Make-at-Home Donuts

I know, sounds kinda weird, a little daunting....but we started a bad habit a few years back of buying donuts on Sunday mornings for the kids that I truly wanted to kick. I'm not a donut eater and I don't even remember how the whole thing got started. And it's not even like donuts are that expensive, right? We only buy four, one for each kid. But 50 - 60 cents per donut does sound a little ridiculous when you think about it, plus the drive to the store. So when the kids started complaining about 'no more donuts', I figured they'd eventually get over it. Several weeks went by, and still the complaining. When I asked them, "What's the big deal about a donut?" I received a truly hearfelt reply: "Mom, it's not just the donuts themselves, it's just about something that we've done every weekend for years, now, like a tradition or something."

So, not wanting to break the family tradition, I began to keep my eyes and ears open for a way to make my own donuts. I came across an episode of Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade on Food Network where she was making breakfast, including donuts. Such a simple idea, I decided to try it at home.

Here's what you'll need:

Refrigerated bisquit dough (in the tube)(do not use buttermilk or butter variety)

Oil (for frying)

Powdered Sugar & Milk (for the glaze)

Cocoa Powder (if you want chocolate glaze)

Vanilla

Heat the oil in a pan on a medium setting. Separate the pieces of bisquit dough on a cutting board and slightly flatten and with your fingers. Using the tip of a knife, or a very small, round, cookie cutter, cut circles in the center of the dough to create your donut shape. The circles will become donut holes. Carefully place the dough pieces in the heated oil and fry to a light brown on each side. Place on a cooling rack with a paper towel placed underneath to catch any oil drippings. For the glaze: In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 tsp. vanilla and 1 tbsp milk or orange juice. Stir in additional milk or juice until icing reaches drizzling consistency. If making a chocolate glaze, add 2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder to the powdered sugar and only use milk, no OJ!

The donuts were a big hit at my house. The kids knew I had been busy in the kitchen, an aroma of something really enticing brought them all out of bed and to the table last Sunday morning. The site of freshly glazed, warm donuts sitting on that serving tray made everyone quite happy. They were in total disbelief when they found out that I had made them!

I especially like the fact that I can control some of the ingredients, mainly the oil that's used. What I like even more is the cost! I purchased a 4-pak of Great Value refrigerated biscuit dough for $1.37 at my local Walmart Supercenter. That's $.34 a tube! With 10 biscuits in each tube, that's roughly $.03 per donut (that would make the donut holes free!). Since I already had on hand the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and cocoa powder, the donuts were only 3 cents a piece!

Pick up some refrigerated bisquit dough next time you're out and give it a try. I'm pretty sure you'll be happy with the results!