Sweet citrus flavor Glazed lemon donuts they are delicious for breakfast or for a simple dessert. These lemon donuts are made with cookie preserves for easy preparation! The lemon glaze transforms these donuts into a whole new level of deliciousness.
Sometimes you have to cut corners and make donuts for breakfast. This lemon donut recipe is one of my spring and summer favorites. If you want a fall and winter flavored donut, try my Apple Cider Donuts!
Also check out my Lemon Poppy Cake and Lemon Cake for more citrus dessert ideas.
This Glazed Lemon Donuts recipe is…
- Made with 5 ingredients
- Glazed with homemade lemon glaze
- Made with canned cookie dough
- Top with lemon zest
- Great for breakfast or dessert
How to make glazed lemon fritters
- Heat the oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F.
- While the oil is heating, cut out the centers of the cookies.
- Fry each biscuit donut in the hot oil.
- Place the fritters on a cooling rack to let the excess fat drip off.
- Combine the glaze ingredients in a bowl.
- Dip each donut into the glaze and return to the cooling rack.
- Garnish with more lemon zest and serve.
Complete instructions on how to make glazed lemon donuts are on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Tips and Tricks for Lemon Glazed Donuts
Flatten the dough
Before cutting out the center of the cookies, make sure to stretch and flatten the cookies a bit. This will give you a thinner and easier to cook doughnut.
deep pan
When frying the fritters, use a deep frying pan. This will prevent the oil from splattering everywhere when you flip the fritters while frying.
Oil temperature
The optimum oil temperature for frying fritters is 350°F. Getting the oil to this temperature is important, because if the oil gets too hot, it will overcook the outside of the fritters and leave the centers doughy.
Variations of Glazed Lemon Donuts
enamel
You can use any flavor of glaze you like for your donuts. Mash up some strawberries for a pink glaze, whip up a lime glaze, etc. Feel free to change it if you want!
Splashes
After dipping the donuts in the lemon glaze, add some fun white or yellow sprinkles. This is a fun addition for toddlers who enjoy colorful sprinkled donuts.
Bake vs. Fry
You can bake or fry your donuts instead of frying them. However, I find that frying the batter gives the cookies a more donut-like texture and flavor. Whichever method you choose to use, just make sure your donuts are fully cooked!
Frequently Asked Questions About Lemon Glazed Donuts
Which are better: baked or fried fritters?
Baked donuts will be a bit healthier as they are not fried in oil. However, as mentioned above, fried donuts tend to have a more classic donut texture. Either way, just remember that all donuts are made with carbs, so eat it in moderation.
How should you store leftover donuts?
Donuts are best served fresh. If you have leftovers, they will store at room temperature for 1-2 days. The longer the donuts sit, the drier they will become. For a fresher texture, heat the donuts in the microwave for 5-10 seconds before eating.
Rations: 10 donuts
Calories: 239kcal
Ingredients
- 16 oz canned cookies usually 10 cookies
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 spoon lemon juice
- 1 lemon scratched optional
- oil to fry (see note)
Instructions
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Place a cooling rack over a baking sheet and set aside.
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On a flat surface, place the cookies. Cut out the center of each cookie, then roll out each cookie a little wider (roll out about ½”).
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Pour your frying oil into a large, deep frying pan and heat it over medium-high heat. Use a candy thermometer to make sure you bring the oil to 350 F for best results. Once the oil is hot, fry each fritter individually for about 1 minute per side, until golden brown.
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Place each fried donut on a cooling rack to allow excess oil to drip off.
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Sift the powdered sugar into a large bowl.
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Add the lemon juice.
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Then add most of the lemon zest (reserve some for garnish).
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Dip each donut into the lemon glaze.
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Then place it back on the cooling rack.
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Garnish with additional lemon zest. Let it sit until the glaze is set, about 30 minutes.
notes
You will need about 4 cups of oil to fry the fritters, but the amount will vary depending on the size of the pan. You want at least 3-4″ deep. You can use canola or vegetable oil.
nutrition
Calories: 239kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 3gFat: 8gSaturated fat: 1gPolyunsaturated fats: 3gMonounsaturated fats: 3gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 428mgPotassium: 120mgFiber: 1gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 3UIVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 2mg