Easy Canned Biscuit Donut Recipe + Fillings & Glazes

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With just a can of biscuits, a few minutes of cooking time, and your choice of donut recipes, you can whip up your first batch of easy donuts.

This post will share how to make easy air fryer donuts, an easy donut recipe for deep frying, and a delicious recipe for cooking on a baking sheet in the oven. 

Once you see how easy it is to make delicious biscuit donuts, this will be your favorite way to make these sweet treats. In just 1-2 minutes of cooking time, you can make a variety of easy homemade donuts that the whole family will enjoy.

With all of these easy ways to customize a can of biscuit dough, it’s like having your own doughnut shop.

Indulge in the epitome of comfort food with this foolproof guide to crafting golden brown donuts that are both mouthwateringly delicious and incredibly easy to make.

Whether you’re a seasoned chef or just starting your culinary journey, these easy donuts will quickly become one of your favorite treats.

With just a can of biscuits, a few simple ingredients, and some creative twists, you’ll be able to enjoy delightful donut holes, hot oil-fried wonders, and even an air fryer or oven-baked option.

What are the Best Biscuits for a Biscuit Donut Recipe?

These easy biscuit donuts can be made using any variety of canned biscuits. You could even use homemade biscuit dough but to speed up the process you can make Pillsbury biscuit donuts or Grands biscuits.

For best results choose large biscuits, southern homestyle, or buttermilk biscuits for this easy recipe.

Avoid layered biscuits unless making mini kolaches because they may flake up and fall apart and it is more difficult to remove the center of the biscuits for making donut bites. 

How to Make Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts

Let’s kick things off by grabbing a piece of parchment paper and giving it the perfect fit for your air fryer basket’s base. A quick spritz of non-stick cooking spray on the paper will ensure these donuts do not stick.

Fire up your air fryer and set the dial to 350 degrees F to warm it up.

Once the air fryer is warmed place the donuts right onto your fryer basket, all in a single layer. The amount you cook at once will depend on the size of your air fryer or the size of the basket of your air fryer.  

Let the donuts cook for about 2 minutes, then flip them and allow them to cook for another 2 to 2 ½ minutes.

Repeat this routine until each and every one of your delightful donuts or donut holes is dressed in that irresistible golden-brown glow. 

How to Make This Biscuit Donut Recipe in a Deep Fryer

My preferred method for making homemade donuts from canned biscuits is to use a deep fryer, this is the deep fryer I recommend.

Heat the deep fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the cooking oil has reached a good temperature, begin frying donuts in the oil for about 1 minute per side. 

Then allow the excess oil to drain by placing the donuts on paper towels. 

How to Fry Donuts on the Stove Top

If you don’t have a deep fryer you can heat a 1/2 inch of oil in a frying pan on medium heat, use a candy thermometer to check that the oil has reached 375 degrees.

Be careful with this method because if you use too many inches of oil it will likely spill over creating a fire. I am not too proud to say that I learned this from experience.

I wasn’t paying attention and the oil spilled over onto my cooktop and caught fire.

Luckily I was able to quickly smother the fire with a frying pan but this experience taught me to never heat vegetable oil on the stove while taking pictures on the countertop for a post sharing how to make a biscuit donut recipe.

Cook each donut for about 1 and a 1/2 to 2 minutes before flipping. The sides of the donuts will start to have a golden brown color, this is a good indicator that the donuts have finished cooking.

How to Make Biscuit Donuts in the Oven

Start by preheating an oven to 375 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with a piece of parchment paper. Bake the donuts in the oven for about 12-15 minutes. 

The donuts will be done when they reach a nice light golden brown color.

How Do You Make Donut Holes with Canned Biscuit Dough?

Donut holes are made by removing the center of each biscuit. You can do this by cutting out a small hole with a donut cutter, a shot glass, a bottle cap from a water bottle, or a small round cookie cutter. 

If you want to make a batch of nothing but donut holes you can pick off pieces of dough from the biscuits and roll them into balls.

Keep in mind that if you are making doughnut holes, the total time for cooking is less than making full-size donuts so be sure to keep an eye on them while cooking. 

To make perfect circles I would suggest placing biscuit dough onto a cutting board and using a small cookie cutter to shape the donut holes. 

Cooking for just about a minute or two on medium heat should give the outside a perfectly light golden brown hue while cooking the inside.

If you find that your donuts are burning on the outside while not cooking through the center, turn your heat down a bit.

How to Make a Chocolate Glaze for Your Biscuit Donut Recipe

When making a chocolate glaze, mix the following ingredients together before frying the biscuit dough.

Once the donuts are cooked, allow them to cool slightly, then dip cooked donuts into the glaze or brush on with a pastry brush. 

If making donut holes, one of the easiest ways to coat the entire donut is to roll it in a small bowl of chocolate glaze before placing it on a cooling rack to allow excess chocolate to drip off. 

• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1–2 tbsp milk

How to Make a Cinnamon Sugar Mixture

If you are making cinnamon sugar biscuit donuts use the following ingredients to make the cinnamon sugar coating.

Pour both ingredients into a brown paper bag and place hot donuts into the cinnamon-sugar mixture, then shake the bag until the donuts are fully coated. 

• 1 Cup of Sugar 
• 1 Tablespoon of Cinnamon

How to Make a Simple Glaze for this Biscuit Donut Recipe

To create a simple glaze, mix the following ingredients and submerge donuts into the mix using tongs, coating both sides. 

• 2 tbsp of melted butter
• 1 cup of powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2 tbsp milk

You can easily swap out the white sugar for brown sugar if you prefer a deeper caramel-type flavor. 

How to Make Boston Cream Filling 

In a medium saucepan, combine these ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Place the saucepan on medium heat.

Whisk continuously to prevent curdling and ensure even heating. The mixture will thicken in about 5-7 minutes. Once it’s custard-like and coats a spoon, remove it from the heat.

Strain through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any bits.

Let it cool briefly before use, as it thickens while cooling. Cooking time varies, aim for a smooth, creamy texture.

How to Create Delicious Kolaches with Canned Biscuits

You can create easy mini kolaches by using a package of flaky layer biscuits. 

• 5 tbsp butter (3 tbsp melted, 2 tbsp for crumble topping)
• 1 or 2 cans of Pastry Filling (your choice of flavor)
• 1/4 cup of sugar
• 2 tablespoons of flour

Split the biscuits in half. Microwave 3 tbsp butter for 20 seconds. Dip one side of the biscuit in melted butter then place the butter side up in the pan.

Prepare the crumble with 2 tbsp butter, flatten the dough by pressing your finger into the middle to create a divet, and add pie filling to the center.

Then mix 2 tbsp butter, 1/4 cup sugar, and 2 tbsp flour for topping.

Sprinkle crumble mixture on top. Bake at 375°F for 10 minutes until lightly brown.

How to Make Jelly Donuts from Canned Biscuit Dough

Prepare the donuts in your preferred way, in the oven, air fryer, or deep frying, whichever delicious way you choose. Then roll the cooked donuts in granulated sugar while still hot.

Once the donuts have reached room temperature use a flavor injector to insert your favorite jelly. 

These are the best jelly donuts I have ever had since they were made with this easy homemade grape jelly. 

The best part is that this Concord grape jelly recipe shows you how to make homemade jelly quickly from fresh grapes or store-bought juice.

Be sure to save this recipe, after trying it, I’m sure it will be one of your favorite things to make and you may never buy jelly from the grocery store again. 

How to Make Cinnamon Rolls from Canned Biscuit Dough

• 1 can of biscuits
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp cinnamon
• 1/4 cup room temperature butter
• Flour for dusting

For the Glaze:

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp milk

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a round cake pan. Roll biscuits into a rectangle on floured waxed paper.

Spread butter, sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon, then roll up the dough.

Cut slits in the top and make circles around to gather the glaze, then place in pan, and bake 25 minutes until golden brown.

To Make the Glaze:

Mix powdered sugar and milk, and drizzle over warm rolls.

Topping & Decorating Ideas

Use food coloring to change the color of the glaze on top of the donuts, just a few drops of the color of your choice will go a long way when using the basic glaze recipe.

Crumble your favorite fruity cereals on top for an easy way to add a pop of color and flavor. Add sprinkles or candies to bring this sweet treat to the next level. Some of my favorite donut topping ideas are below.

• Candy Buttons
• Rainbow Sprinkles
• Nerds
• Chocolate Sprinkles
• Fruity Pebbles
• Coco Pebbles
• Shredded Coconut

How to Store Leftover Donuts

If you find yourself with leftover donuts be sure to store them in an airtight container in a single layer or sealed in a storage bag for up to two days.

These donuts are best when served fresh so it may be best to cook in batches and if you find that you don’t need to make a second batch, store the leftover glazes, toppings, and dough until ready to cook for best results. 

What is the Best Oil for Making Donuts?

For optimal results, I recommend using vegetable oil. It heats quickly, and as an added bonus it delivers a satisfying crispy texture.

Canola oil, with its neutral flavor and high smoke point, is a versatile option suitable for various donut types.

If you’re aiming for a richer taste, consider peanut oil for a deeper color and nutty notes.

Safflower oil, though mild in taste, requires a longer heating time but ensures your donuts retain their original flavor profile.

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