Soft and fluffy donuts topped with a sweet maple glaze and savory bacon crumbles. These maple bacon donuts are so easy to make and ready in just 30 minutes!
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Sweet and Savory Bacon Donuts
These maple bacon donuts are the perfect balance of savory and sweet, and so addictingly delicious! They’re soft on the inside, and just slightly chewy on the outside. The sweet maple glaze and crisp bacon on top make them an extra special treat the whole family will love!
They taste just like the homemade bacon donuts from your local donut shop. The best part? They’re made with refrigerated biscuit dough! Which makes them super simple to whip up and are ready in a snap. Yes, please!
Why You’ll Love These Donuts
- An easy shortcut. Using refrigerated biscuit dough is a genius method to make homemade donuts! No need to slave in the kitchen all morning to make homemade donut batter.
- Sweet and savory. The best of both worlds! These donuts are sweet from the maple icing and savory from the salty bacon.
- 30 minutes. From start to finish, this recipe can be made in just 30 quick minutes!
- A fun weekend treat. What better way to make memories in the kitchen than with homemade maple bacon donuts for breakfast or brunch!
Donut Ingredients
To make the actual donut itself, you only need two simple ingredients: a package of refrigerator biscuits and vegetable oil. The key to making super quick donuts is to use refrigerated biscuit dough. It fries up perfectly and makes a great donut consistency. The dough tastes like you made it from scratch, without having to slave in the kitchen all morning!
Maple Glaze for Donuts
Next comes the sweet maple glaze for donuts. It’s made with a simple mixture of butter, pure maple syrup, vanilla, powdered sugar and salt. It’s creamy and thick, with a sweet maple flavor that pairs perfectly with the buttery donuts and the salty bacon.
How to Make Homemade Maple Bacon Donuts
- Cut a hole in each biscuit. To get started, use a small cookie cutter or apple corer to cut out the middle of each piece of refrigerated biscuit dough. Don’t forget to save the center pieces for making donut holes (more on that below!).
- Heat the oil. Using a heavy-bottomed pot, pour in the vegetable oil until about 1/4 of the pot deep. Turn to medium-high heat and heat the oil until it has reached a temperature of 350°F.
- Fry the donuts. Add 2-3 donuts in the pot at a time and cook until browned, about 2-3 minutes. Flip, then cook an additional 2-3 minutes. You want them nice and golden. If they are browning too fast, you can turn down the heat on the stove.
- Drain and cool. Carefully remove the donuts from the oil (I like to use a slotted spoon) and place on paper towels to drain the grease. Let cool for about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Prepare maple glaze. While the donuts are cooling, get started on your sweet maple icing. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, then whisk in the maple syrup. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla, powdered sugar and salt until the consistency is smooth with no lumps.
- Dip in glaze. Once the donuts are cooled, dip them into the maple glaze and then immediately sprinkle the crumbled bacon pieces over the tops!
Make Donut Holes!
Don’t discard those biscuit centers! Use them to make miniature donut holes. They are the perfect size for those who just want a small bite or two.
Simply fry them in the hot oil for about 30 seconds, or until the exterior is golden. Then dip in glaze and add a few sprinkles of bacon on top. Genius!
Tips for Making Bacon Donuts
- Measure the oil temperature. For the best results, I like to use a candy thermometer to measure the temperature of the oil. As soon as it reaches 350°F, you’re ready to start frying! It also helps to check the temperature in between each batch so that they fry properly.
- Be careful. The oil will be hot and can sometimes splatter, so be careful when frying. I like to use a long, slotted spoon to flip and remove the donuts so that there is some distance between my hands and the pot.
- Unsalted butter. Bacon is fairly salty on it’s own, so I recommend using unsalted butter for the glaze. This way your donuts aren’t overly salty and have just the right balance.
- Cooking bacon. Learning how to cook bacon in the oven is a huge game changer! It’s an easy, fool-proof and mess-free way to make sure you have perfectly cooked bacon each and every time.
- Work fast. After dipping the donuts in glaze, you’ll want to immediately sprinkle the bacon on top. The glaze dries fast, so don’t wait too long or the bacon won’t stick to the tops!
Variations
Take these maple bacon donuts up a notch by adding a drizzle of caramel sauce or melted chocolate on top. During the fall months, feel free to add a sprinkle of nutmeg or cinnamon into the glaze for more spice.
If you have a little extra time and would prefer to make the dough yourself, learn how to make homemade doughnuts from scratch.
How to Store Them
There are some recipes that just taste best the day of preparing, and this maple bacon donut is one of them. The texture and flavor will be the most fresh and delicious when enjoyed the same day, so I would avoid storing the donuts if possible.
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Browse allBelow are some other easy and delicious recipe ideas to make for breakfast!
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Maple Bacon Donuts
Video
Ingredients
Donuts
- Vegetable oil
- 1 (16.3-ounce) package refrigerator biscuits , I prefer Pillsbury original
Maple Glaze
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-1 ½ cups powdered sugar , plus more if needed
- Pinch of salt
- 4 slices cooked bacon , crumbled
Instructions
Donuts
- Pour oil into a heavy-bottomed pot, about 1/4 of the pot deep. Heat over medium-high heat, until the oil reaches 350°F.
- While the oil is heating, cut a hole in the center of each biscuit using a small round cookie cutter or an apple corer. Save the center pieces for making donut holes.
- Add the biscuits to the hot oil, 2 to 3 at a time. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until browned, then carefully flip and cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Remove carefully from the oil and place on paper towels to drain. Repeat with remaining biscuits and holes. Turn down the heat if the donuts are browning too fast.
- Let cool 10 to 15 minutes, or until cool enough to handle.
Maple Glaze
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the maple syrup until melted. Remove from the heat. Whisk in the vanilla, powdered sugar, and salt until smooth.
- Dip the donuts into the glaze, then sprinkle with bacon pieces. Best served the same day.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Breakfast, Nut-Free, Stovetop, Sweet Breakfast
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
I love maple bacon donuts!
Question please what can of biscuits flaky butter Southern?
I typically use the original :)
These Maple Bacon Donuts are so GOOD! I highly recommend that you try this recipe too, they are so worth making. The ingredients combined turned out so delicious.
So glad the recipe was a success for you, Natasha! Thank you for your comment and review :)
These homemade maple bacon donuts are AMAZING! The fluffy donut combined with a sweet glaze and topped with bacon comes together so well!
My kids went nuts over these!!!
Yay! So glad they enjoyed them :)
I have to say the recipe is great and easy, I only gave three though because making the glaze to me with extract did not give it that lovely maple color I love, as well as for me personally just wasn’t quite enough Maple flavor, maybe I messed up somewhere lol but I think next time I may use actual syrup instead of extract!
These make any morning feel special! I love the sweet and savory mix of these donuts!
I’m glad you enjoyed them!
Love how simple and easy this recipe is! I’ll be making it again!
There’s a Google Ad covering the Maple Bacon Donut Frosting Instructions. Would you mind send this recipe to my e-mail at JennaBeall@hotmail.com? This recipe looks amazing, thank you for sharing!!! ?
Hi Jenna! I’m sorry you are having trouble seeing the recipe, it is visible on my end. If you are still having trouble seeing it, send me an email at community@iheartnaptime.com
OMG! I heard about this was being done, but this is the first time i actual see it. how does bacon and donuts taste like/
Salty and sweet and delicious!
I’ve never made donuts before, but here in the Netherlands we usually have fried dough snacks around new years so I can’t wait to try some! I’ve been obsessed with maple and bacon ever since I started watching Masterchef Australia and I can’t waaaait to try that combination in a recipe myself :)