Round Rock doughnuts are a regional specialty from the town of Round Rock, Texas. This recipe is easy to make and produces delicious, fluffy doughnuts that are perfect for a breakfast or snack.
Why Making Round Rock Doughnuts?

As you might have guessed, the Round Rock doughnut is named after the city in which it was created: Round Rock, Texas. This small town is located just outside of Austin and is home to a very popular doughnut shop called TX Donuts.
The Round Rock doughnut is a bit of a cross between a traditional cake doughnut and a fried yeast doughnut. The result is a fluffy, yet slightly dense, doughnut that is coated in a sweet glaze.
There are a few things that make the Round Rock doughnut unique. First, the doughnuts are hand-rolled and cut out with a special cutter that gives them their distinctive shape. Second, they are fried in lard, which gives them a richer flavor and a crispier exterior. Finally, they are dipped in a simple glaze made from confectioners’ sugar, water, and vanilla extract.
While the Round Rock doughnut might not be as well-known as some of the other iconic Texas foods (like Tex-Mex or barbecue), it is definitely worth seeking out if you’re ever in the area. And, even if you’re not able to make it to Round Rock, you can still enjoy these delicious doughnuts by making them at home.
Round Rock Doughnuts Recipe

Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup lard
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 quart vegetable oil, for frying
- For the glaze:
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, cream together the lard and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, sour cream, baking soda, salt, and vanilla extract. Gradually add in the flour until the dough comes together.
- Roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/2 inch on a surface that has been lightly dusted with flour. Use a doughnut cutter to make doughnut shapes.
- Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Fry the doughnuts, a few at a time, until golden brown.
- Remove to a wire rack or paper towels to drain.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, water, and vanilla extract until smooth. Dip the top of each doughnut into the glaze and let set.
Nutritional Information of Round Rock Doughnuts Recipe
Per Serving:
- Calories: 350
- Fat: 14.5g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
- Sodium: 430mg
- Carbohydrates: 50.5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 26g
- Protein: 4.5g
The nutritional information for this recipe is an estimate only and was calculated using Nutrifox, an online nutrition calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions on Round Rock Doughnuts Recipe

Q. What is the difference between a cake doughnut and a fried yeast doughnut?
A. A cake doughnut is made with a sweeter batter that often contains milk, butter, and eggs. These ingredients make for a denser, richer doughnut. A fried yeast doughnut, on the other hand, uses a yeast-based dough that is light and fluffy. The addition of lard to the Round Rock doughnuts recipe gives them some of the rich flavor of a cake doughnut, but they maintain the light texture of a fried yeast doughnut.
Q. How do you make the glaze for these doughnuts?
A. The glaze for these doughnuts is very simple to make. Just whisk together confectioners’ sugar, water, and vanilla extract until smooth. Then, dip the top of each doughnut into the glaze and let it set.
Q. Can I make these doughnuts ahead of time?
A. Yes, you can make the doughnuts ahead of time and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. However, they are best eaten fresh out of the fryer.
Q. What is the best way to reheat these doughnuts?
A. If you need to reheat these doughnuts, just pop them in a 350°F oven for 5-10 minutes until warmed through.
Q. How many calories are in one Round Rock doughnut?
A. One Round Rock doughnut contains approximately 350 calories.
Q. What is the nutritional information for one Round Rock doughnut?
A. One Round Rock doughnut contains 14.5 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 55 milligrams of cholesterol, 430 milligrams of sodium, 50.5 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 26 grams of sugar, and 4.5 grams of protein.
Q. How long will these doughnuts stay fresh?
A. These doughnuts are best eaten the day they are made, but they will stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Tips And Tricks on Making Round Rock Doughnuts
For a richer flavor, you can substitute the sour cream for buttermilk.
If you don’t have a doughnut cutter, you can use a biscuit cutter or a glass to cut out the doughnuts. Just be sure to flour the cutter so that it doesn’t stick to the dough.
These doughnuts are best eaten fresh out of the fryer, but if you need to reheat them, just pop them in a 350°F oven for 5-10 minutes until warmed through.
To make cleanup easier, line the bottom of your pot or Dutch oven with foil before frying the doughnuts.

Round Rock Doughnuts
Equipment
- a large bowl
- A hand mixer or a stand mixer
- A rolling pin
- A doughnut cutter
- A large pot or Dutch oven
- A wire rack or paper towels
- A small bowl
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup lard
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 quart vegetable oil for frying
- For the glaze:
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a large bowl, cream together the lard and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, sour cream, baking soda, salt, and vanilla extract. Gradually add in the flour until the dough comes together.
- Roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/2 inch on a surface that has been lightly dusted with flour. Use a doughnut cutter to make doughnut shapes.
- Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Fry the doughnuts, a few at a time, until golden brown.
- Remove to a wire rack or paper towels to drain.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, water, and vanilla extract until smooth. Dip the top of each doughnut into the glaze and let set.
Final Thoughts
Doughnuts are a classic breakfast food that can be made at home with a few simple ingredients. This recipe is easy to follow and produces delicious results. If you’re looking for a new doughnut recipe to try, give this one a go!
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