Whoohoo it’s Fall! Which means my favorite time of the year. Jeans, hoodies, campfires, cold weather camping and comfort food! I wanted to share these Apple Pie Spice Campfire Donuts that we made in our cast iron pan while doing some Fall camping.
I had every intention to actually cook these donuts over the campfire but we forgot our campfire grill grate so I cooked these easy donuts in the cast iron pan on our Blackstone Griddle. But I figured these Apple Pie Spice Campfire Donuts are perfect to enjoy with a cup of cider around a campfire or bonfire this Fall. So you can cook them stove top, over the campfire, or on the grill. You just need to be able to get your oil hot enough.
What you need for these Apple Pie Spice Donuts
- Cast Iron Pan
- Cooking Oil (Corn, Vegetable, Canola or Other)
- Tongs
- Canned Biscuits
- Apple Pie Spice
- Sugar
- Brown Sugar
Yep! This homemade donut recipe only requires four ingredients. The hardest part was waiting for the oil to come to temperature. But everyone we cooked them for on our camping trip agreed they were delicious and should make again! I actually got the idea when I went on my four year old’s 1st field trip to the fire station. The chief mentioned how he loves cooking donuts over the campfire and I knew I had to give it a try!
How to make Donuts out of Biscuits
I love refrigerated canned biscuits for so many reasons! They are versatile and make great snacks and main meals. I have made air fryer fritters with them, I make breakfast casseroles with them, and I make pizza puffs more than I would like to admit!
First you need to open the can and separate the biscuits into 8 biscuits. Then I just took a knife and cut out a hole in the center of each one. Put those pieces aside for some extra “donut holes” (now I get it LOL) at the end.
How to make these Apple Pie Spice Campfire Donuts in a Cast Iron Pan
Pour enough oil in your cast iron pan to fill it about 1/2 way. I had corn oil but vegetable would probably be my second choice. Place the cast iron pan on your grate over the fire or over the heat source you are using.
Once your oil is hot or has some bubbles (but not boiling) it its ready to go. Carefully transfer your biscuits to the oil with some tongs. (If the don’t start immediately cooking- the oil probably isn’t hot enough). I did two batches so four at a time depending on how large your cast iron skillet is.
Let them fry four about 3-4 minutes until golden brown and then flip to the other side and repeat. If you want to throw the biscuit holes in too- go for it!
For the Apple Pie Spice Sugar Coating
You can absolutely just use cinnamon or a combo but I knew we were having these with apple cider so I brought along some Apple Pie Spice. ( can just dash some cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves for same effect) Or just cinnamon would be yummy.
Grab out a medium container with a lid, brown bag, or aluminum pan. Add in the sugar, brown sugar, and apple pie spice. Mix it all up.
When the donuts are done frying, remove from the oil to a plate and then add the donuts to your sugar mixture. I used a container with a lid, closed the lid and shook them up until completely coated.
Then serve warm with some cold or hot apple cider for dipping and enjoy! Happy Fall or Happy Camping!
Can I make these donuts stovetop?
Absolutely! Follow all of the steps above heating the oil in your pan on the stove.
Do I need Apple Pie Spice?
No! You can just do the two sugars if desired or with cinnamon. Or to make your own Apple Pie Spice you can blend ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice together.
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Apple Pie Spice Campfire Donuts
Equipment
- 1 cast iron skillet or similar
Ingredients
- 1 16 oz. Can of Canned Biscuits butter flavor or other
- 2 cups Cooking Oil (canola, corn, vegetable) aproximately
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup Light Brown Sugar
- 1 tsp Apple Pie Spice or cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice blend
Instructions
- First pour your cooking oil into your cast iron pan to about 1/2 way. Place the pan over your heat source and heat until hot (not boiling as that's too hot). If you have a thermometer a good temp is around 350 degrees.
- Open the can of biscuits and separate the biscuits (Should be 8).
- Then cut a hole into the middle and pop out the dough (reserve for extra donut holes at the end).
- Carefully transfer the biscuit dough to the hot oil using a pair of tongs.
- You will have to do these in two batches. So frying four at a time.
- Let fry for about 3-4 minutes until golden brown then flip them and repeat.
For the Apple Pie Spice Sugar Coating
- In a container (or brown bag/aluminum pan) combine the sugar, brown sugar, and apple pie spice.
- Place the donuts in the mixture a couple at a time cover with a lid and shake them up or toss with a fork, etc.
- Serve warm with cold or hot apple cider and enjoy!
