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Krofne Balkan doughnuts with icing sugar or jam
Airy and soft Balkan doughnuts dusted with icing sugar

Balkan Krofne

Author: Flavelo
Recipes Cakes and Desserts
Krofne is the Balkan answer to the doughnut: large, soft, airy pillows that almost melt in the mouth. They are often sold on the Croatian and Serbian coasts, but the real magic happens at home. The secret of the dough is the multiple proving stages and patience. Although made from simple ingredients, the result is a rich, fluffy pastry that is perfect plain with icing sugar, but becomes majestic when filled with jam.
🕒 Prep Time 30 mins
🍳 Cook Time 15 mins
⌛ Total Time 2 hrs 15 mins
🍽️ Servings 6 servings
🔥 Calories 450 kcal
🌍 Cuisine Balkan

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Large bowl - for proving
  • Rolling pin
  • Kitchen paper - for draining the oil

Allergen Information

⚠️ Cereals containing gluten
⚠️ Milk
⚠️ Eggs

Instructions

1 ✓

Activate the yeast in the sugary, lukewarm milk.

Tip: Bubbles indicate activity.
2 ✓

Mix the flour, salt, eggs, rum and butter into the yeast mixture, and knead into a smooth, blistered dough.

Tip: A blistered dough means the gluten structure has trapped air - this is the goal.
3 ✓

Prove for 1 hour. Then roll out and cut into rounds.

Tip: Do not roll too thinly, keep it about 1.5-2 cm thick so there is enough dough to rise.
4 ✓

Prove the cut dough shapes again for 30 minutes.

Tip: This resting period gives the final lightness.
5 ✓

Fry in plentiful hot oil until golden brown on both sides.

Tip: Do not overcrowd the pan, let them swim.
6 ✓

Serve with icing sugar and jam.

Tip: Icing sugar sprinkled on hot doughnuts may caramelise, so wait a moment until they are lukewarm.

Recipe FAQ

Can I use margarine instead of butter?
Technically it will work, but the flavour and texture (crumbliness) will be best with butter.
How long do they keep?
Like all yeast doughs fried in oil, they are best fresh. They dry out a little by the next day, but can be 'revived' in the microwave in 10 seconds.

Ingredients

  • 500 g Plain flour
  • 250 ml Lukewarm milk
  • 25 g Fresh yeast
  • 50 g Melted butter
  • 50 g Sugar
  • 2 pcs Eggs
  • 1 pinch Salt
  • 1 tbsp Rum
  • 500 ml Vegetable oil (for frying)
  • 50 g Icing sugar
  • 200 g Jam (optional)