Zesty Lemon Curd Donuts Recipe: Sweet Sunshine Treats

Soft, pillowy donuts meet a burst of tangy brightness in these irresistible lemon curd donuts that dance between sweet and zesty.

The silky lemon curd nestled inside these delicate pastries creates a vibrant flavor explosion.

Each bite promises a delightful surprise with its creamy, citrusy filling that cuts through the donut’s rich sweetness.

Bakers and dessert lovers will find these treats impossible to resist.

The balance of tender dough and bright lemon notes makes these donuts a standout dessert for any occasion.

Light, airy, and packed with refreshing citrus flavor, they’re sure to become a new favorite.

Dive into this recipe and let your taste buds celebrate a perfect harmony of texture and taste.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Calories: 306 kcal

Servings: 13

Ingredients for Lemon Curd Donuts

• Flour: Provides structure and backbone for soft, pillowy donuts with a tender crumb.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with golden browning during frying.
• Cinnamon: Brings warm, aromatic depth to the dough's flavor profile.
• Rapid-Rise Yeast: Ensures quick rising and light, airy texture in donuts.

• Milk: Creates moisture and helps activate yeast for perfect dough consistency.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients together and contribute to rich, soft donut texture.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor with subtle, sweet undertones.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies other flavor notes.
• Butter: Adds richness and contributes to tender, melt-in-your-mouth donuts.

• Vanilla Pudding Mix: Provides creamy base for filling with smooth consistency.
• Lemon Curd: Delivers bright, tangy flavor that cuts through sweetness.
• Lemon Zest: Intensifies citrus notes and adds fresh, aromatic dimension.
• Vegetable Oil: Essential for deep-frying to achieve golden, crispy exterior.
• Granulated Sugar: Creates sweet, crystalline coating for finishing donuts.

Kitchen Tools for Lemon Curd Donuts

• Stand mixer: Essential for mixing dough thoroughly and kneading with dough hook attachment.
• Dough hook: Crucial for developing gluten and creating smooth, elastic dough.
• 3-inch cookie cutter: Perfect for cutting uniform donut shapes.
• Large pot: Needed for deep-frying donuts at precise temperature.
• Baking sheet: Used for resting and proofing cut donut rounds.
• Whisk: Great for mixing wet and dry ingredients smoothly.
• Piping bag: Ideal for filling donuts with creamy lemon curd mixture.
• Paper towels: Helpful for draining excess oil from fried donuts.
• Thermometer: Ensures accurate oil and milk temperatures for best results.

How to Prepare Lemon Curd Donuts

• Dough Preparation

Mix dry ingredients in a stand mixer bowl, creating a fluffy base for your delightful treat. Softened butter gets scattered on top, promising rich flavor.

• Liquid Magic

Warm milk transforms the mix, blending with eggs and vanilla to create a silky smooth dough. Knead with love until it becomes a perfect round ball.

• Dough Rest

Let the dough relax and grow in a cozy spot, doubling in size and developing deep, complex flavors. This resting time is crucial for soft, pillowy texture.

• Shaping

Roll out the dough on a flour-dusted surface, cutting delicate circles that will become golden, crispy donuts. Allow a final rise to ensure maximum fluffiness.

• Frying Adventure

Heat oil to the perfect temperature, creating a bubbling bath for your donuts. Fry until they turn a gorgeous golden brown, transforming into crispy delights.

• Lemon Filling

Whip up a tangy lemon mixture that will burst with bright, zesty flavor when you bite into the donut. The filling brings a surprising and delightful twist.

• Final Touch

Coat warm donuts in sweet sugar, then pipe in the luscious lemon filling. Each bite promises a perfect balance of crispy, sweet, and tangy goodness.

Expert Tips for Lemon Curd Donuts Flavor

• Invest in a digital thermometer to precisely check milk and oil temperatures, ensuring soft, perfectly cooked donuts every single time.
• Experiment with different citrus curds like tangy lime or vibrant orange to create unique filling variations that'll surprise your taste buds.
• When piping lemon curd, insert the tip halfway into the donut and gently squeeze to distribute filling evenly without causing the donut to burst.
• Store unfilled donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days, and keep lemon curd filling refrigerated separately to maintain maximum freshness and prevent soggy texture.

Serving Lemon Curd Donuts Beautifully

• Brunch Party Centerpiece: Arrange these golden donuts on a rustic wooden board surrounded by fresh lemon slices and mint leaves for a stunning visual presentation that screams weekend indulgence.
• Afternoon Tea Companion: Pair these zesty lemon curd donuts with a light chamomile or earl grey tea, creating a delightful balance between the sweet pastry and delicate tea flavors.
• Dessert Buffet Star: Create a beautiful dessert spread by clustering the donuts on tiered cake stands, dusting with powdered sugar, and adding small decorative lemon wedges for extra elegance and tangy charm.
• Summer Picnic Treat: Pack these donuts in a vintage basket with parchment paper, adding a few fresh berries alongside for a portable and delectable outdoor dessert that will impress friends and family.

Lemon Curd Donuts: Storage and Make-Ahead Notes

• Fresh Batch Timing: Best enjoyed within 4-6 hours of preparation for ultimate taste and texture. Homemade donuts lose their crispy exterior and soft interior quickly.
• Cool Down Strategy: Let donuts completely cool before refrigerating to prevent condensation and soggy texture. Use an open-air wire rack for optimal air circulation.
• Refrigeration Window: Store filled donuts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking and maintain individual donut quality.
• Freezing Option: Freeze unfilled donuts wrapped individually in plastic wrap, then placed in a freezer bag. Thaw at room temperature for 1-2 hours before filling and serving. Perfect for advance preparation during busy weeks or unexpected guest scenarios.

Tangy Lemon Curd Donuts Recipe

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4.7 from 33 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Homemade lemon curd donuts deliver a delightful balance of tangy and sweet flavors. Pillowy pastries filled with silky lemon curd will tempt you to savor each delectable bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 6 cups (1.4 liters / 6 cups) vegetable oil
• 3 ½ cups (440 grams) all-purpose flour
• 3 eggs
• 8 tbsps (113 grams) unsalted butter, softened, cubed
• 1 cup (240 milliliters / 1 cup) milk
• 1 cup (200 grams) sugar
• ½ cup (120 milliliters / ½ cup) warm milk
• ½ cup (100 grams) sugar
• 3.4 oz (96 grams) vanilla pudding mix
• 1 cup lemon curd
• 2 ¼ tsps rapid-rise yeast
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp salt
• Zest of 1 lemon

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Instructions

1. Ingredient Fusion: Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, and rapid-rise yeast in a stand mixer bowl, ensuring even distribution of dry components.
2. Dough Preparation: Integrate softened butter into dry mixture, then add warmed milk, eggs, vanilla extract, and salt. Knead with dough hook for 10-12 minutes until achieving a smooth, elastic consistency.
3. First Proofing: Shape dough into a sphere, place in a greased bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to rise in a warm environment for 90 minutes, expanding significantly in volume.
4. Shaping and Second Proofing: Roll out dough on a floured surface, cut into 3-inch rounds, and let rest for 30 minutes to develop additional texture and volume.
5. Frying Technique: Heat vegetable oil to 345°F, carefully submerge dough rounds, and fry for two minutes per side until achieving a uniform golden-brown exterior.
6. Filling Preparation: Whisk vanilla pudding mix with milk, incorporate lemon curd and zest to create a vibrant, creamy filling.
7. Final Assembly: Drain fried donuts on paper towels, coat with sugar, then use a piping bag to inject the lemon-infused cream, creating a luxurious, zesty center.

Notes

• Yeast Activation Tip: Ensure milk is lukewarm (around 110°F) to activate yeast without killing it, creating perfect dough rise.
• Dough Consistency Check: Knead until dough becomes smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky but not sticky, indicating proper gluten development.
• Oil Temperature Precision: Maintain consistent 345°F oil temperature for even browning and preventing greasy, undercooked donuts.
• Filling Technique: Allow donuts to cool slightly before filling to prevent liquid filling from becoming runny and ensure clean, precise injection.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 306
• Sugar: 22 g
• Sodium: 70 mg
• Fat: 17 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 35 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 37 mg