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Easy biscuit donuts are our favorite morning treat! You won’t believe how good fried biscuits are – especially when tossed in cinnamon and sugar or dipped in a simple glaze.
Raise your hand if you grew up eating homemade donuts that came from a can of refrigerated biscuit dough!
And if you didn’t live that childhood, I am so sorry, my friend. Let me show you the ways…
This sounds crazy, but when you fry a biscuit, it somehow magically turns into a donut.
And not just any donut. Like a GOOD donut.
Honestly, I rank these up there in my top 3 donuts, and that’s saying something because have you seen all of the donut recipes I’ve shared over the years?
How to make donuts with biscuits:
Use a donut cutter or the cap from a 20 ounce soda/water bottle to cut a hole out of each biscuit.
Heat a pot of oil to 350 degrees and add the donuts to the oil. Fry until golden on each side.
Toss in cinnamon and sugar, dunk in a classic vanilla glaze, top with a simple chocolate glaze, or go all out and dunk them in my mama’s famous chocolate frosting.
How to Air Fry:
Not interested in heating up a pot of grease and dealing with hot oil?
I get it.
Turn them into air fryer donuts! You won’t believe how simple and quick it – and honestly they’re just as good as the deep fried version.
Donut Toppings:
Vanilla Glaze: This classic glaze is, well, classic! For a reason! Just whisk together 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla until smooth.
Chocolate Glaze: Mix together 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar, 1/4 cup cocoa powder, and 2-3 tablespoons of milk until smooth.
Cinnamon & Sugar: Whisk together 1/2 cup of granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon. The cinnamon sugar mixture sticks best when the donuts are still warm, so toss them in this mixture as soon as you’re able.
Powdered Sugar: Place 1 cup of powdered sugar in a brown paper bag. Once donuts are cool enough to handle, add them to the bag one or two at a time and shake until fully coated in the powdered sugar. If the powdered sugar is melting, your donuts are too hot. Cool longer and try tossing them again.
What Readers are Saying!
“Just made and ate two. They are excellent. Hubs says ” I didn’t know you could do that with canned biscuits”. Me either but now we know!! Off to fight over the fifth and final one.” – Diana
More Donut Recipes To Try:
Canned Biscuit Donuts
Ingredients
- 1 package 8-count refrigerated biscuits
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon or more, to taste
- vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Heat 3 inches of oil in a large, deep skillet or deep fryer to 350 degrees.
- Using a donut cutter (or the cap from a 2 liter soda bottle), cut the center from each biscuit.
- In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon and set aside.
- Place a few donuts in the pan of hot oil, being careful not to crowd the pan. Fry until golden brown on one side, about 1-2 minutes, and then flip and fry until gold brown on the other side.
- Remove and drain on a paper towel lined plate. Repeat with the remaining donuts.
- Shake each hot donut in the sugar and cinnamon mixture to coat.
- Serve warm for the best taste and texture.
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Information:
This post was originall published in November 2011. It’s been updated with new text and photos.
Ashley says
Hello! Getting ready to make these tasty suckers! Has anyone ever tried Baking them??? Like maybe brushing with a little butter, sprinkling w/cinnamon & sugar then baking according to the tube directions?? Just curious 🙂
Karly says
If you bake them, they’ll be biscuits. 😉 But, you can certainly do that if you’d like.
kaz slater says
i would love to make them but i need a home made dough ..because i am coeliac .. NO corn or wheat flour… do you think you could help me ???? all my breads,cakes,biscuits DONT rise or are soooooooo crumbly you cant even pick them up because of the stupid flours i have to use.. i miss eating all the yummy stuff
Gillian says
Sooooooo yummy !!!!! I was curious about the fact you can make doughnuts useing canned biscuits …….. But anyway I dried them and I put some warm honey on top ! Yummmmm ????????????????????????????
Gillian says
Sooooooo yummy !!!!! I was curious about the fact you can make doughnuts useing canned biscuits …….. But anyway I dried them and I put some warm honey on top ! Yummmmm ????????????????????????????
Gillian says
Sooooooo yummy !!!!! I was curious about the fact you can make doughnuts useing canned biscuits …….. But anyway I dried them and I put some warm honey on top ! Yummmmm ????????????????????????????
Lee says
I made these and they are great! I am a chunk-a-monk so i put a store bought cream cheese icing in the microwave for a few seconds and then put in a bowl. After frying my donuts I let a bit of the oil get soaked up by a paper towel (just for a few seconds) Then i dipped them in the cream cheese icing and then added color sprinkles. My boyfriend like them so much he almost put a ring on my finger! PLEASE TRY THEM!!!!!!!!!!
Kaoru says
What a great idea! I am going to try it, maybe even today. I was so inspired by your pumpkin donut recipe from a little while ago, my friends and I threw a donut party (aka deep frying party) where everyone brought their own dough to fry. For breakfast too. Your recipe was awesome.Thank you!
Skye says
I have never seen anyone say “check yourself before you wreck yourself” on a food blog before. You are a pioneer!
sue says
How amazing is that? I woulf so try donuts if they were this easy!
Shawn @ I Wash...You Dry says
My kids went NUTSO when I made these doughnuts for them! And admittedly I ate the majority of them… hehe
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen says
Ooooh I likey the new digs!
what katie's baking says
omg! i love your new blog layout!!
Pam says
This made me smile! I used to make these for my husband. He loved them!
Veronica @ Café con Leche says
Wow I loooove the new format Karly!! Looks awesome! 🙂 I am dying to buy a donut pan…top of my to-do list as soon as I get home so make lots of yummy donuts! Will have to give these a try…I’ve never heard of donuts from biscuits! cool!
Cookbook Queen says
Biscuit donuts are one of our favorite things around here…my MIL used to make them for my husband when he was little and used a curler to cut the holes out of the donuts…I use a small piece of metal pipe that i keep in my drawer for donuts only!!!
Loving the new design, it’s adorable, karly!!!