🍩 Homemade Soft & Fluffy Glazed Donuts

Ingredients
For the Donut Dough:
3 ½ cups (440 g) all-purpose flour
¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
2 ¼ teaspoons (7 g) active dry yeast
¾ cup (180 ml) warm whole milk
2 large eggs, room temperature
¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
For Frying:
Vegetable oil, enough for deep frying
For the Glaze:
2 cups (240 g) powdered sugar
¼ cup (60 ml) whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1–2 tablespoons melted butter, optional
Instructions
Activate the yeast:
Combine the warm milk, sugar, and yeast in a small bowl. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes, until foamy.
Make the dough:
In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Mix until a soft dough forms.
Knead:
Knead the dough for about 8–10 minutes, until smooth, soft, and slightly elastic. If the dough is very sticky, add a little flour, one tablespoon at a time.
First rise:
Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm place for 1–1½ hours, or until doubled in size.
Shape the donuts:
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Roll it out to about ½ inch (1.25 cm) thick. Cut out donut shapes using a donut cutter or two round cutters.
Second rise:
Place the donuts on parchment-lined trays, cover lightly, and let them rise for 30–45 minutes, until noticeably puffy.
Heat the oil:
Heat vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C). Keep the temperature around 350°F while frying.
Fry:
Carefully place the donuts into the hot oil. Fry for about 1–2 minutes per side, until golden brown. Do not overcrowd the pan.
Drain:
Remove the donuts with a slotted spoon and place them on a wire rack or paper towels to drain excess oil.
Make the glaze:
Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Add melted butter if you want a richer glaze. Adjust the consistency with a little extra milk or powdered sugar.
Glaze the donuts:
Dip each slightly cooled donut into the glaze, then place it on a wire rack. Let the glaze set for a few minutes.