Camping donuts are homemade doughnuts made with biscuits and they are the perfect camping treat! These campfire donuts are crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. Put them on your camping menu now!
While you might be leery about frying donuts at your campsite, I’m here to let you know it’s much easier than it sounds. You’ll use prepackaged biscuits that are easily cut with kitchen scissors into 4 pieces. They get placed into hot oil that is heated on your camp stove. I use about an inch of oil in a cast-iron pan that comes on all camping trips.
These camp doughnuts get turned a few times until they are golden brown. Use tongs to remove them and place them on a napkin or paper towel. Toss them in some cinnamon and sugar and you have the BEST camping breakfast treat!
Ingredients
- 1 can biscuit dough
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1-2 tbsp. cinnamon
How To Make
As you prepare for your camping expedition, make sure to pack a gallon-sized ziplock bag with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon – this will be a game-changer. When you’re at your campsite equipped with your camping stove and a trusty cast-iron skillet, it’s time to get cooking. Heat up some oil in the skillet over the camping stove until it’s good and hot.
Take the biscuit doughs and carefully slice them into quarters using a knife or food-safe scissors. Place the dough pieces into the hot oil and let them cook for about 15 to 30 seconds per side, adjusting based on the heat of the oil. Flip them over to ensure even cooking, and remove them from the skillet when both sides are a beautiful golden brown.
Lay the cooked doughnuts on a paper towel to absorb any excess oil. While they’re still warm, place them into the ziplock bag with the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Give the bag a gentle shake to coat the doughnuts thoroughly. This step is where the magic happens – the flavors meld, and you’re left with delightful cinnamon-sugar coated doughnuts. Serve them while they’re still warm for the ultimate camping treat.
Remove fried doughnuts and place onto a paper towel, then place into a bag of sugar to coat. Serve right away while hot!
Check out even more Easy Camping Breakfast Ideas to enjoy on your next camping adventure.
Substitutions
- Powdered sugar
- Shredded coconut
- Shredded chocolate
- Jared icing
- Cream Cheese Icing
Tips and Tricks
- Preparation is Key: Before you leave for your camping trip, measure out the sugar and cinnamon and mix them together in a ziplock bag. This will save you time and mess at the campsite.
- Skillet Temperature: When heating the oil in the cast-iron skillet, make sure it’s at the right temperature before adding the doughnuts. You can test it by dropping a small piece of dough into the oil – if it sizzles and starts to cook, it’s ready.
- Even Cooking: To achieve even cooking, don’t overcrowd the skillet with too many doughnut pieces at once. This can lower the oil temperature and result in unevenly cooked doughnuts.
- Oil Depth: Make sure there’s enough oil in the skillet to submerge the doughnut pieces halfway. This ensures they cook evenly on both sides.
- Timing is Key: The cooking time per side is relatively short – 15 to 30 seconds. Keep a close eye on the doughnuts to prevent overcooking. The goal is a golden-brown color.
- Flip with Care: When flipping the doughnuts, use tongs or a slotted spoon to gently turn them over. Be cautious of splattering oil.
- Drain Excess Oil: Placing the cooked doughnuts on a paper towel helps absorb any excess oil, preventing them from becoming overly greasy.
- Shake and Roll: In the ziplock bag, gently shake and roll the doughnuts to ensure even coating. The warmth of the doughnuts will help the cinnamon-sugar stick.
- Serve Fresh: These doughnuts are best enjoyed while still warm. Serve them right after coating with the cinnamon-sugar mixture for the most delicious experience.
- Variations: Feel free to get creative with the coatings. You can try powdered sugar, cocoa powder, or even a drizzle of chocolate or caramel for different flavors.
- Safety First: Remember that you’re working with hot oil, so exercise caution. Keep a safe distance from the skillet and have a fire extinguisher on hand, just in case.
FAQ
Vegetable oil or canola oil works well for frying doughnuts due to their high smoke points. Make sure you have enough oil in the skillet to submerge the doughnut pieces halfway.
You can test the oil by dropping a small piece of dough into it. If it sizzles and starts to cook, the oil is ready. Alternatively, you can use a kitchen thermometer to ensure the oil reaches around 350-375°F (175-190°C).
While the recipe mentions biscuit dough, you can experiment with other types of dough, such as pizza dough or sweet bread dough. Just ensure they are cut into small, manageable pieces for frying.
More Camping Recipes
Camping Donuts
Ingredients
- 1 can biscuit dough
- 1-2 cup vegetable oil for frying
- 1 cup sugar
- 1-2 tbsp. cinnamon
Instructions
- Before leaving for your camping trip, combine sugar and cinnamon in a gallon-sized ziplock bag.
- Heat oil in a cast-iron skillet on your camping stove. Using a knife or food-safe scissors, cut the biscuits into fourths.
- Place doughnuts into hot oil and cook 15 – 30 seconds per side, depending on oil heat.
- Flip doughnuts halfway through. Remove when golden brown on both sides.
- Place on a paper towel, then place the doughnuts into the cinnamon and sugar blend in the ziplock bag. Serve hot!
Notes
Substitution Ideas
- cinnamon roll dough
- orange roll dough
- Powdered sugar
- Shredded coconut
- Shredded chocolate
- Cream Cheese Icing
- canned cherry pie filling
Nutrition
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Jenny says
I never saw such an easy doughnut recipe. Those looks delicious and simple. Can’t wait to try them in a couple weeks!
John says
Made yesterday, tasted amazing! I also didn’t know it could be so easy.