Easy Homemade Nutella Donuts Recipe with Biscuits: A Quick & Delicious Treat
Discover how to make your own incredibly easy and delicious Nutella-filled donuts at home using a brilliant biscuit hack! These fried treats come together quickly, are bursting with rich Nutella, and crowned with crunchy pistachios. Perfect for breakfast, dessert, or any time a sweet craving strikes.
My Sweet Inspiration: Nutella Donuts Aboard the Coral Princess
Recently, I embarked on an unforgettable journey, cruising through the magnificent Panama Canal aboard the Coral Princess with Princess Cruises. This incredible adventure inspired a host of delightful recipes that I’ve been thrilled to share over the past few weeks. But today, I’m sharing what might just be my ultimate favorite – a recipe born from a truly indulgent onboard discovery!
Imagine this: waking up to the gentle sway of the ship, the endless ocean stretching before you, and then, you stumble upon the most divine treat. For me, that treat was a Nutella-filled donut at the International Cafe on the Coral Princess. I admit, I have a long-standing, unwavering obsession with Nutella, so it was love at first sight. These crispy, perfectly fried donuts, generously filled with the decadent chocolate-hazelnut spread, and often adorned with a sprinkle of pistachios, became a highlight of my mornings. It was probably a good thing I didn’t discover them until the tail end of my trip, or my self-control would have been severely tested!
The International Cafe: A Culinary Gem at Sea
The International Cafe on the Coral Princess is more than just a coffee shop; it’s a 24-hour haven for food lovers. In the mornings, it transforms into a bustling hub offering an array of fresh pastries – and yes, those glorious Nutella donuts! Later in the day, you can find a selection of delicious sandwiches and salads, making it the perfect spot for any craving, any time. Whether it was a midnight latte fix or a sweet pick-me-up while sailing through the iconic Panama Canal, the International Cafe never disappointed. Each morning, those delightful Nutella donuts were waiting, offering a perfect balance of crispy exterior and soft, sweet interior, enhanced by a drizzle of extra Nutella and a sprinkle of chopped pistachios.
However, as much as I adored them, I always felt they could use just a little *more* Nutella filling. So, upon returning home, I made it my mission to recreate these heavenly treats, ensuring they had the generous filling my heart desired. Because, let’s be honest, can you ever really have enough Nutella?
The Secret to Effortless Homemade Donuts: Canned Biscuits!
For a while now, I’ve been eager to experiment with using canned biscuits as a shortcut for homemade donuts. The idea sparked during a blog trip to Breckenridge, and I’ve been waiting for the perfect opportunity to bring it to life. These Nutella Donuts were the ideal canvas, and I’m incredibly excited to share just how effortlessly they come together. Forget intimidating yeast doughs, long proofing times, or complex recipes – with this method, you can have warm, fresh, Nutella-filled donuts ready in mere minutes!
The process couldn’t be simpler:
- Open a can of store-bought biscuits.
- Gently fry them in hot oil until golden brown and puffed.
- Once cooled, generously fill them with Nutella.
Seriously, that’s it! The beauty of using biscuits is that they fry up beautifully, achieving that quintessential light, fluffy, and slightly chewy texture you expect from a classic donut, without all the fuss. This biscuit donut recipe truly is a game-changer for anyone craving homemade donuts without the traditional hassle.
Achieving the Perfect Nutella Fill for Your Donuts
To ensure my homemade donuts were bursting with as much Nutella as possible, I used a piping bag fitted with a round tip. This makes the filling process incredibly easy and allows for a truly decadent amount of chocolate-hazelnut goodness. Simply insert the tip into the side of a cooled donut and squeeze until the donut feels weighty and starts to back out a little – that’s when you know it’s perfectly filled!
If you don’t have a piping bag, don’t fret! My friend Sandra from A Dash of Sanity also created a fantastic version of these donuts and offers an alternative filling method using a knife or skewer to create a pocket. Either way, you’re guaranteed a generous amount of that irresistible Nutella filling. The key is to be bold with your filling – these homemade Nutella donuts are meant to be an indulgent treat, so don’t hold back!
Expert Tips for Frying Fluffy Biscuit Donuts
Even though this recipe simplifies the donut-making process immensely, a few key tips will help you achieve perfectly golden and fluffy results every time:
- Oil Temperature is Crucial: Use a deep-fry thermometer to monitor your oil temperature. Aim for a consistent 350-360°F (175-180°C). If the oil is too cool, the donuts will absorb too much oil and become greasy. If it’s too hot, they’ll brown too quickly on the outside, leaving the inside raw. Maintaining the correct temperature is key to perfectly fried donuts.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Pot: Fry only 3-4 biscuits at a time. Overcrowding lowers the oil temperature and can lead to uneven cooking. Give each donut enough space to expand and brown evenly for the best texture.
- Flip Gently: Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until they are beautifully golden brown and have puffed up significantly. Use tongs to gently flip them to ensure even cooking on both sides.
- Drain Properly: As soon as they come out of the hot oil, transfer the donuts to a wire rack set over paper towels. This allows excess oil to drain off, keeping them light, crispy, and less greasy.
- Cool Before Filling: It’s important to let the donuts cool completely, or at least to warm, before attempting to fill them. Hot donuts will cause the Nutella to melt too quickly and seep out, creating a messy situation. Patience here pays off!
If you’ve ever been hesitant to try making donuts at home due to the perceived difficulty, this biscuit-based recipe is your perfect starting point. It truly removes all the intimidation, allowing you to enjoy the fresh, warm, fried dough goodness without the traditional complexities. You’ll be amazed at how easily these Nutella-filled donuts come together and how utterly delicious they are!
Serving Suggestions & Creative Donut Variations
These homemade Nutella donuts are best served fresh, ideally while still slightly warm. The contrast of the warm, fluffy dough with the melting Nutella filling is absolutely heavenly. Pair them with a strong cup of coffee for a decadent breakfast or brunch, or enjoy them as a delightful dessert with a cold glass of milk. They’re also a fantastic treat for special occasions or a cozy weekend indulgence.
Feeling adventurous? While Nutella is undeniably amazing, you can also experiment with other fillings and toppings to customize your easy biscuit donuts:
- Other Sweet Fillings: Try fruit jams (raspberry, strawberry, apricot), creamy lemon curd, a rich vanilla custard, or even a simple cream cheese frosting for a different flavor profile.
- Alternative Toppings: Beyond pistachios and a Nutella drizzle, consider dusting them generously with powdered sugar, rolling them in a mixture of cinnamon sugar, drizzling with melted white or dark chocolate, or sprinkling with colorful confectionery sprinkles for a festive touch.
- Mini Donut Holes: If your biscuits come with perforations or you use a cookie cutter to make holes, don’t waste them! Fry these mini donut holes and toss them immediately in cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar for an extra quick treat that kids (and adults!) will love.
No matter how you serve or customize them, these easy homemade Nutella donuts are sure to be a crowd-pleaser and a fantastic way to bring a little bit of that cruise-inspired magic and bakery-quality goodness into your own kitchen!
Explore More Cruise-Inspired Delights
My journey on the Coral Princess sparked a wave of culinary creativity beyond just these incredible donuts. If you enjoyed hearing about these delicious treats, be sure to check out some of the other fantastic recipes inspired by my cruise adventures. Each one brings a taste of the voyage right to your home kitchen:
- Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil
- Classic Lime Margarita
- Bran Muffins
- Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes by Baked by an Introvert
- Jamaican Jerk Chicken by Lemons for Lulu
Nutella donuts
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Ingredients
- 1 package Pillsbury Grands Biscuits
- Nutella
- Chopped Pisatchios
- Vegetable Oil
Instructions
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Fill a large stock pot with about 4 inches of vegetable oil. Heat to 360 degrees.
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Drop biscuits into the hot oil. Only drop 3-4 at a time to not overcrowd the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown and puffed.
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Remove from hot oil and place on a wire rack or paper towel to drain and cool.
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Fill a piping bag, fitted with a round tip (like Wilton 1A), with Nutella.
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Press tip into the side of a cooled donut. Squeeze in Nutella. You can squeeze in just a little, or until it is full and starts to back out.
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Drizzle a little more Nutella over the top and immediately top with chopped pistachios.
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Serve immediately
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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**This post is sponsored by Princess Cruises. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
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