Dunkin Donuts French Cruller Recipe – Light & Airy Copycat Donuts

Dunkin’s French cruller stands apart from every other donut with its incredibly light, airy texture and distinctive ridged shape. This copycat recipe captures that perfect balance of crispy exterior and cloud-like interior, topped with their signature honey vanilla glaze. Unlike dense cake donuts, crullers are made from choux pastry, the same dough used for éclairs and cream puffs.

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Why This Recipe Works

French crullers rely on choux pastry (pâte à choux), which creates steam pockets during frying that result in the signature hollow, airy texture. The key is achieving the perfect dough consistency that pipes beautifully and puffs dramatically when it hits the hot oil. The honey vanilla glaze provides the perfect sweet finish that doesn’t overpower the delicate pastry.

Ingredients

• Unsalted butter – Creates rich flavor and helps build the pastry structure
• Sugar – Adds sweetness to the dough and helps with browning
• Salt – Enhances all flavors and strengthens the dough structure
• All-purpose flour – Provides the protein structure needed for proper puffing
• Eggs – Create lift and richness while binding the dough together
• Vegetable oil for frying – High smoke point oil perfect for deep frying
• Powdered sugar – Forms the smooth base for the glaze coating
• Vanilla extract – Adds classic bakery flavor to the sweet glaze
• Honey – Provides Dunkin’s signature flavor and glossy finish
• Water – Thins the glaze to proper dipping consistency

Equipment Needed

• Pastry piping bag
• Large star tip for piping bag
• Deep fryer or large heavy pot
• Wire cooling rack

How to Make French Crullers

1. Bring water, butter, sugar, and salt to a boil then remove it from the heat.
2. Stir in the flour until a smooth dough forms.
   

   

3. Let it cool before adding the eggs and egg whites one by one.
   

   

4. Cut 4-inch squares of parchment paper.
5. Fill a piping bag with the dough.
6. Fill a pot with vegetable oil, at least 4 inches deep.
7. Heat the oil to 370 degrees.
8. Pipe each cruller on a piece of parchment paper.
9. Depending on the size of your pot, fry the crullers in small batches.
10. Place each cruller in the hot oil.
11. After 1½ to 2 minutes, turn the crullers over.
12. Place each cruller on a wire cooling rack before glazing.
    

    

13. Make the glaze by mixing powdered sugar, vanilla, honey, and water together.
    

    

14. Dip each cruller in the glaze and place it on the rack.
    

    

Tips and Tricks for Perfect Pâte à Choux

• Temperature Control: Keep the oil temperature steady at 370°F. It is too cool, and the crullers absorb oil. It is too hot, and they brown before cooking through.
• Egg Addition: Always beat eggs together first, then add gradually. Humidity and flour variations affect how much egg you’ll need.
• Cooking the Flour: Don’t skip cooking the flour mixture on the stove. This removes excess moisture and improves texture.
• Patience is Key: Take time to achieve the perfect dough consistency. This determines your final results.

Frying Techniques for Success

Use a large cast iron skillet or heavy pot for even heat distribution. When transferring to oil, the parchment paper method prevents the delicate dough from losing shape. Wait for the paper to naturally release before removing it with tongs.

Storage & Reheating Instructions

• Room Temperature Storage: Store uncovered on a plate for up to 24 hours. The crispy texture benefits from air exposure.
• Serving Method: Best enjoyed at room temperature within 24 hours of making
• Freezing: Not recommended, as the delicate texture doesn’t survive freezing well

Enjoy a Dunkin Donuts beverage with your cruller!

• Coffee Coolatta
• Iced Caramel Macchiato
• Iced Coffee
• Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

Favorite Breakfast Recipes

• Apple Muffins
• Cherry Coffee Cake
• Chocolate Pancakes Recipe
• Donut Muffins
• Funfetti Pancakes
• IHOP Cannoli Pancakes
• Krispy Kreme Donut Recipe
• Oatmeal Raisin Muffins
• Pumpkin Muffins

Check out more of my easy breakfast recipes and the best copycat fast food recipes here on CopyKat!