Ingredients
🍩 For the Donut Dough:
- 🌾 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 🥛 ¾ cup warm whole milk
- 🧊 1 tablespoon instant yeast
- 🥚 1 large egg
- 🧈 3 tablespoons melted butter
- 🍦 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 🧂 1 teaspoon salt
- 🍬 ¼ cup sugar
🥓 For the Candied Bacon:
- 🥓 6 slices thick-cut bacon
- 🍯 ¼ cup maple syrup
- 🍬 ¼ cup brown sugar
- 🌶️ ½ teaspoon black pepper (optional)
🍁 For the Maple Glaze:
- 🧈 2 tablespoons butter
- 🍯 ½ cup pure maple syrup
- 🍬 1 cup powdered sugar
- 🍦 ½ teaspoon maple extract
Instructions
✅ In a mixing bowl, combine warm milk and yeast, then let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
✅ Stir in sugar, egg, melted butter, vanilla, and salt.
✅ Gradually mix in flour, kneading for 8-10 minutes until smooth.
✅ Cover and let it rise for 1-2 hours, until doubled in size.
✅ Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
✅ Lay bacon strips on a lined baking sheet.
✅ Brush with maple syrup, then sprinkle with brown sugar and black pepper.
✅ Bake for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway, until crispy and caramelized.
✅ Let cool, then chop into small pieces.
✅ Roll out the risen dough to ½-inch thickness.
✅ Cut out donut shapes using a round cutter.
✅ Heat vegetable oil to 375°F (190°C) and fry 2-3 donuts at a time for 1 minute per side.
✅ If baking, preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake for 12-14 minutes.
✅ Let cool on a wire rack.
✅ Melt butter in a small saucepan.
✅ Stir in maple syrup and heat for 1 minute.
✅ Remove from heat and whisk in powdered sugar and maple extract until smooth.
✅ Dip each warm donut into the maple glaze.
✅ Immediately sprinkle with candied bacon bits.
✅ Let set for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For the best texture, use bread flour instead of all-purpose flour for a slightly chewier donut.
- For a crispier bacon topping, make sure the bacon is completely cooled before chopping and adding it to the donuts.
- If you prefer a stronger maple flavor, add ½ teaspoon maple extract to the donut dough as well.
- Baking option: If frying isn’t for you, these donuts can be baked at 350°F (175°C) for 12-14 minutes, though they’ll be slightly less fluffy than fried versions.
- Want an extra crunch? Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts on top of the glaze along with the candied bacon.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Fried / Baked
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 donut
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg