4-Ingredient Vegan Biscuit Donuts Recipe
I have to tell you, the 4-Ingredient Vegan Biscuit Donuts Recipe is one of those delightful surprises that sneaks right into your heart (and stomach!) with super simple ingredients. Whenever I’m craving something sweet but without the fuss of complicated baking, these donuts come to the rescue. They’re perfect for a cozy weekend brunch or an anytime treat to share with friends over coffee.
What makes this recipe so special is how accessible it is — seriously, only four ingredients and minimal effort for a soft, cinnamon-sugar coated delight. I love that they’re vegan too, so anyone can enjoy them without worrying about animal products. Trust me, once you try the 4-Ingredient Vegan Biscuit Donuts Recipe, you’ll find yourself coming back to it whenever you want something tasty but fuss-free.
Why This Recipe Works
- Simplicity at Its Best: Only four ingredients mean you can throw these together quickly without a trip to the specialty store.
- Vegan-Friendly: Uses accidentally vegan biscuits and simple ingredients, perfect for plant-based diets.
- Versatile Cooking Methods: Fry, air fry, or bake to match your kitchen setup and time constraints.
- Delicious Cinnamon-Sugar Coating: Adds just enough sweetness and spice for an irresistible finish.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient in the 4-Ingredient Vegan Biscuit Donuts Recipe plays a crucial role in creating that perfect fluffy, sweet bite. I always recommend using refrigerated canned biscuits from brands I trust to guarantee consistent texture and taste.
- Refrigerated canned biscuits: These form the base dough for the donuts and give them that flaky, buttery texture without any dairy.
- Organic cane sugar: Provides just the right amount of sweetness and crunch when combined with cinnamon.
- Cinnamon: Adds warm, comforting spice, balancing sweetness perfectly; feel free to tweak the amount to your taste.
- Oil for frying: Essential for that classic golden-fried donut exterior when frying, or use it sparingly if air frying or baking.
Make It Your Way
I love tweaking this 4-Ingredient Vegan Biscuit Donuts Recipe depending on my mood or what I have on hand. You can easily adapt the cinnamon-sugar coating or cooking method to make it exactly how you like.
- Variation: Sometimes I swap regular cinnamon for pumpkin pie spice in the coating during fall, which adds a cozy touch I adore.
- Cooking method: If you’re short on time, air frying is a great alternative to deep-frying—even if the texture differs slightly, it still leaves you with tasty donuts.
Step-by-Step: How I Make 4-Ingredient Vegan Biscuit Donuts Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oil and Mixing Bowl
Start by heating about 2 inches of oil in a deep pan on medium heat until it reaches 350°F. If you don’t have a thermometer (like me sometimes!), just test the oil by dropping in a piece of dough — it should bubble steadily but not burn immediately. While that’s heating, mix your sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl until well combined.
Step 2: Shape Your Donuts
Separate each biscuit from the tube and cut out the centers to form your donut shapes. I often use the cap from a soda bottle for the hole, which works perfectly. Don’t toss those little centers — fry them up as donut holes, so nothing goes to waste!
Step 3: Fry and Coat
Carefully add a few donuts to the hot oil, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Fry them about 1½ to 2 minutes, flipping once, until they’re beautifully golden. Drain on paper towels, then immediately toss them in your cinnamon-sugarmix to coat every surface. Eating them warm is a game-changer — trust me on that.
Step 4 (Optional): Air Fryer or Oven Bake
If frying isn’t your thing, brush your biscuit donuts with melted vegan butter and either air fry them at 350°F for around 7 minutes or bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes. Finish with more butter and cinnamon sugar — these methods deliver a lighter, but still tasty, version.
Tips from My Kitchen
- Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Frying in small batches ensures even cooking and keeps your oil temperature steady, preventing greasy donuts.
- Use a Thermometer if Possible: It really helps get the oil just right, so your donuts are cooked through without burning outside.
- Coat Immediately: Tossing your donuts in the cinnamon sugar while still warm helps the sugar stick beautifully and melts it slightly for that perfect glaze.
- Reuse Donut Holes: Fry those little pieces too, and enjoy mini bites or use them as fun toppings on smoothies or ice cream.
How to Serve 4-Ingredient Vegan Biscuit Donuts Recipe
Garnishes
I often stick with the classic cinnamon sugar, but sometimes I like to mix in a pinch of nutmeg or a dash of powdered sugar for a snowy look. For an extra cozy touch, a drizzle of vegan chocolate or a sprinkle of chopped nuts amps up the decadence.
Side Dishes
These donuts pair wonderfully with hot coffee or chai tea, making for a dreamy morning or afternoon snack. If you’re serving brunch, fresh fruit or a berry compote complements their sweetness and adds a refreshing twist.
Creative Ways to Present
For a party, I like to stack them on a tiered cake stand with little bowls of vegan frosting and sprinkles so everyone can customize their own. You could also thread them onto skewers with fresh berries for a playful presentation that looks adorable on any brunch table.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days, but honestly, they rarely last that long! When the texture feels a bit off, popping them in the microwave for 15-20 seconds with a damp paper towel restores softness.
Freezing
If I want to keep them longer, I freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a resealable bag. When ready to eat, I let them thaw at room temp and warm them up in the oven to revive that fresh-out-of-the-fryer taste.
Reheating
My go-to reheating method is a gentle oven toast at 350°F for about 5 minutes, which crisps the outside while keeping the inside soft. If you’re in a rush, the microwave works — just cover with a damp paper towel to avoid drying out.
FAQs
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Can I use fresh homemade biscuit dough instead of canned for the 4-Ingredient Vegan Biscuit Donuts Recipe?
This recipe was specifically tested with refrigerated canned biscuits, so the cooking times and texture might vary with fresh dough. If you want to experiment, watch closely while frying or baking to avoid undercooking or overbrowning, and consider adjusting times accordingly.
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What’s the best way to tell if the oil is hot enough for frying the donuts?
If you don’t have a thermometer, drop a small piece of dough or one of the donut holes into the oil. It should bubble gently and rise to the surface within seconds without burning quickly. If it browns too fast, reduce the heat; if it sinks without bubbling, increase the heat.
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Are these donut holes cooked differently from the donuts?
Nope! You fry the donut holes the same way as the donuts, usually just a bit quicker because they’re smaller. They make a perfect little snack or garnish and shouldn’t be wasted!
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Can I make these gluten-free?
Since this recipe uses canned biscuits that contain gluten, it’s not gluten-free by default. You’d need to find a vegan gluten-free canned biscuit alternative or make homemade dough using gluten-free flours, but keep in mind that cooking times and texture could vary.
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What’s the best way to keep these donuts fresh?
Store cooled donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for a day or two, and warm them briefly before eating. For longer storage, freeze them as described above and reheat properly for near-fresh flavor.
Final Thoughts
The 4-Ingredient Vegan Biscuit Donuts Recipe holds a special spot in my kitchen because it combines ease, delicious flavor, and a touch of nostalgia all in one. It’s perfect when you want a homemade treat but don’t want to spend hours messing around in the kitchen. I hope you enjoy making and sharing these donuts as much as I do — trust me, your friends and family will thank you!
Print4-Ingredient Vegan Biscuit Donuts Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 donuts
- Category: Snack
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This 4-Ingredient Vegan Biscuit Donuts recipe offers a quick and easy way to make delicious homemade donuts using refrigerated canned biscuits. Coated with cinnamon sugar and either fried, air-fried, or oven-baked, these donuts are fluffy, sweet, and perfect for a vegan-friendly treat any time of day.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 (8-count) tube refrigerated canned biscuits
- 1/2 cup organic cane sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon or more, to taste
- Oil, for frying
Instructions
- Heat the Oil: In a large bottomed pan or deep fryer, heat about 2 inches of oil over medium heat or to 350°F. If you don’t have a thermometer, test oil temperature using donut holes as described later.
- Prepare Cinnamon Sugar: In a small bowl, combine the organic cane sugar and cinnamon until uniform. Set aside for coating the donuts after frying or baking.
- Cut the Biscuits: Separate each biscuit from the tube. Using a donut cutter or any small circular object like a soda bottle cap, cut out the center of each biscuit to form donut shapes. Save the small cut-out pieces for frying as donut holes.
- Test Oil Temperature: Drop a few donut holes into the hot oil to test. If they brown too quickly on the outside but remain raw inside, the oil is too hot and should be adjusted.
- Fry the Donuts: Place donuts carefully into the hot oil without crowding. Fry them until golden brown on one side, then flip and fry the other side. Total frying time is about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Remove donuts and place them on paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Coat Donuts: Immediately after frying, dunk the donuts in the cinnamon sugar mixture, tossing to coat evenly. Repeat with remaining donuts and donut holes. Serve warm for best flavor and texture.
- Alternative Air Fryer Method: After cutting the biscuits, brush them generously with melted vegan butter. Place in the air fryer basket in a single layer and air fry at 350°F for 7 minutes. For subsequent batches, check after 5-6 minutes. After air frying, brush with more melted vegan butter and coat with cinnamon sugar.
- Alternative Oven-Baked Method: After cutting the biscuits, brush with melted vegan butter. Arrange on a lined or oiled baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Once baked, brush with more melted vegan butter and coat with cinnamon sugar.
Notes
- The canned biscuits work best; recommended brands include Immaculate Baking Company Organic Flaky Biscuits, Pillsbury’s Original Southern Homestyle Grands, and Annie’s Flaky Biscuits, all accidentally vegan.
- Enjoy donuts fresh on the day they are made. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days or refrigerate for up to 1 week. Warm before serving to refresh texture and flavor.
- Fresh biscuits have not been tested; cooking times and methods may vary if using fresh dough.
- Oil temperature control is important to avoid undercooked or burnt donuts. Use donut holes to test oil heat before frying full donuts.
- Air fryer and oven baking methods produce slightly different textures; air fryer donuts will be less fluffy than fried ones, and oven-baked times may vary slightly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 donut
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg