Breakfast, Sourdough Recipes

Filled Sourdough Donuts (Bomboloni or Krapfen)

April 21, 2023 by Leanna Aberle No Comments
filled sourdough donuts
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Pillowy soft filled sourdough donuts (also known as Bomboloni or Krapfen) are the most amazing weekend morning treat! The dough comes together in a mixer the day before frying and filling.

the softest filled sourdough donuts pin image

Some of my favorite sourdough recipes are my breakfast ones like Danishes, croissants, English muffins, and bagels.

We live in the mountains a bit far from town, so there are some recipes I’m compelled to develop out of necessity.

Sometimes, a person just needs a good, fresh donut, and donuts are hard to come by up here!

donuts next to a jar of milk

The base for these sourdough donuts is actually a half recipe of my sourdough brioche master recipe.

If you haven’t tried it yet, the naturally leavened dough utilizes a tangzhong (cooked flour mixture) for a bread with an amazingly delicate and soft texture…

…which is actually perfect for fried donuts!

This time around, I rolled them in granulated sugar and filled them with my favorite mixed berry jam that isn’t overly sweet.

a pan of fried donuts filled with jam

When I sent a picture of the sourdough donuts to my family members, my sister living in Germany messaged that I had made German donuts, called krapfen or berliner.

The Italians have a similar version of the filled donut too (called bombolone) as do other cultures.

You don’t have to fill these sourdough donuts with jam or preserves. They are delicious simply rolled in sugar or a cinnamon/sugar mixture.

You could alternately fill them with a vanilla pastry cream (crème pâtissière or crema pasticcera) or chocolate ganache.

I’ve also tried filling with both jam and pastry cream, and that was delicious.

close up of sourdough donuts

Since the brioche recipe makes enough for 24 donuts, I formed half the recipe into donuts and deep fried them the day after I made the dough. I shaped them around 6am, and was frying them around 10am.

I fried the second half of the dough on day 3. The dough was just fine held an extra day in the fridge, though they did have a barely noticeable “tang” to them. It’s a really flexible recipe.

I prefer to make the whole recipe of brioche at once because it’s difficult for the mixer to knead half the amount of dough.

You could use half the dough for another purpose altogether, such as burger buns or a loaf of bread.

Filled Sourdough Donuts Baking Schedule

*The strength of your starter and the temperature at which you keep the dough will affect how long each step will take. I bulk fermented and proofed around 80°F (26°C).

Approximate timing:

  • Prepare and cool tangzhong: 30 minutes
  • Mix and knead dough: 35 minutes
  • Warm bulk rise: 4 hours
  • Cold retard in fridge: overnight (12 hours+)
  • Shape: 15 minutes
  • Proof: 3 hours
  • Fry and fill: 30 minutes

Feed your starter several hours prior to baking the recipe and allow it to peak.
I fed my starter early in the morning and started my dough in the early afternoon on day 1.
You’ll want to shape, proof, fry, and fill on day 2.

Recommended Equipment

These are my favorites, but you can use what you have in your kitchen already.

Tips for Making Filled Sourdough Donuts

  • The keys to a soft and delicate texture are using a strong sourdough starter, kneading the dough long enough until it gets to the windowpane stage (without adding extra flour), and rising and proofing the dough sufficiently. Use the dough as your guide to know when to move on to the next step.
  • The temperature of the oil is a huge key to nailing this recipe. You want the donuts to cook through sufficiently by the time they brown on the outside. Use a candy thermometer to know when your oil is between 350°F and 370°F and wait to fry if your oil isn’t quite at the right temperature.
  • Any large bubbles that appear on the sides of the donuts during frying can be pricked with a pairing knife. To avoid this, insure that you’ve shaped the donuts tightly and proofed them sufficiently.
  • If your donuts are frying up flat, this is in indication that you’ve proofed too long. They should still be delicious!

Why are my sourdough donuts oily?

The perfect fried donut will not taste oily when you bit into it.

Common problems that could cause an oily layer on the outside of your donuts include frying at a temperature that is too low, under-proofing the donuts, or failing to drain them on paper towels directly after frying.

How to Make Filled Sourdough Donuts – Step by Step

Step 1 – Feed Starter and Prepare Tangzhong

Don’t forget to feed your starter a few hours before you’re ready to make your brioche dough. You want to use it as it reaches its peak.

If you wait until it collapses again, your donuts will end up tasting a bit sour, and in my opinion, that isn’t as desirable.

The tangzhong sounds fancy, but it is quick to prepare. You simply stir the flour and milk in a small saucepan over medium heat until it thickens.

It will resemble the texture of mashed potatoes.

tangzhong
Tangzhong

It needs to cool completely before it can be added to the dough so it doesn’t melt the butter in the dough.

I like to help it along by spreading it flat on a dinner plate, covering it with plastic wrap, and sticking it in the fridge.

Step 2 – Mix and Knead Brioche Dough

Once your starter is ripe and your tangzhong has cooled, you can mix your dough! A mixer fitted with a dough hook is essential for this recipe.

If you use a Bosch mixer like I do, make sure to use the dough hook extender for this amount of dough.

The goal is to develop some strength in the dough before the butter is added. This takes about 8 minutes of mixing on low speed.

After that, half of the cold butter chunks can be added in. Continue mixing until you don’t see any more butter.

Add in the remaining butter chunks, and mix again. At this point, the dough will be cohesive, but it will stick to the sides of the mixing bowl.

It will be sticky to the touch and tear when you pull it.

sticky dough before kneading
Dough before kneading

Continue to knead on low speed even if it looks like nothing is changing. Resist the temptation to add additional flour.

After about 20 more minutes of mixing, the dough will look shiny and cling to itself instead of sticking to the bowl of the mixer.

Pull it with damp fingers, and it should stretch into a dramatic windowpane. This is how you know you’ve developed enough strength. Keep going if the dough hasn’t yet reached this point.

dough after kneading is finished
Dough after kneading is finished
dough pulled to a dramatic "windowpane"
Windowpane test after kneading

Step 3 – Bulk Rise Dough and Refrigerate Overnight

Form the dough into a tidy ball (moisten your hands to prevent sticking) and place it in a large bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out.

Since this dough is enriched with eggs, sugar, and butter, it will take its time to rise.

Keeping it in a warm spot like a foldable dough proofer or a turned off oven or microwave with the light on will help keep the process moving along.

Place an ambient thermometer with your dough and aim for 78°-80°F. Turn off the light for a while if the temp climbs too high.

After the dough increases by 1/3 (this will take 3-4 hours), place it in the fridge overnight.

Step 4 – Shape and Proof Sourdough Donuts

The next day, line two half sheet pans with squares of parchment paper and dust the papers with flour. (Note that the photos below don’t show the dusting of flour.)

Turn out your cold dough on a lightly floured surface.

Divide the dough in half (again, half the dough recipe will yield 12 donuts). Divide one half into 12 even pieces (you can use your scale here for accuracy).

Degass each piece with the palm of your hand so you won’t have funny air pockets in your donuts.

Form each piece into a tight ball by scooting it in a circular motion with your hand on the countertop. Lightly dust your hands with flour as needed. (You’ll be shaping the same way you would shape buns or dinner rolls… here’s a video if you need a demonstration).

Set the balls on the prepared parchment squares.

Cover the pans with plastic wrap, and place them in a warm place until the donuts have risen and relaxed outward and pass the “poke” test.

This means the dough will bounce back only slightly when poked with a damp finger.

donuts before proofing
Donuts before proofing
donuts after proofing
Donuts after proofing

Step 5 – Fry and Fill Sourdough Donuts

When your donuts are almost done proofing, add oil to a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat and clip on a candy thermometer so you can continuously monitor the temperature.

Line a cooling rack with a double layer of paper towels, and prepare a bowl or plate with sugar for rolling the hot donuts.

Once the oil temperate is in the range of 350°-370°F, you are ready to begin frying.

frying donuts in a Dutch oven
removing a donut from the frying oil

The parchment paper will help you to transfer the donuts to the frying pot, and they should release and drop into the pot top-side down.

Fry up to 4 at a time, flipping once, until both sides of the donuts are golden brown.

Remove them with a spider strainer spoon to the rack you’ve prepared so any excess oil can drain off.

As soon as they are cool enough to handle, dip them in sugar to coat and set them aside.

dipping the warm donut in sugar
holding the donuts until filling

Finish frying the remaining donuts. Give your oil time to heat or cool between frying if the temperature isn’t right.

You can fill the donuts as soon as you’ve finished frying.

Place your filling in a piping bag. You can use a large round tip inside, or simply use the bag with the tip cut off.

Use a small knife you pierce the side of the sourdough donut until you reach the center. Give the knife a twist to make a hole.

Then insert your piping bag and squeeze gently until you’ve extruded the desired amount of filling. Aim for a tablespoon or two depending on your preferences.

piercing the donut with a pairing knife to make room for the filling
donut after piping in mixed berry jam

The donuts are amazing eaten right away while the exterior is slightly crisp! They will soften after an hour or so, which is equally delicious.

But I will say, they are best eaten the same day.

a donut with a bite taken out of it

If you make this recipe and love it, I would be so grateful if you would come back to leave a star rating and a comment. Your feedback is very appreciated!

Follow me on Instagram @aberlehome and tag me on your photo to show me what you made!

filled sourdough donuts

Filled Sourdough Donuts (Bomboloni or Krapfen)

Yield: 12 donuts

Pillowy soft filled sourdough donuts (also known as Bomboloni or Krapfen) are the most amazing weekend morning treat! The brioche dough comes together in a mixer the day before frying and filling. The dough is borrowed from my Sourdough Brioche (Master Recipe).

Ingredients

Dough (half this amount will yield 12 donuts)

  • 240g (1 cup) whole milk, for tangzhong
  • 50g (6 Tablespoons) unbleached all-purpose flour, for tangzhong
  • 200g ripe sourdough starter, 100% hydration
  • 200g eggs (about 4 large eggs)
  • 50g granulated sugar
  • 15g kosher salt
  • 500g unbleached all-purpose flour (I use Central Milling Organic Artisan Baker's Craft Plus)
  • 140g (10 Tablespoons) butter, cold, cut into tablespoon-sized pieces

For Frying

  • Vegetable oil for frying, enough to fill a heavy-bottomed pot with 2 inches of oil (a 32oz bottle works well in a 6qt Dutch oven)

Toppings & fillings

  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar, for rolling
  • About 1 cup desired filling (jam or preserves, vanilla pastry cream, chocolate ganache, etc.)

Instructions

Day 1

Feed starter several hours prior to mixing dough and allow it to peak.

  1. Prepare tangzhong mixture: Whisk together milk and flour in a small saucepan and set over medium heat. Stir constantly with a rubber spatula until it thickens to the consistency of mashed potatoes. Spread the mixture flat on a dinner plate and cover the surface with plastic wrap. Set aside (or refrigerate) until completely cool.
  2. Mix dough: Into the bowl of a mixer fitted with a dough hook, add cooled tangzhong, ripe starter, eggs, sugar, salt and flour. Mix on low until a smooth dough forms (about 8 minutes). Add half the butter pieces and continue to mix on low until the butter is fully incorporated. Add the remaining butter pieces and continue to knead until the butter is no longer visible. The dough will be very sticky.
  3. Knead: Knead the dough on low speed for about 20 minutes or until it's very smooth, shiny, pulls easily away from the bowl to hold to the dough hook, and can be pulled to a dramatic "windowpane" with damp fingers.
  4. Bulk ferment and refrigerate overnight: Turn out the dough onto a clean countertop. Use a damp bench scraper to form the dough into a smooth ball by scooting it against the counter in a circular motion. Place dough in a large bowl, cover, and allow to rise in a warm place until it increases in volume by 1/3. This takes 3-4 hours at 80°F (26°C) (see notes below). Place in the refrigerator overnight.

Day 2

  1. Shape: Prepare two half sheet pans with six 5-inch squares of parchment paper each, and dust the parchment squares with flour. Divide half of the cold dough into 12 equal pieces (weigh for accuracy, if desired). The remaining dough can be used for more donuts, another baking project, or used the following day. Lightly flouring your hands as needed, press each piece of dough with your hands to degas, then form into a tight ball by scooting in a circular motion with your hand against the countertop. Arrange the balls on the squares of floured parchment paper.
  2. Proof: Cover trays with plastic wrap and set in a warm place to proof until they have doubled in size and pass the "poke" test. (This will take about 3.5 hours at 78°F, longer if your kitchen is cooler.)
  3. Fry: Meanwhile, line a cooling rack with a double layer of paper towels. Fill a bowl or small plate with sugar for rolling. Fill a heavy-bottomed pot with oil and set over medium heat until oil reaches 360°F (use a candy thermometer). Keep oil between 350°F and 370°F while frying. Fry up to 4 donuts at a time, flipping after the first sides are deeply golden to fry the other sides (about 2 minutes per side). (The parchment papers will allow you to easily transfer the donuts to the frying oil, releasing as you drop the donuts in top-side down.)
  4. Roll in sugar and fill: As soon as donuts are cool enough to handle, roll them in the sugar. Prepare a piping bag with a large round tip (or just cut off tip) and fill with desired filling. Poke a hole into the side of the first donut with a pairing knife until you reach the center of the donut. Give the knife a twist to make a space for the piping bag. Pipe in desired amount of filling (aim for 1-2 tablespoons), and repeat for remaining donuts. Serve donuts the same day. (The frying oil can be cooled, strained, and stored for next time.)

Notes

  • Place the dough in a foldable proofer box, a turned-off oven with the light on or in the microwave with the door ajar to keep the dough warm enough to rise within the time frames listed. An ambient thermometer can help you determine if the temperature is right. If your dough is kept in a cooler place, expect the rise times to take longer. Observe the dough to know when to move on to the next step.
  • Unsalted or salted butter works fine.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 346Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 64mgSodium: 534mgCarbohydrates: 63gFiber: 2gSugar: 17gProtein: 9g

*Nutrition information is not always accurate.

© Leanna Aberle
Category: Sourdough Recipes

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