Biscuit donuts are the easiest way to make donuts at home. To make these "homemade donuts" you just need canned biscuits, vegetable oil and toppings!

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Have you wondered how to make donuts at home without all the fuss of making the dough from scratch? Grab a refrigerated tube of canned biscuits and you're well on your way to these biscuit donuts. The toppings are even easier. We use tubs of frosting, sprinkles, cinnamon sugar and M&M's to top our donuts. Fun, delicious and easy!

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Easy Donut Recipe

My mom made these donuts all the time when I was little. Growing up in Michigan, the neighbor kids and I would ice skate on the pond down the road from our house. I remember coming inside from the freezing weather to mom's warm donuts, usually rolled in sugar. It's such a fond memory that I love making these for my kids - any time of the year!

You only need two items to make the donuts and then all the toppings you want! Gather these ingredients:

Grocery List for Biscuit Donuts

Canned biscuits (refrigerated biscuits)
Vegetable oil (or frying oil)
Toppings (such as sprinkles, M&M's, cinnamon sugar, frosting)

How to Make Biscuit Donuts

Heat 2 to 3 inches of oil in deep heavy duty pan to 360°F
Remove biscuits from can and separate.
Using a small biscuit cutter, cut holes out of center of each biscuit.
Fry dough in batches, about 1 minute each side, keeping temperature between 350°F and 380°F.
Transfer to paper towel lined plate to drain excess grease.
Don't forget about the donut holes!
Top with sprinkles, frosting, cinnamon sugar, etc.

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Toppings for Donuts

We like to change it up with different flavors of frosting. Go crazy with the the store-bought tubs! One of our favorites is the tub of marshmallow frosting. SO good! There is strawberry frosting, vanilla frosting, chocolate frosting, and I've even seen German chocolate frosting! Or, roll the donut in melted butter and then cinnamon sugar. You actually don't even need the butter if you dip the donut immediately while it's still hot!

Tips for Making Donuts at Home

Keep the temperature between 350°F and 380°F. Once the temperature reaches 360°F, turn the burner off or on low and watch the thermometer. If it starts to decrease to 350°F then turn the burner up. Likewise, turn the burner down or off again if the temp is reaching close to 380°F.

Donut holes cook faster. Watch the donut holes - they cook extremely quickly! And, they tend to flip on their own.

Glazed donuts versus frosted donuts. If you want glazed donuts, then frost immediately with a thin layer of frosting. If you want a thick frosted donuts, then allow the donut to somewhat cool first.

What to do with leftover frying oil.

After frying donuts (or anything!) you are left with a bunch of frying oil. To discard the oil, let it completely cool and then pour into a jar or recycled milk jug. You can then throw it away. Or, you can find a place that accepts recycled oil. Whatever you do, do NOT pour the leftover oil down the drain!

Another way to discard frying oil is to use paper towels to soak up the excess and then toss in the trash. I only recommend this if you have less than 1 inch left of oil, otherwise you're going to use up a TON of paper towels.

Tools to make donuts

Biscuit cutter. I used to use a soda cap to cut the donut holes, but I recently bought these biscuit cutters and it is SO much easier! And, I don't always have a soda cap on hand but I'll always have this cutter.
Candy thermometer. It is important to regulate the oil temperature between 350°F to 380°F. Using a thermometer ensures you have the right temperature.
Dutch oven. To avoid splattering, use a deep heavy duty pan to fry these donuts. I fry most everything, including my beignets, in my favorite Dutch oven.
Tongs. You need tongs to flip the donuts in the oil and to remove them from the pan.

Other fun donut recipes

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