Easy Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

While we were dating, I remember my husband one time announcing that we needed to make donuts. Since I make pretty much everything from scratch, the long ordeal of making donuts and letting them rise, and frying them, and frosting them and everything else in our tiny dorm kitchen did not really seem like that great of an idea to me. He, however, had a short cut and I was blown away at how tasty and easy these donuts are! Yes, it is cheating just a little, but they are still fun to make. It has been several years since we had made them, and the other day we decided it was time. They turned out even better than I remembered. It was a perfect quick Sunday morning breakfast before church.

My husband usually used the lid from something to punch out the center because back in the dorms, we never had anything like a small biscuit or cookie cutter. Well, unfortunately, I still don't, so this time I tried the large pastry tips I have. A single punch left too much for the whole donut, but I discovered that three punches worked great. Plus, they left a cute little clover shape in the middle of the donuts. And the donut holes were the perfect size! Next time I might make only donut holes. Of course, they are so easy to pop in your mouth that I would probably eat them all... which is not a good thing!

Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
Makes 8 to 10 donuts plus donut holes

1 tube refrigerator biscuits, such as Pillsbury. We usually get the jumbo buttermilk kind.
oil for frying
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar

1. Heat the oil over medium heat to 350° in a large stock pot or dutch oven. Use a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature, if you have one.

2. In a bowl, combine the cinnamon and the sugar and stir until mixed. Set aside.

3. Open the biscuits and lay them out on a cookie sheet. Using a small round cutter, a large pastry tip, or the lid from a spice jar, cut circles into the middle of each of the biscuits.  Make sure the circle is large enough that the donut is about one inch all the way around.

4. Fry 2 or 3 donuts at a time, depending on the size of your pan. The donuts should take 1 to 2 minutes on each side. If the oil is too hot, the donuts will brown too quickly and the insides will not be cooked. Once they are golden brown all the way around, move them to a plate covered with paper towels to drain. Repeat with the remaining donuts and donut holes.

5. While the donuts are still very hot, turn them in the cinnamon-sugar to coat all sides. Stack them on a separate plate and serve immediately. Enjoy!