. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to three days.

Variations:

We used mashed sweet potatoes in our recipe which we love, but traditionally you use regular mashed potatoes, but without the butter and milk. We prefer russet or yukon gold. Here are some popular variations:
– Using mashed sweet potato instead of regular mashed potatoes (Like our recipe!)
– Roll in superfine sugar instead of cinnamon sugar
– Glaze the doughnuts with a simple glaze instead of rolling them in sugar. Fine a variety of donut glazes here.
– Roll in powdered sugar instead of cinnamon sugar
– Top with a Maple Glaze, which we used for our Baked Pumpkin donuts, but would be delicious on these!

Spudnuts donuts rolled in cinnamon sugar.

Making Spudnuts ahead

As you will see in the comments of this post, a lot of people have made this dough ahead! Let the dough rise as per the recipe, then pat it down and carefully wrap with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. When you are ready to use, just continue with the recipe instructions and roll out your dough!

Storing Spudnuts / Potato donuts

These donuts are best served right away when they are warm. Store in an airtight container on your counter for up to three days.

Sweet Potato Spudnut donuts with cinnamon sugar.

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