The theme for this Iron Craft Challenge was Memories and for some reason I struggled with it. It seems like all the memories I was coming with over the last two weeks were about food. Finally, I was down to two days, so I just gave in and cooked, well actually fried, something for the challenge.

Growing up, we often spent some of our family vacation at a camp in upstate New York where my mom’s family had a cabin. One memory from that time really sticks in my head, that of my aunt making fresh donuts from a tube of biscuits. I don’t know why it is so stuck in my head, I’m sure she only did it once, but it seems to resonate with me still. So, for this challenge I decided to try making them at home. My husband was very dubious that biscuits would make tasty donuts, but I proved him wrong!

Seriously, what’s not to love about hot fried dough covered in cinnamon sugar?! These donuts puff up nicely while frying and cook through quickly. No one will think they are are eating a fried biscuit.

They remind me a lot of the mini donuts you get at places like the State Fair, though they are a little bigger, but not as big as a full-sized donut.

Easy Donuts

Supplies:

• tube of ready-to-bake biscuits (I used the smaller biscuits, not the Grands, so my cooking times are for those. A tube made 10.)

• about 2 1/2 – 3 cups neutral flavored oil
• heavy saucepan
• thermometer
• tongs
• paper towels
• cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar

1. Put the oil in a heavy saucepan big enough to fit two or three donuts. You want to use a neutral oil so it doesn’t impart flavor to the donuts. I added a little olive oil to mine because I ran out of canola and even that added flavor. Heat to about 375F.

2. Take the biscuits out of the tube and separate. Use your fingers to put holes in the middles. They will puff up while cooking, so don’t make the holes too small.

3. Using the tongs, carefully put two or three donuts in the hot oil. Do not crowd the pan. Fry until golden brown and then flip and cook the other side. They will take about a minute or so per side.

4. Remove the cooked donuts to a paper towel to cool slightly.

5. Dredge warm donuts in cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar or topping of choice. Serve warm.