• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
Sugar Spun Run
  • All Recipes
  • Desserts
    • Cookies
    • Candy
    • Bars & Brownies
    • Cake
    • Pies
  • Pastries
  • Breads
  • Savory
  • Breakfast
    • Muffins
    • Scones
  • Seasonal
    • Cozy Winter / Holiday Treats
    • Easter / Spring
    • Fall Recipes
    • Summer Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About Me
  • All Recipes
  • Contact/Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
  • ×
    You are here: Home / Desserts / Fried Donut Holes (No Yeast)

    Fried Donut Holes (No Yeast)

    April 15, 2016 Updated November 19, 2018 BySam 537 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Easy, from-scratch, no yeast donut holes!  These homemade donuts can be mixed up and fried in minutes! A great guide for making donuts on your own at home!

    Easy, Homemade Fried Donut Holes (no yeast) @SugarSpunRun

    I spent six years of my life shackled to a deep fry station.

    I exaggerate a bit, I wasn’t exactly shackled (only by the need for a paycheck to keep my college from slamming its door in my face each semester), and it was more often the drive-thru window or the sandwich station that I found myself stuck overseeing, but in the six years that I worked for a particular red-hatted fast food company, I experienced a lot of deep frying and bathed my fair share of curly fries and chicken tenders in sizzling wells of golden-brown (more often brown-brown) oil.

    And, every evening when I would punch out to go home, my clothes, hair, and skin would be saturated with the distinct scent of all things deep fried.

    Easy, Homemade Fried Donut Holes (no yeast) @SugarSpunRun

    So I think that might be why it’s taken me so long to share anything on my site that’s been fried, despite the fact that deep fried desserts are truly some next-level stuff… 6 years of scrubbing oil out of your (already acne-prone) pores will do that to you (and if I never see another curly fry in my life, that’s just fine by me).

    But today, I’m finally breaking my no-fry streak with these incredibly easy, bite-sized, no yeast homemade donut holes, made with my versatile no yeast cinnamon roll dough and fried until golden-perfection.

    Easy, Homemade Fried Donut Holes (no yeast) @SugarSpunRun

    Deep frying can be a little messy, but it’s quick, and the results are well-worth any cleanup.  These donut holes need to only fry for about 3 and a half minutes (do them in batches of about 4-5 at a time), then roll them in cinnamon/sugar (or powdered sugar — makes them taste like funnel cake or fried dough) and you’re done.  Coupled with the fact that the dough is also very simple to make and comes together easily, you can easily have home-fried donuts ready for eating in under 30 minutes.

    I’m not sure there’s anything quite as beautiful as watching homemade donuts floating in golden oil until they’re cooked to perfection <3

    Except maybe eating said hot homemade donuts.

    Easy, Homemade Fried Donut Holes (no yeast) @SugarSpunRun

    To be honest, I have quite a few homemade donut hole recipes coming up (ones with surprises tucked inside), but I wanted to share this basic recipe first, as it’s going to be the foundation for the future ones.

    Stay tuned, and Happy Friday!

    Fried donut holes

    Donut Holes (Fried, No Yeast)

    Easy, from-scratch, no yeast donut holes that can be mixed up and fried in minutes!
    4.66 from 183 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 25 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 12 donut holes
    Calories: 162kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    • Vegetable oil or canola oil for frying
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 3 Tbsp sugar
    • 1 Tbsp baking powder
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 5 Tbsp butter cold
    • ¾ cups milk

    For rolling

    • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt and mix.
    • Using a pastry cutter cut butter into your flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
    • Add milk and mix until all ingredients are combined.
    • Transfer dough onto a well-floured surface, and knead gently until it forms a cohesive ball. If dough is too sticky to manage, continue to work in flour until it is smooth and manageable (I've found on hot days or if my butter isn't cold enough the dough can be quite sticky)
    • Break off approximately 1 ½ Tbsp-sized pieces of dough and roll into smooth, tight balls. Set aside.
    • Fill a medium-sized saucepan 2-inches deep with your oil over medium-high heat. Use a candy thermometer (make sure it isn't touching the bottom of the pot) to monitor your temperature.
    • Heat oil to 350F (you will have to monitor the heat pretty regularly and may need to increase/decrease your stove temperature to keep it consistent).
    • While your oil is heating, prepare your cinnamon/sugar mix by stirring together cinnamon and sugar in a small dish. Set aside.
    • Prepare two plates for your cooked donut holes by lining them generously with paper towels.
    • Once oil has reached 350F, very carefully fry your donut holes, about 4 at a time, carefully transferring them to the oil with a slotted spoon (don't drop them in or the oil may splash, lower them into the oil instead).
    • Fry donut holes for approximately 3.5 minutes*, remove carefully with a slotted spoon, and place them on a paper towel laden plate. Allow them to sit for about 30 seconds and then use another spoon to transfer them to your cinnamon/sugar dish, roll them in the topping until fully covered, and then transfer to your other paper towel lined plate.
    • Repeat until all donut holes are cooked and have been rolled in cinnamon sugar.
    • These donuts are best enjoyed warm/hot, and do not carry over well to the next day.

    Notes

    *For best results, fry only one donut hole the first time you try this, and gauge how thoroughly it is cooked. After 3.5 minutes has passed, cut into it to check whether it is underdone, just right, or overdone, and then fry the rest of your donut holes accordingly.
    While these should take about 3.5 minutes under optimal conditions with a consistent oil temperature of 350F, it's still important to check so that you don't end up with 1 ½ dozen donuts that are still gooey in the middle!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1donut | Calories: 162kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 244mg | Potassium: 143mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 173IU | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

    Frying donut holes until golden brown || Sugar Spun Run

    This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase anything through these links I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.  Please view the disclosure policy for more information.  Thank you for supporting the companies that support Sugar Spun Run! 

    Recommended Tools:

    PIN IT:

    Easy, no yeast, fried donut holes

    You May Also Like:

    Cookie Dough Stuffed Donut Holes (No Yeast!)

    Cookie dough donuts

    Inside Out Cinnamon Roll Donut Holes (with Cream Cheese Filling)

    Cinnamon roll donut holes

    Easy Cinnamon Rolls (no yeast)

    Cinnamon Rolls No Yeast (1 of 1)-3

    « Nutella Crunch Dessert Shooters
    White Chocolate Brownies (Blondies) »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Emily

      May 22, 2022 at 9:36 am

      4 stars
      I had a hard time getting them to cook all the way

      Reply
      • Sam

        May 23, 2022 at 10:55 am

        I’m so sorry this happened! I would check the oil temperature. 🙂

        Reply
    2. Babooshka

      May 04, 2022 at 5:58 pm

      4 stars
      This recipe was amazing worked wonder definitely will make again!

      Reply
    3. Jane

      March 09, 2022 at 7:26 pm

      Is it okay to freeze the dough, for later use.

      Reply
      • Sam

        March 12, 2022 at 1:46 pm

        Hi Jane! I haven’t tried freezing the dough so I can’t say for sure how it would turn out. I think it could work though. Let me know how it goes if you try it. 🙂

        Reply
    4. Skimp

      February 05, 2022 at 8:39 pm

      These are awsome, although they taste similar to a biscuit. Is that the texture/taste we are looking for?

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        February 07, 2022 at 11:23 am

        Hi Skimp! Since the recipe does not use yeast, the dough is very similar to a biscuit dough. Usually after frying it, it will taste more like a donut. We are happy you enjoyed it overall! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Kiwi

      September 22, 2021 at 5:35 am

      5 stars
      Would it work if I shaped these into little donuts? 😛

      Reply
      • Sam

        September 22, 2021 at 2:16 pm

        Other people have reported that they’ve done so with success! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Kate

      September 12, 2021 at 3:08 am

      5 stars
      This is the first time I’ve ever made donuts or fried anything and they actually quite straight forward and turned out perfectly first go. Everyone enjoyed them. Now I’m inspired to try some different flavours!

      Reply
    7. Sienna

      September 12, 2021 at 1:45 am

      5 stars
      This was so good! Used many times!

      Reply
    8. Featherhead

      June 18, 2021 at 12:19 am

      Would this recipe work using an air-fryer instead of deep-frying?

      Reply
      • Sam

        June 18, 2021 at 8:50 am

        I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure. Since it is more of a dough than a batter I think it could work.

        Reply
      • grace

        June 27, 2021 at 2:58 am

        tried it, it became too dry and cracked. make sure to brush it with oil everytime you check.

        Reply
      • grace

        June 27, 2021 at 5:43 am

        5 stars
        Final comment on Air Fryer version: actually even if it looks dry and cracked, it turned out great! its like a turnover dough when you use air fyer. its crusty but just enough, sooo yummy! and less oil definitely!
        I will experiment on using tuna filling instead of cheese next time 💕. tip if you’re planning to use this recipe but baked in airfryer. make sure to brush it with oil every 10 mins or everytime you check it. I baked it in the air fryer for 30 mins. with 140-180 c settings.

        Reply
        • Sam

          June 28, 2021 at 7:36 am

          Thank you for the feedback. 🙂

    9. Gabriel Clune

      June 15, 2021 at 12:40 pm

      I loved it

      Until I got a mouthful of baking soda when I bit into the donut

      If I’m doing something wrong tell me but I am not a fan

      Reply
      • Sam

        June 15, 2021 at 12:44 pm

        Oh no, Gabriel! The recipe calls for baking powder; 1 Tablespoon of baking soda would be quite an extreme amount and it’s not surprising you could taste it. I think if you try it again with baking powder you will have much better results! <3

        Reply
        • Gabriel Clune

          June 18, 2021 at 10:49 pm

          5 stars
          Soooo sorry for the bad review. They are delicious I’m still new to this so I thought baking powder and baking soda are the same thing I tried it again and they are delicious

        • Sam

          June 19, 2021 at 8:43 pm

          I’m so glad they turned out. It’s nice to hear a good success story and I commend your efforts to try it again. Happy baking! 🙂

        • Yom

          June 23, 2021 at 6:33 pm

          I got two dozen out of this recipe. I rolled half of then in cinnamon and sugar and the other half in sugar glaze. My wife got into them as soon as she came in the door.

    10. Joe

      May 12, 2021 at 11:07 am

      4 stars
      These seemed a bit too crumbly. They fell apart. I assume I didn’t work the dough enough to develop the gluten. They also grow a lot, so be sure to make them 1/3 the size you want to end up with.

      Reply
    11. Zoe

      May 02, 2021 at 2:22 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe worked out perfect 👌

      Reply
    12. Sallykolone

      April 21, 2021 at 10:07 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you Sam!!! It’s yummy and satisfying and want more hahaha. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
      • Sam

        April 21, 2021 at 10:10 pm

        I’m so glad you enjoyed them so much! 🙂

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    The author (Sam) in blue shirt holding donut Hi, I'm Sam! I'm dedicated to bringing you sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes. My life may or may not be controlled by my sweet tooth. Send help (or chocolate). Read more about me.

    Warm Weather Recipes

    golden brown funnel cake dusted with powdered sugar on a white plate

    Funnel Cake Recipe

    mason jar of iced sweet tea with a lemon round garnish

    Sweet Tea

    Lemonade in glass pitcher

    Homemade Lemonade Recipe

    lemon cake on white plate

    Lemon Cake

    glass jar full of homemade lemon curd on a gray marble surface surrounded by lemon halves and small white baby's breath flowers

    Lemon Curd Recipe

    pink strawberry cake on white plate

    Strawberry Cake

    Most Popular

    flaky biscuit on white cloth

    Easy Homemade Biscuits

    Pizza dough in glass bowl, after rising

    The Best Pizza Dough Recipe

    one bite missing from a slice of vanilla cake with chocolate frosting

    The Best Vanilla Cake Recipe

    stack of 5 chocolate chip cookies

    The WORST Chocolate Chip Cookies

    NEVER MISS A RECIPE!

    places sugar spun run has been featured (Women's Day, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, Country Living, the huffington post, People, Delish, MSN, TLC, Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed)
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • Youtube

    Privacy Policy|Accessibility Statement

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    ABOUT

    • About Me
    • Policies, Disclosure & Privacy
    • Terms of Use

    CONTACT

    • Contact
    • Work with Me!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • Youtube

    © 2020 Sugar Spun Run. All Rights Reserved

    • 2236