Donut sticks are rectangular-shaped fried pastries that are crispy on the outside, warm and doughy on the inside, and covered with a sweet glaze. Or get creative and roll them in cinnamon and sugar, dust them with confectioners’ sugar, or even add your favorite sprinkles or chopped nuts. They are the ultimate indulgence! Try my Glazed Cake Donuts, too!
Donut Stick Ingredients & Substitutions
Cake Flour: Cake flour is made from a specific variety of soft wheat. It is finely milled with a lower protein content than all-purpose flour, resulting in a delicate texture for cakes, pastries, and other baked goods. We recommend using bleached cake flour for best results, or unbleached for a more natural option.
Room Temperature Ingredients: For easier mixing and for better results, make sure the butter, egg, sour cream, and buttermilk are at room temperature.
Oil: Look for vegetable or canola oil for frying.
Glaze: I used the glaze recipe from my cake donuts. You can certainly leave off the glaze if preferred. Or, roll them in your favorite topping.
What to Pair With Donut Sticks
Although delicious on their own, there are some delicious complements to this classic treat:
- Coffee
- Hot Chocolate
- Ice Cream: No spoon? No problem! Use a donut stick to scoop up each bite of ice cream.
- Dips: Serve the donuts with some chocolate syrup and caramel for dipping.
Baking Donut Sticks In The Oven
If you don’t want to mess with frying the donut sticks in oil, bake them in the oven! Follow the same instructions up to frying in oil. Instead, place the donut sticks on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 400°F for 12 minutes. Don’t forget to add the glaze after the donuts have cooled slightly. They will not taste like a signature fried donut, but may be suitable for someone looking for avoid frying.
Air Fryer Donut Instructions
Craving a donut, but trying to avoid deep-frying? You can also use your air fryer to get the donut sticks made. Spray both sides of the donut sticks with cooking spray. Then, place them into the basket of your air fryer and air fry for about 8 minutes at 350°F. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to work in batches.
How to Store
Here are our top tips for proper storage of Homemade Donut Sticks:
- Let the donut sticks cool completely. Use an airtight container or resealable plastic bag, making sure the container or bag is large enough to hold all the donut sticks in a single layer.
- Seal it tightly to lock in the freshness and store it in a cool, dry place.
- Enjoy for up to 3 days when stored properly.
Can I Freeze Donut Sticks?
Yes! For even longer storage, freeze the donut sticks for up to a month. I do recommend freezing them without the glaze for the best results. First, place the donut sticks in a single layer on a baking sheet. Next, transfer the baking sheet to a freezer until the donut sticks are solid. After that, store them in a freezer-safe container for up to a month. When ready to enjoy, reheat them in the oven for about 5 minutes at 350°F. And then, don’t forget the glaze, if adding!
Donut Sticks
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups (350 g) cake flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ cup (½ stick / 57 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- ⅔ cup (133 g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- ¼ cup (57.5 g) sour cream
- ½ cup (122.5 g) buttermilk
- 4 cups (872 g) canola oil, for frying
Glaze
- 4 cups (500 g) confectioners' sugar
- 2 teaspoons corn syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ – ½ cup whole milk, room temperature
Instructions
- Set out two large baking sheets. Line one with paper towels and the other with a wire rack. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar. Add the egg and sour cream and continue mixing until combined.
- Slowly alternate adding a small amount of the flour mixture and a small amount of the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, into the wet mixture until a soft dough forms. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Fold the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently fold the dough several times to coat it in flour.
- Roll out the dough into an 8×12-inch rectangle. Using a pizza cutter, slice it into 12 sections, each about 2 inches by 4 inches. Cut slits on the tops of each dough section.
- In a deep frying pot over medium heat, add 4 cups of oil. Heat the oil to 370°F. While the oil is heating, prepare the glaze.
Glaze
- In a large bowl, combine the sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, salt, and ¼ cup milk. Whisk together until smooth, adding more milk (if needed) to reach your desired consistency. Set aside.
Frying
- Once the oil is hot, use a slotted spoon to carefully add 2-3 donut sticks to the oil. Cook for about 2 minutes, flipping halfway through until the donut sticks are golden brown on all sides. Remove the cooked donut sticks from the oil and place them on the paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain slightly.
- Repeat the cooking process with the remaining donut sticks, being careful to check the oil temperature as you go.
- Dip the slightly cooled donut sticks into the glaze and place them on the wire rack-lined baking sheet. (You can use a fork to hold the donut stick, dipping it fully into the glaze and then lifting it out, allowing any excess glaze to drip off before placing it on the wire rack.)
- Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
This recipe was inspired by Imperial Sugar.
Where can I find air fryer and baking directions?
Right in the blog post.
Won’t let me copy
My air frier says not to use cooking spray but suggests putting oil in a spray bottle or brushing oil on with a brush.
Yes, some air fryers have specific instructions.
I really love all your recipes even though I haven’t made them all 😋
Is cake flour the same as self rising? Can you substitute that flour. Those donuts look delicious. Great for dunking in milk or coffee
Cake flour is NOT “self-raising flour,” and it is NOT “sponge flour.” The closest thing would be “plain flour,” sifted with a little cornstarch
Can all purpose flour be used? If not, how can I make cake flour with AP flour? Thank you
In Utah, these are called Buttermilk Bars and are one of my favorite things! I appreciate the baking/air fryer directions. Thank you!
Hi Amanda…these look amazing….I am going to make them exactly as directed. Baked version.
I wanted to ask…can I add cocoa to make them chocolate… if so…how much? 🌷
Thank you
Would like air fryer directions please and how to make with regular flour and how much baking soda or powder do you add. Thank you
The air fryer directions are in the BLOG post and the ingredients are in the recipe card.
I use to get emails with your recipes but they stopped coming. I have a new email account which is francdejoy@gmail.com Can you please add me to your recipe emails at this new email address. Thank you
So sorry! I just haven’t been posting much lately… you should be getting emails again soon!