5 from 1 votes

Biscuit Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar

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Biscuit donuts, also known as Dutch Donuts, are easy to make fried donuts that are commonly enjoyed with cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar. Because these donuts are made using canned biscuits, prep is simple and they can be made and enjoyed fresh in mere minutes. 

The best part of canned biscuit donuts is that they are easy to not only turn into donut rings but donut holes. 

We were originally inspired to make these Dutch Donuts from one of our very favorite TikTok influencers to watch, @OldTimeHawkey . While Fritz and Donnybrook live in the woods and make these Pillsbury biscuit donuts over an open fire and cast iron pan, we don’t live isolated in the woods, so we instead set out to recreate this comfort food as a copycat from our own kitchen. 

paper bag of donuts spilling out onto table

Why you will love making donuts from biscuit dough!

If I could choose any dessert in the world it would be a donut.

The ability to create donuts just from canned biscuits makes the process incredibly easy. No measuring out perfect flour or even oven baking. These old-fashioned canned biscuits are truly the best traditional donut flavor without any of the work.

Pairs well with other more savory breakfast choices like Sausage Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole.

Ingredients

  • refrigerated Pillsbury jumbo biscuits – If possible, shy away from flakey biscuits or layered biscuits as they can separate during frying. If those are your own choice, there is a fix below on how to successfully use flakey donuts.
  • white sugar + ground cinnamon – You wont need this if you choose to glaze donuts, leave them plain or cover with powdered sugar. This is the cinnamon sugar topping and is a perfect way to finish off donuts.
  • vegetable oil – while you can use nearly any oil to deep fry up food, vegetable oil is always reliable on frying and has no flavor that alters the final taste.
biscuits sitting on a cutting board with ingredient list on bottom left

Expert Tips & Variations

How to create holes: Remove the donut holes from the biscuit by using one of the following: Apple Corer, Milk Jug, Bottle Cap, or Spice Jar lid

Take note of the type of biscuit: If using jumbo flaky biscuits, you will need to pinch the outer edges together or the donut will fall apart when you fry it. Also, roll the removed donut hole into a large ball in the palm of your hand, or again, all the layers fall apart when frying. The dough needs to be solid and not lifted. To

Easy Toppings: While we prefer cinnamon sugar mixture for biscuit donuts, powdered donuts work great! Plus donuts can easily be dipped into chocolate, Nutella, marshmallow, or melted peanut butter for another treat. 

How to make Dutch Donuts

  1. Remove biscuits from the can. It is best to make sure the kitchen is not warm or biscuits will begin to automatically poof out.
  2. Locate a small lid in order to cut out a donut hole. Soda or water bottle caps work great as well as spice jar lids. Spray lid with a bit of non-stick cooking spray and press down in the center of the biscuit until on the other side. Carefully remove extra dough and set it aside. This dough can be used to make donut holes or discarded.
  3. Heat vegetable oil in a deep saucepan on medium-high heat. Oil is ready to use once a drop of water sizzles on top. Using tongs, carefully lower biscuit dough into hot oil and let fry for 2 minutes.
  4. After about 2 minutes, flip the donut over (tongs work best) to fry the other side. The biscuit should be golden brown.
  5. Set the finished donut on a paper towel-covered plate to cool and drain excess oil. Complete all donuts.
6 image collage of how to make and fry biscuit donuts

Sugaring Warm Donuts

  1. Add ground cinnamon and sugar to a paper bag.
  2. Place still warm donuts into the bag.
  3. Shake bag to fully cover donuts on all sides.
  4. Remove donuts and enjoy!
4 image collage of adding cinnamon to bag and shaking freshly made donuts

FAQ’s

What is the best oil to fry donuts with? 

Vegetable oil works best for canned biscuit donuts. While other oils will work for frying, most other types of oils (particularly peanut oil and EVOO) will alter the flavor of a dessert donut as well as darken the dough. It is not uncommon to see Peanut oil used in donut shops.  

Can the donuts be glazed? 

Yes, and it’s so easy to make an amazing lemon glaze for donuts as well. Just combine (whisk works great) 2 1/2 cups of powdered sugar and 1/4 cup of lemon juice until smooth and creamy. Dip warm donut tops right into the glaze and set them aside to set. Done!  If you prefer a plain glaze, combine 2 1/2 cups of powdered sugar and 1/4th cup of milk until smooth. It’s always best to slowly add milk until consistency is reached that you want. 

How long will biscuit donuts last? 

Donuts, like all bread, have a quick shelf life. Even if you purchase donuts from a store or a shop, they go stale quite quickly. It’s best to seal donuts away from the air and get them as tightly sealed as possible. They usually last about 2 days. If donut becomes stale, we typically just microwave them 10-15 seconds to soften back up and enjoy. 

What type of canned biscuits makes the best donuts? 

Any store brand biscuits at all work fine, but you need to note the tip about flaky biscuits above under our Expert tips. Additionally, if you get super large biscuits or super small biscuits, time may need to be adjusted up or down by a minute or two. 

white plate piled high with cinnamon sugared donuts
5 from 1 votes

Canned Biscuit Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar


Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 minutes
Total Time 14 minutes
Pillsbury canned biscuits make delicious biscuit donuts, also known as Dutch Donuts, that are easily fried right on the stove. This simple way to repurpose biscuit dough into a fresh warm cinnamon sugared donut is not only great for Saturday mornings, but can be duplicated over a fire and a cast iron pan for outdoor camping as well. The extra dough from the center of the biscuit can be used for donut holes. Canned biscuit donuts also have a variety of toppings that go great – cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar, drizzled chocolate, melted Nutella, melted peanut butter or glaze. 

Ingredients
 

  • 1 tube 16 oz. refrigerated jumbo biscuits (8 count)
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

  • Mix together sugar and cinnamon in a brown paper bag by shaking well. Set aside. 
  • Remove biscuits from can.
  • Locate a small lid in order to cut out a donut hole. Soda or water bottle caps work great as well as spice jar lids. Spray lid with a bit of non-stick cooking spray and press down in the center of the biscuit until on the other side. Carefully remove extra dough from center and set aside. This dough can be used to make donut holes or discarded.
  • Heat vegetable oil in a deep sauce pan on medium-high heat. Oil is ready to use once a drop of water sizzles on top. Using tongs, carefully lower biscuit dough into hot oil and let fry for 2 minutes.
  • After about 2 minutes, flip donut over (tongs work best) to fry the other side. Biscuit should be golden brown.
  • Set finished donut on a paper towel covered plate to cool and drain excess oil. Complete all donuts.
  • Place still warm donuts into cinnamon sugar bag.
  • Shake bag to fully cover donut on all sides.
  • Remove donuts and enjoy!

Notes

How to create holes:
Remove the donut holes from the biscuit by using one of the following: Apple Corer, Milk Jug, Bottle Cap or Spice Jar lid
Take note of type of biscuit:
If using jumbo flaky biscuits, you will need to pinch the outer edges together or the donut will fall apart when you fry it. Also roll the removed donut hole into a large ball in the palm of your hand or again, all the layers fall apart when frying. The dough needs to be solid and not lifted. To
Easy Topping Ideas:
While we prefer cinnamon sugar mixture for biscuit donuts, powdered donuts work great! Plus donuts can easily be dipped into chocolate, Nutella, or melted peanut butter for another treat. 
What is the best oil to fry donuts with? 
Vegetable oil works best for canned biscuit donuts. While other oils will work for frying, most other types of oils (particularly peanut oil and EVOO) will alter the flavor of a dessert donut as well as darken the dough. It is not uncommon to see Peanut oil used in donut shops.  
Can the donuts be glazed? 
Yes, and its so easy to make an amazing lemon glaze for donuts as well. Just combine (whisk works great) 2 1/2 cups of powdered sugar and 1/4 cup of lemon juice until smooth and creamy. Dip warm donut tops right into the glaze and set aside to set. Done!  If you prefer a plain glaze, combine 2 1/2 cups of powdered sugar and 1/4th cup of milk until smooth. Its always best to slowly add milk until consistency is reached that you want. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 266kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 329mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g

Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.

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