Get ready to enjoy these spooky Halloween donuts recipe! These donuts are easy to make using simple things like biscuit dough, cocoa powder, and colorful candy sprinkles. They’re fun to decorate and taste great!
On the lookout for more fun Halloween treats? Try these fool-proof No Bake Halloween Treats, Halloween Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes, and Pretzel Pumpkins.
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Substitutions
- Baked Donuts: If you prefer to use an oven, you can turn this recipe into baked donuts. Simply shape the dough into donut forms and bake at 375°F for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. Spray your donut pan with cooking spray before adding the dough for easy removal.
- Homemade Dough: For those who want to make their own dough, you can substitute the refrigerated biscuit dough with a mixture of all-purpose flour, large eggs, melted butter, and teaspoon salt. This will give your donuts a more traditional cake-like texture.
Variations
- Spider Web Donuts: Create spooky spider web donuts by using white frosting and a piping bag to draw spider webs on top of the glazed donuts. Finish them with candy eyeballs for a creepy touch.
- Mummy Donuts: Make mummy donuts by piping strips of frosting across the donuts to resemble bandages. Add candy eyeballs to complete the look.
- Pumpkin Spice Variation: Add a teaspoon of pumpkin spice to the dry ingredients for a seasonal twist. This pairs wonderfully with a chocolate glaze or a simple powdered sugar dusting.
- Monster Donuts: Turn your donuts into monster donuts by using frosting and candy eyeballs. You can also use a small bowl to melt candy melts and dip the donuts before decorating them with fun, edible features.
Storage
- Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Refrigeration: Keep in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: Freeze on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag or container for up to 2 months. Reheat before serving.
- Glaze Storage: Store in the refrigerator; reheat before using.
Top Tips
- There is also another way in making these donuts if you do not like deep-fried foods. Bake it using a donut pan!
- For a more festive look, top with your choice of colorful candy sprinkles to create that Halloween theme.
- Before frying the donuts, make sure the oil is hot enough. If not, the tendency is that the donuts will stick into the pan and would absorb so much oil in the process of frying.
- To remove some of the excess oil, pat the fried donuts with a kitchen paper towel while cooling it.
- After removing a small portion of the donut to make as the donut hole, do not throw that tiny dough away. It is useful in testing if the oil in the pan is hot enough to fry the donuts.
Ingredients
Gather the ingredients for this Halloween Donuts. Once the ingredients are all ready, let's begin!
- refrigerated biscuit dough
- oil for frying
- confectioners sugar
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- water
- vanilla extract
- assorted sprinkles
Instructions
In a large frying pan, add enough oil to fry the donuts and turn on the stove to medium high heat for 10 minutes. While the stove, oil, and pan are doing its job, let's start making the donuts!
Cut holes in the refrigerated biscuit dough using a piping nozzle or any other kitchen object or tool that you think would do the job 😉
It's as easy as that! now do not throw away the small donut dough you have cut out. That is very useful. You will see in the next step.
First, fry the donut holes to test if the oil is hot enough:
If you see that the oil is hot enough, then fry donuts. Make sure to keep an eye on them since it can burn easily. Flip from side to side:
Wow! Look at that delicious golden brown color! This is already a dessert for me but we can still take this to a higher level! Let's dip this onto a chocolate glaze!
To make the donut glaze, in a large bowl, add confectioners sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder:
Mix well and add 2 tablespoons water and continue mixing. Add 1 tablespoon vanilla extract and mix. If 1 more tablespoon of vanilla extract is needed, add the rest:
The glaze should be thick enough so it will cover the donuts well:
Dip donut into the chocolate glaze and place on cooling rack to set:
Then sprinkle colorful candy sprinkles. Choose your favorite colors for a Halloween vibe:
There you have it, Simply Bakers! Wasn't that so quick and easy? You have these cute and delicious Halloween treats in no time! These are best paired with coffee <3
Frequently Asked Questions
Halloween Donuts Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 can refrigerated biscuit dough
- oil for frying
- 1 ½ cups confectioners sugar sifted
- 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1-2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- Assorted sprinkles
Instructions
- In a large frying pan, add enough oil to fry the donuts and turn on the stove to medium high heat for 10 minutes.
- Cut holes in the refrigerated biscuit dough and first fry the donut holes to test if the oil is hot enough, then fry donuts.
- To make the donut glaze, in a large bowl, add confectioners sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder and mix. Add 2 tablespoons water and continue mixing. Add 1 tablespoon vanilla extract and mix. If 1 more tablespoon of vanilla extract is needed, add the rest. Glaze should be think
- Dip donut into the chocolate glaze, then sprinkle colorful candy sprinkles.
Watch The Recipe Video!
I have been IN LOVE with donuts ever since I was introduced to them. The earliest memory I have of donuts is when I was in third grade. It was another kid's birthday and her mom brought donuts for to us eat. (Who brings donuts to third graders?!) Anyways, I have been IN LOVE with donuts since then. My favorite ones were actually the plain donuts without the glaze or sprinkles, it was just so good! And in this time of the year, this Halloween donuts would be the perfect treat!
I actually made two versions of donuts. The picture below is the chocolate glazed donuts, which is very sweet and rich. So for those of you who like that type of donuts, follow the recipe.
These donuts were not as sweet and rich. I actually thinned out the confectioner's sugar, just enough for the sprinkles to stick on the donuts. Basically, I added about 4 tablespoons of water instead of two to really thin out the chocolate. If you are looking to make the donuts from scratch, I do have baked donut recipe from scratch you can make. However, if you are a student, mom, sister, brother, parent, it will be so much easier to make donuts using refrigerated biscuit dough. (I challenge you to make it in 15 minutes or less.)
Amalie says
Hi, i was just wondering.... What is a refrigerated biscuit dough? Is it something you make or do you buy it, or????
Lainey says
Hi Amalie, It's basically bread dough in the refrigerated section of your grocery store. I hope this helps.
Claire M says
Wow, these Halloween donuts look absolutely adorable and delicious! I love how easy the recipe seems to follow, especially using biscuit dough. Thanks for sharing this fun recipe; I can't wait to try it out for my Halloween party!
Lainey says
Hi, Claire. It's my pleasure to share. Thank you for your interest to try this. This would be a great addition to your Halloween party desserts. Enjoy!