Recipes | Desserts & Pastries

Jelly Doughnuts – Sufganiyot (Gluten Free)

GFVEGMisc

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy for details.

I Wrote the Book on Doughnuts

Literally. My book, A Baker’s Field Guide to Doughnuts contains dozens and dozens of doughnuts: fried, baked, fancy, plain, a Krispy Kreme copycat recipe and even gluten-free. But wouldn’t you know it, I had not developed a recipe for a gluten-free yeast-raised jelly doughnut. So, into the FODMAP Everyday® Test Kitchen I went to bring you our Jelly Doughnuts (Sufganiyot) for Hanukkah – or anytime you want a gluten-free jelly-doughnut!

EDITOR’s NOTE: The original recipe on this page gave some folks trouble at home, so I not only re-worked it, to be a much easier and more reliable recipe, but I even created two Jelly Doughnut recipes for you, both of which are suitable for Hanukkah – or as I said above – anytime you want a gluten-free jelly-doughnut!

pile of gluten-free jelly doughnuts on white plate; jelly oozing out

There are two main differences: This doughnut is filled with jelly AFTER frying and our Low FODMAP Jelly Donut is filled before. This doughnut is cakier in texture, due to the milk and additional egg, even though it is still a yeast-raised doughnut, and the other is much springier and spongier and more yeast-like, and also happens to be dairy-free.

So now you have a choice of technique and also texture.

pile of jelly doughnuts on decorative white plate, pink flowers in background

Latkes or Jelly Doughnuts?

Is that really a fair question? We say yes to both. (Check out our latke recipe, too). Maybe not at the same meal, but they each have a place in our hearts (and mouths).

The reason you will find both in relation to Hanukkah is that both are deep-fried in oil and Jews celebrate the miracle of a small quantity of oil that lit their Temple’s menorah for eight days when the amount was really only enough for one night.

vertical closeup of jelly doughnut held in hand

Choose Your Filling Wisely

The quality of the jam really makes these jelly doughnuts so buy a really delicious strawberry jam. We are partial to ones that have strawberries listed as the first ingredient, as they are very fruity, but many will list sugar first, and that is okay. Pectin is fine too as are lemon juice and citric acid.

And now that Monash has lab tested and approved of raspberry jam, you could use that as well in the same amounts.

Steer clear of any jams or jelly that list high fructose corn syrup as an ingredient, which you can read about here.

closeup of gluten-free jelly doughnut held in hand with pink nail polish

Tips on Piping the Filling Into the Donut

Now, this jam has to get piped inside the fried doughnuts and that is most easily accomplished with a pastry bag and tip. The jam has to be thin enough to flow through the tip – and certainly not chunky as many fruit-filled jams are.

If yours is pretty thick and chunky, try the following. First, turn some out into a bowl and stir vigorously. It will thin out a bit and that might be all you need. If it needs more help, press through a wire-meshed strainer to remove any large pieces of strawberry.

closeup of low FODMAP gluten-free jelly doughnuts on decorative blue plate

Using the Right Tools

Note that you should have a deep-fry thermometer handy for frying the doughnuts. You also need a pastry bag and small round tip for getting the jelly into the doughnuts. Some folks say you can do this with a plastic bag with the tip cut off; I have never had success with this and do not recommend it.

If you like specialty items, consider getting a Bismarck tip as seen in the image below. It is meant just for this purpose. Works well with cream puffs, too.

Bismarck tip

By the way, you won’t taste the cinnamon and nutmeg in the dough; they just make it a little more interesting and less plain.

How To Make Jelly Doughnuts

Using rapid-rise or instant yeast makes these easy. No need to proof the yeast in liquid before starting.

Whisk your room temperature eggs, oil and vanilla together in a small bowl and set aside. You could use melted butter, which will give the dough more flavor, but the oil keeps the dough extra-spongy.

Combine your dry ingredients in your mixer bowl: flour, sugar, yeast,  xanthan gum, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.

combining dry ingredients for jelly doughnuts

Your milk should be warm, about 110°F to 115°F (43°C to 45°C). Use an instant-read thermometer to gauge temperature. If it is too hot, simply wait a few minutes, stirring it to disperse heat.

heating milk for doughnuts; if it is too hot, let it cool!

Pour it over the dry mixture and beat it with a flat paddle until it begins to come together, then drizzle in the egg/oil mixture as well. Beat it well and you will see that it comes together very quickly and will not be sticky. If it is sticky, keep beating it a bit.

the dough will come away from the sides of the bowl and will not be sticky at all

Roll out the dough on a floured surface or piece of parchment paper. Cut out your doughnuts with a cookie or biscuit cutter. Just like with biscuits, do not twist the cutter. That would seal the sides and inhibit rising and a nice “puff”.

roll out the dough on a floured surface or a piece of parchment

Arrange them spaced apart on a parchment lined pan, cover with plastic wrap and set in a warm, draft-free place to rise for 1 hour.

doughnuts cut out ready to rise

After an hour they should look risen and puffy.

risen doughnuts

Once your oil comes to temperature, fry them just a few at a time to allow them to move freely around in the hot fat. Simply fry till golden, flipping over once.

fry only a few doughnuts at a time

Toss your jelly doughnuts in sugar (or cinnamon sugar) while still very warm.

toss doughnuts in sugar right away

Fill them with jelly or jam as soon as you can handle them – and serve immediately!

Bismark tip with jelly

 

Send This Recipe to Me!
Enter your email to have this sent to your inbox and we will send you fresh recipes weekly!
By sending this message, I accept FODMAP Everyday’s
Terms and Privacy Policy.
jelly doughnuts in fluted decorative gold bowl
4.1 from 31 votes

Jelly Doughnuts - Sufganiyot (Gluten Free)

Jelly Doughnuts (Sufganiyot) for Hanukkah - or anytime you want a gluten-free jelly-doughnut!

Low FODMAP Serving size Info: Makes about 16 doughnuts; 1 doughnut per serving

Makes: 16 doughnuts
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Rising Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Author: Dédé Wilson

Ingredients:

Doughnuts:

Topping & Filling:

  • 1/2 cup (99 g) sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • Pastry bag
  • 1/4 inch (6 mm) round tip, such as a Wilton #12 or a Bismarck tip
  • 3/4 cup (210 g) strawberry or raspberry jam

Preparation:

  1. For the Doughnuts: Line a half-sheet pan with parchment paper; set aside. Whisk the eggs, 2 tablespoons of oil and vanilla together in a small bowl or measuring cup with spout and set aside. 

  2.  In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a flat paddle add the flour, sugar, yeast, xanthan gum, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg and mix on low speed briefly to combine.

  3. Add the warm milk and the beaten egg mixture to the flour mixture and mix on medium speed until the dough comes together; it will pull away fairly cleanly from the sides of the bowl. Scrape down and keep mixing for about a minute or 2 or until the dough is soft, not sticky at all and can form a cohesive shape.

  4. Dust your work surface and rolling pin with extra flour and roll out your dough to about a scant 1/2-inch (12 mm) thick. Using a 2 1/4-inch (5.5 cm) cookie cutter, cut out about 16 rounds. Place on prepared sheet pan, cover with plastic wrap and set in a warm, draft-free place to rise for 1 hour. 

  5. After 1 hour your doughnuts should have risen and look soft and puffy. Pour oil to a depth of at least 3-inches (7.5.cm) in a deep sided heavy pot, or prepare your deep-fryer machine. Bring oil to 350°F (180°C). Have two sheet pans nearby, one lined with paper towels and the other lined with a rack. Have the ½ cup (99 g) sugar in a small bowl near the pan with the rack; stir in the cinnamon to the sugar, if using.

  6. Use a spatula to carefully lower the donuts into the hot oil. Cook only as many doughnuts as will fit comfortably in your pan, allowing space between them. Fry the donuts for about 1 minute or until golden brown, then flip over and cook the second side for a similar amount of time, again until golden brown. Try to keep the heat between 325°F (165°C) and 350°F (180°C). Use a spider or your spatula to remove the donuts, place on paper towels very briefly to absorb excess oil.

  7. For the Topping & Filling: Immediately toss doughnuts in waiting sugar to coat on all sides.  Assemble pastry bag and tip and fill with jam. Once the doughnuts are cool enough to handle, pick up doughnuts one at a time, insert tip into center of doughnut and inject with about 1 to 2 teaspoons of jam. Just keep injecting until you see the sides of the doughnut expanding. Place on rack as you finish each one. Serve as close to preparation time as possible. Doughnuts wait for no one!

Dédé's Quick Recipe Tips Video

Notes:

Tips

  • Follow the directions exactly, down to the flour that is recommended for best results. This recipe does not provide much wiggle room for success.

FODMAP Information

Our recipes are based on Monash University and FODMAP Friendly science.

  • Oil: All pure oils are fats and contain no carbohydrates, therefore they contain no FODMAPs.
  • Sugar: Monash University and FODMAP Friendly have both lab tested white, granulated sugar. Monash states that a Green Light low FODMAP serving size of white sugar is ¼ cup (50 g). FODMAP Friendly simply states that they have tested 1 tablespoon and that it is low FODMAP. Regular granulated white sugar is sucrose, which is a disaccharide made up of equal parts glucose and fructose. Sucrose is broken down and absorbed efficiently in the small intestine.

Please always refer to the Monash University & FODMAP Friendly smartphone apps for the most up-to-date lab tested information. As always, your tolerance is what counts; please eat accordingly. The ultimate goal of the low FODMAP diet is to eat as broadly as possible, without triggering symptoms, for the healthiest microbiome.

 

 

Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Jewish

Nutrition

Calories: 161kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 82mg | Potassium: 9mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 34IU | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more. For a more detailed explanation, please read our article Understanding The Nutrition Panel Within Our Recipes.

low FODMAP gluten-free jelly doughnuts held in manicured hand