Sunday, April 25, 2010

The Easiest Donuts in the World

The Easiest Donuts in the WorldWhen it comes to donuts I'm just like Homer Simpson--I've never met a donut I didn't like. My favorite are probably the Bavarian creams with chocolate on top and custard inside but jellies are a close second with apple fritters and egg donuts and crullers not far behind.

Of course you can't forget maple bars or a perfectly glazed Krispy Kreme. The only thing I won't waste my calories on is a stale donut (though you can zap it in the microwave and take years of a donut's life) or a cake donut. Why bother? I mean they're okay but when you have the raised kind I just don't see the point.

This past week I taught the girls at church to make raised donuts and the recipe is easy enough but in the course of my research to find the perfect donut dough I stumbled upon a glorious fact: You can use refrigerated biscuit dough in place of donut dough with magnificent results.

I'm talking about the plain old, generic brand, refrigerated biscuit dough that comes in those tubes that scare me a bit every time I go to open one. For some reason every time I open one I get a slight apprehension as if I'm about to diffuse a bomb or something. Anyway, they're only about a dollar or two for a four pack here and one tube will make up 8-10 of these guys in no time at all.

You just pour some oil in a pan and fry them up (you'll want it at about 350 degrees, or hot enough to make a toothpick fizzle slightly when you stick it in the oil to test it). I warmed the dough slightly in the microwave (on a very low power) so that it was at room temperature, cut out a hole in the middle and fried away.

After they're golden all around--and don't forget to fry up the holes--you drain them on a paper towel and let them cool slightly. Make up your own glaze if you want but you can also sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar or drizzle with honey or even top with some Nutella. You cannot go wrong.

The kids thought I was the absolutely best mom in the world when they found I'd made donuts for their after school snack. It's a time that will go down in family history as a great day.

Sponsored by Dimples and Dandelions for Serena and Lily baby bedding.

14 comments:

Alison Kelley said...

Oh yum! I'm with you, I love a good donut especially fresh ones. I'm partial to the glazed variety, those pink frosted french twist glazed ones (can never remember their names) and jelly ones.

Thanks for the recipe!

Becca said...

yep, it was always a special night when my daddy made these. that's right, I grew up eating this very donut! so easy, a great treat and super cheap!

Shannon said...

I've been making those for years, although I usually just quarter them and make all donut holes. Very yummy. Also works for quick monkey bread as well.

Patricia L said...

ahh, glad you discovered this! I did a post on them here: http://inthemomzone.blogspot.com/2009/11/too-easy-doughnuts.html

You really can't get any easier than those doughnuts!

threesidesofcrazy said...

I made them the "LONG" way recently - glad to know there is a short cut. You and I are of EXACT mind on donuts and their spot in the donut pecking order! :)

CM said...

Now that is easy! I totally want to try this now. Thanks!

Daisy said...

I worked in a donut shop one college summer. The place smelled so good! I didn't eat many donuts, even though I knew they were delicious. I kind of lost my taste for them by the end of August.
That's the summer I learned to love coffee, though, and I haven't lost my taste for the brew at all!

Anonymous said...

I remember that my grandmother used to make us biscuit-donuts when I was a kid. When I mentioned it to my mom years later, she swore that there was no way her mother would have made donuts any way other than from scratch.

I still maintain that she did. And that's just fine with me... :-)

Stephanie said...

I'm not a big fan of donuts, but I am impressed that you made them so simply! This is the easiest recipe I've ever come across.

stephanie@metropolitanmama.net

Lei said...

Huh. Yep, I think I can do that! Yum!

Unknown said...

In the South, we call those thump biscuits. And I am glad to know that I am not the only person on the planet that is a little scared when they thump open. I've made donuts like this since I was a kid.

I was just thinking about maple bars the other day. Neither Krispy Kreme or Dunkin Donuts carry them and I miss them terribly.

Suzi Dow said...

Members of my first husband's family appeared at our door from Holland one afternoon. No warning, just appeared, after flying how many hours across the Atlantic Ocean. Panic? Never - I had four rolls of those refrigerated biscuits tucked away. I cut those bad boys up in to fourth, fried them in some hot oil, and tossed them, all hot and golden, into a paper bag with cinnamon sugar. I called them doughnut holes and they were a huge hit. It seems my doughnut holes are a traditional pastry served at fairs and such. After several decades, I'm still regarded by the Dutch side of his family as an outstanding homemaker and a "wonderful baker." Thanks for reminding me of that day from long ago.

Megan@SortaCrunchy said...

And here I was contemplating a sugar fast. NOPE! Not now! MUST try these first.

drooooooooooooool . . .

Jessica "Su Good Sweets" said...

Thanks for the tip! I love how you describe the suspense of opening the biscuit tube.