These easy donuts are made with canned cookies for a super easy treat and packed with the tangy flavor of a homemade lemon glaze. Yum!
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Homemade donuts are just too complicated. Right? Well, let me introduce you to the idea of cookie donuts.
These homemade donuts use a great trick: a can of cookie dough, so you can make these fried donuts in a snap!
These biscuit donuts are:
- Made with canned cookie dough
- Made with just 5 ingredients.
- Topped with homemade lemon icing!
- Sprinkled with lemon zest for a fun finish.
- Great for breakfast or dessert!
How to make donuts with biscuits
- Heat the oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F.
- Cut out the center of each biscuit to form a donut.
- Fry each biscuit donut in boiling oil.
- Place the donuts on a cooling rack to remove excess fat.
- Whisk together the lemon sugar glaze.
- Dip each donut in the glaze and place on the rack to cool.
- Decorate with more lemon zest and serve.
More detailed directions and ingredient measurements can be found in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Tips and tricks
Shaping and cutting the donuts: Before cutting out the center, make sure to stretch and flatten the cookies a bit. This way you will get a thinner and easier to cook donut. You can cut out the center using a special donut cuttersharp knife or other circular object such as the top of a thin glass.
When frying donuts, use a pan with high sides. This will keep the oil from splattering everywhere when you turn the donuts while frying.
The optimal oil temperature for frying donuts is 350°F. Bringing the oil to this temperature is important, because if it gets too hot, it will overcook the outside of the donuts and leave the center mushy. It’s better to do it use a thermometer like this for the oil.
Storing leftover donuts: Donuts are best served fresh. If you have any leftovers, they can be stored at room temperature for 1-2 days. You can heat them in the oven before eating them.
Fun variations
Mix the icing. You can use any flavor of icing you want for your donuts. Mash some strawberries for a pink strawberry glaze, make a tangy lime glaze instead of lemons, or try the cardamom glaze in this scone recipe.
Add the sprinkles! After dipping the donuts in the lemon glaze, add some fun colored sprinkles. This is an especially fun addition for kids.
Cook the donuts: Instead of frying you can choose to bake the biscuits. Place on a nonstick baking sheet and bake for 10 to 15 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. They won’t have the crunch of fried donuts, but they’re a little healthier.
Air frying donuts: You can also choose to air fry the donuts. Set the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and air fry for 5 to 7 minutes, turning halfway through cooking. You will have to work in batches to fit the donuts into the air fryer.
Make it vegan: This recipe can be made vegan by choosing a vegan friendly brand of canned biscuits. Annie makes a good one!
Other tasty recipes
If you love these easy cookie doughnuts, be sure to check out these other delicious ideas:
Recipe
Portions: 10 donuts
Calories: 239kcal
ingredients
- 16 oz biscuits in a box typically 10 biscuits
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 table spoon lemon juice
- 1 lemon peeled; optional
- oil for frying (see note)
Instructions
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Place a cooling rack over a baking sheet and set aside.
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On a flat surface, roll out the biscuits. Cut out the center of each cookie and then stretch each cookie a little wider (stretch by about ½”).
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Pour the frying oil into a large, deep pan and heat over medium-high heat. Use a candy thermometer to make sure you get the oil to 350F, for best results. Once the oil is hot, fry each donut individually for about 1 minute per side, until they are golden brown.
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Place each fried donut on the cooling rack to allow excess oil to drip off.
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Sift the icing sugar into a large bowl.
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Whisk in the lemon juice.
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Then add most of the lemon zest (reserve some zest for garnish).
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Dip each donut in the lemon glaze.
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Then place it on the rack to cool.
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Garnish with additional lemon zest. Let sit until frosting is set, about 30 minutes.
Notes
You will need about 4 cups of oil to fry the donuts, but the amount will vary based on the size of your pan. You want at least 3-4 inches deep. You can use canola or vegetable oil.
Nutrition
Calories: 239kcalCarbohydrates: 41GProtein: 3GFat: 8GSaturated fats: 1GPolyunsaturated fats: 3GMonounsaturated fat: 3GCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 428mgPotassium: 120mgFiber: 1GSugar: 20GVitamin A: 3UIC vitamin: 7mgSoccer: 25mgIron: 2mg
