Food Friday ::: Can-do Donuts

Friday, March 11, 2011

 Do those just make you happy, or what?  LOL!  Hey guys…SP here…with a yummy and FAST (and easy) way to make donuts!  I call them CAN-DO DONUTS simply because they are made from canned biscuits…and they are sooooo easy than just about anyone can-do them, lol!  I should start off by saying that these are absolutely delicious and oh so scrumptious…but probably not the healthiest breakfast you’ll ever eat, lol.  But seriously…with a ‘recipe’ like this…that is not the point or the goal, right?  I am NOT saying that you should eat these daily…but as a fun indulgence every now and then (and one that the kids will love)…GO FOR IT!

Growing up…my mom made these for us every now and then…and my brother and I loved them not only because they were (are) delicious…but because we made them together as a family in the kitchen (not to mention, the nearest donut shop was about 30 minutes away)!  We were able to do the icing (always adding a little more than mom might have if she had been in charge of that part, lol) and snack on the ‘donut holes’ as we went along!

I also want to say that MANY of you guys might already be doing this very thing…or have known about it all your lives, lol!  This is not something that my family invented…not even close – but I do know many friends in my personal life that never thought of doing this (or had never heard about them)…and were so super excited about giving it a try – so I thought it was worth sharing :o)  It’s so simple that you do not even need a recipe (or recipe card for that matter, lol)…so here goes!

You only need a few ingredients/supplies:

• canned biscuits (may be any kind/brand you like…more on that below)
• powdered/confectioners sugar
• milk or heavy cream (or half-n-half or coffee creamer, etc.)
• vegetable oil
• round biscuit cutter (whatever size you would like the ‘holes’ and ‘cutouts’ to be)

 That’s it!  Of course, you can get creative with your icing and make a chocolate ganache (google for bunches of recipes)…simply sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar…or anything else you wish to try!  As is often the way with my recipes…they are very ‘loose’ and adaptable, lol!  I like things to be uncomplicated in the kitchen :o)  Anyway – HAVE FUN with the icing/toppings…add sprinkles, nuts…you name it!

So, let’s get started!  First things first…you might want to start heating your oil in a nice, deep skillet/pan (never ever fill the pan too full with oil).  Now, while that is heating (you’ll want to get it to a nice frying temperature…around 350 degrees or so), you’ll just want to pop open your can of biscuits and place them on a very lightly floured board/plate/etc.  When it comes to canned biscuits…there are LOTS of different brands and types.  The good news is that there really is no ‘wrong’ can of biscuits for these donuts.  If you go with a buttermilk biscuit – your donuts will be a bit more dense.  If you go with the flaky biscuits…your donuts will be just that, and so on!  I have tried many different kinds over the years and really like them all, lol!  Anyway…after you have spread out your biscuits…I like to kinda ‘smoosh’ them down a bit to make them a little thinner/flatter.  Then, using your round biscuit/cookie cutter…cut out the center or ‘hole’ of the biscuits/donuts.

At this time…go ahead and put together your icing/glaze.  If you are just doing the simple glaze that I usually go with – you have time while the oil is heating.  BUT, if you are doing a more involved/complex icing…you might want to make that first (before heating the oil) so that your oil doesn’t overheat.  For my GLAZE…it is sooooo super simple and you will have to forgive me because I am not giving measurements (I never use them, lol).  I just dump some powdered (confectioners) sugar into a bowl (large enough for several donuts at a time) and then add milk, cream OR water.  Yes, that’s right…you can choose any liquid that you like.  You could even use coffee or a flavored coffee creamer (like a hazelnut or french vanilla, etc.) or anything you like.  Keep in mind that adding water will give you a much thinner and less rich glaze.  Adding heavy cream will give you a thick and rich glaze (almost more like an icing)…and milk/half-n-half will be somewhere in between!  Also know that you do not need much liquid at all…a little goes a long way.  So, I recommend that you add a teensy bit at a time and stir until you reach your desired consistency :o)  It really doesn’t get any easier than this glaze…so just enjoy it and customize all you want!

Alright…so now, all the prep is done!  Again…you might want to make your icing before heating the oil…just depending on how quick you are :o)

After you have all of your donuts and holes ready, and icing made…it’s time to drop them into the ‘frying pan’ (the donuts and holes…not the icing, lol).  Now, I should tell you that they cook very quickly (the holes even more so than the donuts)…so you do not want to walk away!  Of course…BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL when frying…do not let your young children anywhere near!  While this is a family-friendly ‘recipe’…the kids should not be involved in the cooking/frying process!  Once you drop a few donuts into the oil (do not try to do them all at once…you will need to work in batches)…let them cook on one side (use tongs to keep checking their ‘done-ness’) and then when they are the desired color (I go for a nice and light golden brown), turn them over to finish cooking on the other side.

 After both sides are done to your liking, simply use your tongs to drop them directly into the icing/glaze bowl (you could place them on a paper towel first to soak up any excess oil/grease).  You’ll want to work quickly because the heat of the donuts is what really helps the glaze to ‘stick’ to them and thin down a little bit!  Just keep repeating this process until you are finished with all of the donuts and holes!  If you still have any icing/glaze left over in the end…you can drizzle it over the stack of donuts if you like (I like, lol)!

 THAT’S IT!  It is a super fast and simple process that results in total yummy-ness for the entire family!  It’s also just plain fun, lol!  The kids LOOOOVE to help when it come to cutting out the donut holes and icing them (especially if there are sprinkles involved, lol)!  And, you save money and do not have to drive anywhere to get these delicious donuts!  It’s a win-win!  Again, not really something for the daily diet (well, unless you want to, lol)…but for special occasions or just a fun Saturday morning breakfast at home…TOTALLY!  You could even start a tradition of ‘can-do donuts’ on Easter morning or Christmas day, etc.  Oh, finally – you simply cannot eat these without a nice, cold glass of milk, lol!  First…just because they go so well together…and second, because they are so rich you will want/need something to wash them down, lol!  And, as tempting as they are – try not to eat too many or I can guarantee a tummy ache, lolol!

Hope you enjoy these :o)  Thanks so much for stopping by…and have a WONDERFUL weekend!  We’ll see ya back here on Monday for LOTW!  xoxo — SP

Shabby PrincessFood Stuff, Uncategorized 14 Comments