Crullers (Round)
Sifted all-purpose flour, boiling water and shortening come together in this vegetarian — 70 minutes, 7 steps, and the kind of result worth repeating. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 7 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.
You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and saucepan. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (1)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: vegetarian — no meat or fish, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: Gluten Egg
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page — how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Combine the boiling water, shortening, sugar and salt in a saucepan over medium heat and stir until the shortening has fully melted and the mixture returns to a brisk simmer.
- Reduce the heat to low, add all the sifted flour at once, and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until the dough forms a smooth ball that pulls away from the sides of the pan, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Scrape the dough into a bowl and let it cool for 5 minutes, then beat in the eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next, until the paste is glossy and smooth; finally beat in the vanilla.
- Spoon the dough into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip and pipe 7 to 8 cm rings onto small squares of parchment paper, which makes them easy to lower into the oil.
- Heat the oil in a deep heavy pot to 175 C (350 F), using a thermometer to hold the temperature steady, as crullers absorb grease if the oil is too cool and burn if too hot.
- Fry the rings a few at a time, parchment side up, peeling away the paper with tongs after a few seconds, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes total, turning once, until deeply golden and cooked through with no raw dough in the centre.
- Lift the crullers onto a rack lined with paper towels to drain, let them cool slightly, then dust generously with confectioners sugar before serving.
You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Saucepan · Pan · Large pot
Ingredient substitutions
- Eggs
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce (baking) · 1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water per egg
Tips & common questions
How long does Crullers (Round) take to make?
About 70 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 9 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of eggs?
Try ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce (baking). See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Crullers (Round) vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat, fish or shellfish, so it is suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheese for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Adapted recipe — rewritten in our own wording from an open-licensed community cookbook, not yet independently kitchen-tested by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Crullers (Round) is adapted by Consomee from the Wikibooks Cookbook, rewritten in our own wording and used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo: French crullers in a doughnut shop display case in California 2023 Jan 01.jpg by Jengod, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.