Homemade Chinese Donuts Recipe That Turns Crispy and Hollow

These long golden sticks are one of the most loved breakfast foods in China. If you have never tried them, here is the short version: they are crispy on the outside, soft and airy on the inside, and slightly salty. This Chinese donut recipe will show you exactly how to make them at home with simple everyday ingredients.

So What Are These Exactly?

They go by many names. In China, they are called youtiao. You might also hear them called Chinese fried dough sticks (Youtiao). In many other Asian countries, they have their own local name – but the idea is always the same. Two strips of dough pressed together and dropped into hot oil. They puff up fast, turn golden, and come out hollow inside.

Unlike American donuts, they are not sweet. They are lightly salted and eaten with savory things. The classic pairing is youtiao with soy milk breakfast combo – you dunk them in warm soy milk or sip it on the side. Simple and perfect.

What You Need

Dough Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus 2 extra tablespoons
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• Extra oil for frying

That is the full list. Nothing fancy. Most of these are probably already in your kitchen.

How to Make Them

Step 1 – Mix the dough

In a big bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Give it a quick whisk. Then pour in the water and oil. Mix everything together using a spoon or chopsticks. Once it comes together, knead it by hand for about 5 minutes. If the dough feels sticky, add the extra tablespoon or two of flour.

Step 2 – Let it rest

This step is important. Cover the dough and let it rest for at least 3 hours. Overnight is even better. Resting makes the dough soft and easy to stretch. So do not skip this part – it really does change the texture.

Step 3 – Shape the dough

Once rested, dust your surface with a little flour. Roll the dough out into a long flat piece – roughly half an inch thick. Then cut it into strips, about an inch wide. Take two strips and stack one on top of the other. Press a chopstick (or a skewer) firmly down the center lengthwise to stick them together. Press both ends too.

Step 4 – Fry them

Heat your frying oil in a deep pot to about 350°F. You need the oil to be deep – at least 4 to 5 inches. Carefully lower one piece into the oil, dropping it away from you. Use chopsticks to flip it constantly so it cooks evenly on all sides. It only takes about 90 seconds. Pull it out when it is golden all over.

Fry one at a time at first. That way, you can check the oil temperature and make sure they are cooking right.

A Few Tips That Help

Rest the dough properly. Three hours is the minimum. Overnight gives the best results. The traditional youtiao breakfast recipe works because the dough gets enough time to relax and develop.

Do not let the oil get too hot. At 350°F, they cook perfectly. Too hot and the outside burns before the inside cooks through.

Keep flipping. These puff up quickly in the oil. Constant turning means even color on every side.

Make a big batch. These reheat really well. An air fryer works great for this – it brings back the crunch without extra oil. They keep in the fridge for about a week.

How to Eat Them

The most classic way is warm soy milk on the side for dipping. But honestly, these crispy Chinese doughnut sticks, homemade, go with almost anything. Dip them in congee (rice porridge). Wrap them in a rice roll. Eat them plain with tea. Some people even chop them up and add them to soups for crunch.

As deep-fried Chinese donut street food, they are sold fresh from carts every morning across China and Southeast Asia. Making them at home gets you the same thing – just straight from your own kitchen.

Common Questions

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes. Mix it the night before, cover it, and leave it in the fridge. Take it out in the morning and let it come to room temperature before rolling and frying.

What if they do not puff up?

Usually, that means the oil was not hot enough, or the dough did not rest long enough. Both things matter for getting that hollow, airy inside.

Are they vegan?

This version is. No eggs, no milk, no butter. Just flour, water, oil, and a few pantry staples.

Final Thoughts

Once you try this Chinese donuts recipe at home, you will understand why people eat these every single morning. They are not complicated – but they do need patience. Let the dough rest. Keep the oil at the right temperature. And keep flipping while they fry.

The result is worth it. Crispy outside, light inside, and honestly – better than most things you can buy.