easy peasy homemade donuts

06 October 2009


I am not much of a "fryer." I think I have maybe fried something in oil once, maybe twice in my life??? I don't like the way it makes the house and clothes smell and it just seems like a lot of work. And I always laugh when I think of the line from Sweet Home Alabama when Candice Bergen tells Reese Witherspoon's mom "why don't you go back to your double wide and fry something" and then gets punched out. Oh, that makes me want to watch that now.


Anyway, for our little rotating preschool, I had the letter "d" and I found this super simple donut recipe. It looked so easy in fact, I was willing to fry. We tried it and liked it so much, we made them again for our family night.

First, buy some tubes of refrigerated biscuits: super cheap, 100 calories, and no trans fat! Already better than Krispy Kreme, right?? You can also buy the big grands ones if you want bigger donuts.
Pop open the tube (best part!) separate the circles, and then use the lid of something in your refrigerator (we used the lid to the lemon juice) to cut holes in the middle. Save the holes for donut holes.
Pour some vegetable oil in a skillet about 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep and heat it to about 375. If you don't have an electric skillet, you could do this on top of the stove as well. Place the donuts in the oil, and they will golden brown fairly quickly~like 30 seconds or so
Then flip them to the other side, do the same. Drain them on paper towels, and then do the same for the donut holes. Those turn brown really, really quick so be ready.
Sprinkle them with cinnamon & sugar, or powdered sugar, or put glaze
 
 or frosting, or sprinkles, possibilities are endless. We just stuck with the cinnamon & sugar tonight.



They may not be the prettiest, but they are soooo good, especially warm. Perfect for watching Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, or after a visit to the pumpkin patch, for family night, after carving pumpkins, with a mug of cider. And the kids love doing this. My oldest suggested we start a donut business and we could do this every day. :)
Happy Fall Fryin'!

Want some more fall recipes? Here are some favorites:
greatest granola  .  easy peasy homemade donuts   .   soft pumpkin cookies   .   caramel corn puffs   .    foolproof yeast bread

30 comments

  1. Hello sweet Melissa - my kids and I have made these donuts and loved them! There's just something so yummy about home made goodness, right? They are the besssst right out of the fryer. Mmmm...I'm drooling.

    Blessings,
    Marie
    http://emmacallsmemama.com

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  2. Awww...brought back memories. We did the exact same donuts as kids! Thanks for sharing and definitely way tastier than Krispy Kreme.

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  3. That's how we did them growing up too! I vividly remember my mom making these for us. I've done it with our kids a few times now and they're still just as yummy. A little too yummy. ;)

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  4. We make these on campouts in the dutch oven. We call them darn goods because they are so darn good.

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  5. These really are good. I have been making these for about 20 yrs. or so. My children always enjoyed them and make them for their children. Yours will too. Such fun. Hugs, Marty

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  6. I make these quite often,my husband loves them.
    ~Lizzy

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  7. I remember my mom making these for us on the weekends when my brother, sister & I were kids! I might have to make some for my boys this weekend! They'll love them! Thanks for the memories!

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  8. Those are so good! I love donuts in the fall! It reminds me of my childhood in MIchigan. We used to go for a drive to Amish country and stop and have homemade apple cider and hot donuts. It was so heavenly! I can smell the donuts right now!

    Have a super week Melissa!

    XOXO
    Jen

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  9. My Grandma used to make those for us! I don't think I've ever made them for my kids! Thanks for the reminder!!

    ~TidyMom

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  10. I use to make these too, I need to make some for my son !

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  11. I have never made donuts. I am not a fryer, either, but I may have to try these on a "splurge day"! Thanks for sharing!!

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  12. I've never made donuts before but here in the south, we fry a lot. Not good for you but it sure tastes good. That was a fun thing for the kids to do.

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  13. These were a staple for Family Home Evening when my kids were little. They loved rolling the donuts in powdered sugar, cinnamon, etc. Thanks for the memories!

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  14. Looks easy to do. I can't believe I never tried that with my children!

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  15. We used to do this ALL of the time in the 70's! I hadn't thought of it forever! Love it!

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  16. I used to make this when my kids were little, they loved them. Thanks for the reminder,,think we'll make some now.

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  17. Oh, girl! This brings back memories. We did this from time to time growing up, except we cut each biscuit into fourths and rolled them a little to make munchkins. Yummy! I need to do this with my kiddos. Thanks for the reminder.

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  18. My mom used to make these for a special treat when we were kids...and that was a good while ago.
    Yes, I was from the south and my momma could fry up anything, I love that movie line too.

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  19. My mom used to make us a recipe similar to this on Christmas morning. We loved them! :)

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  20. I can do this!!!! :) Do you use a candy thermometer to test the temps on the skillet? I have an (unopened!!) skillet like that and we've never used it before. This is the perfect opportunity. Great recipe, Melissa! :)

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  21. Great Fall decor ideas! I need to get started on mine! Thanks for the inspiration. :)

    www.weareblessedathome.blogspot.com

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  22. Oh wow, I haven't had those in YEARS! My sweet Mother used to make them for my brother and I when we were kids. Thanks for reminding me of such a yummy memory of my childhood!

    Kim

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  23. Oh, I love these & posted them on my blog earlier this year. My hubby thought he was in heaven when I made them for him. Don't do it too often though, too much fat & grease. My mama made these for us growing up, great way to get donuts cheap.

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  24. ok, maybe i live under a rock, but i have never heard about making your own donuts - and omg it looks easy. Guess what i'll be doing saturday morning...mmmmmm.

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  25. Yum! I've tried those before, they are easy and delicious. I've never tried them with cinnamon sugar, though, so that's up next!

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  26. We made these a couple weeks ago and Blake loved them!

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  27. Oh my goodness! Those look awesome...we'll have to try!

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  28. Oh yum! Those do look good! And on a chilly night (our first one last night, thank you very much!), with cider...super yum! :D

    Thanks for the tip!

    -c
    yapping cat

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  29. My mom used to slave in the kitchen when she baked donuts from scratch for us kids.  They were very good, but these are very good too, and soooooo easy!  I call them fatties because that's what they make me if I eat too many.  Love the Sweet Home Alabama reference!

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