Make Can Biscuit Donuts with Just 3 Ingredients

Crispy, fluffy, sugar-drenched donuts in under 15 minutes using a can of biscuit dough. These easy fried donuts are the ones my mom used to make when I was a kid and now my 20-something son can demolish a batch in about five minutes flat.

Pour yourself a cup of coffee and sit down while I walk you through making fried donuts.

How do you make donuts from canned biscuit dough? 

Ingredients

• Canned biscuit dough (the cheaper the better)
• Canola oil or vegetable oil
• Granulated sugar, ¼ to a ½ cup for topping

Equipment and Supplies

• A stove and a sturdy pot for frying or a countertop fryer
• A clean bottle cap--like from a water bottle or a pop bottle --or making holes in the middle of the biscuits before frying
• Newspaper or paper towels for draining the donuts briefly after frying
• Metal tongs for removing donuts from the pot of boiling oil (a metal spatula will work in a pinch)
• A piece of parchment paper or freezer paper or a flattened paper bag to pour the sugar on so you can sugar the donuts once they've drained on the paper towel.

Recipe Notes

If you’ve done any grocery shopping, you’ll know that there are usually a few varieties of canned biscuit dough in the refrigerated aisle of the grocery store. 

Buy the cheapest can of biscuit dough that you can find. 

I’ve tried this recipe using both and believe me, the cheapest works much better. 

For perspective, usually I can find these cans of dough for .50 cents each at the grocery store here in New England. 

You want the .50 cent can or whatever’s the cheapest. Maybe if you’re in the south they’re a quarter or .30 cents a can. 

Stay away from the .99 a can biscuit dough or God forbid the $2 and change can. That's not your can. They won’t turn out right. 

The brand does not matter. The cheapness does. I always buy the store brand dough for frying donuts.

I have a suspicion that the cheaper cans have thinner biscuit dough so it fries up better and crispier than the more expensive cans. But, I haven’t done any scientific experiments. 

Also, do yourself a favor and buy a few cans because these donuts are going to turn out so well your people are going to want you to make them for breakfast two or three days in a row. 

How Hot Does Oil Need to Be for Frying Donuts?

The ideal temperature for frying donuts is between 360°F and 375°F. 

Use a digital cooking thermometer or a candy thermometer to gauge the temperature of the oil.

Get one that clips to the side of the pot.

Be prepared to adjust the temperature as you're frying the donuts. 

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Recipe

Yield: 10 donuts

3 Ingredient Biscuit Donuts

5.0 Stars (1 Review)

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Turn a can of refrigerated biscuit dough into hot, fluffy homemade donuts in about 15 minutes. They're crispy outside, soft inside, and rolled in sugar for an easy treat everyone loves.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 (7.5- to 8-ounce) can refrigerated biscuit dough
• 2 cups canola or vegetable oil, for frying
• ¼ to ½ cup granulated sugar

Instructions

1. Pour 2 cups of vegetable or canola oil into a heavy saucepan. Heat over medium until the oil reaches 350°F on a candy thermometer. Depending on the size of your pan, you may need slightly more or less oil.
2. Meanwhile, prepare the biscuit dough.
3. Open the can of biscuits and separate the dough onto a cutting board or plate.
4. Press a bottle cap into the center of each biscuit and twist to cut out the hole. (Those donut holes don't have any calories once you fry them.)
5. Place a few paper towels or a paper bag near the stove so you're ready to drain the donuts as they come out of the oil.
6. Using metal tongs, carefully lower one or two donuts into the hot oil. Fry for 45 to 60 seconds per side, or until lightly golden brown.
7. As the donuts cook, adjust the heat as needed to keep the oil close to 350°F.
8. Avoid overcrowding the pan. Frying only one or two donuts at a time helps the oil stay at temperature so the centers cook through.
9. If the oil is too hot, the donuts will brown before the centers are cooked.
10. Lift each donut from the oil and let the excess oil drip back into the pan for a few seconds. Transfer to paper towels to drain briefly.
11. While the donuts are still warm, use a fork to transfer them into the granulated sugar and coat all sides. (Skip the tongs here or you'll end up with sugary frying oil.)
12. Repeat with the remaining dough.
13. Enjoy warm... preferably before your teenager discovers them.

Notes

The donuts are done when they're golden brown on the outside and the inside has cooked through.

Recommended Products

This post and/or recipe may contain affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, I'll earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See Disclosure policy.

• 
  Elite Platinum EDF-401T Maxi-Matic 1700-Watt Stainless-Steel Triple Basket Electric Deep Fryer with Timer and Temperature Knobs and Odor Free Filter, 4.2L/17-Cup
• 
  Wilton Candy Thermometer, Ideal for Precisely Measuring Temperature of Hard Candy, Nougat, or Fudge Mixtures, Clamps to Side of Pan for Accurate Readings, Metal (14.7" Long)
• 
  Winco UT-12 Coiled Spring Utility Tong Heavyweight Stainless Steel, 12-Inch

Nutrition Information

Yield 10 Serving Size 3 donuts
Amount Per Serving Calories 133Total Fat 14gSaturated Fat 11gUnsaturated Fat 7gSodium 35mgCarbohydrates 2gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 0g

Nutrition information is an estimate because I am not a registered dietician.

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My point in telling you this is that you'll have probably have nearly two cups of oil left, which if it looks clean, can be reused for the batch of donuts you're going to make again tomorrow.

Or for frying up a mess of shrimp. 

Don't waste it. Once the oil cools down, pour it in a clean jar with a lid. 

Or, jerryrig a container like me. I remove the top of an empty soda can with a can opener.

Scrub the can with soap and water. Then pour the oil into the can and cover with a baggie and put a rubber band over the top to hold the baggie on tight. 

Waste not, want not, right? 

Do you need a recipe that doesn't involve frying? 

How about Double Chocolate Shortbread Cookies? 

Or, one of the most popular cookies on this site, Chocolate Cinnamon Cookies. 

Are you having brunch? Blood Orange Martinis would go quite well with fried donuts.

History of Donuts

Your turn:

How do you make donuts? Have you ever made them with canned biscuit dough before?