Backcountry Donuts

A Rugged Twist on a Breakfast Classic

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There's nothing quite like the taste of a warm, freshly made donut. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Unless you live really close to a donut shop (my waistline thanks me for not), you probably don't get to indulge in this special treat very often. Let's be clear, your local grocery store donuts don't count. I'm talking about donuts that are warm, crispy on the outside and pillow-soft on the inside.

Although donuts are a common camping breakfast item, they likely come full of preservatives and are sealed in a plastic wrapper. Not exactly exciting. How would you like to WOW your family and friends on the next camping trip with a batch of homemade cinnamon sugar donuts?

Although these are extremely easy to make, things can go south really quickly if not prepared properly. We're here to share tips on how to fry up this delectable delicacy!

IT ALL BEGINS WITH THE PROPER TOOLS

Like everything else with camping, you need to start with the right gear. In this case, the right cooking tools! We use our Lodge Dutch Oven, Jetboil stove and a thermometer. Although there are special utensils for removing the donuts from the pot, I've managed just fine with using a steak knife. When it comes to camping, less is more! Having gear that serves multiple purposes will save you tons of room.

TEMPERATURE IS KEY

If you use the thermometer I list above, you will be able to set your high-temp alarm to 375°F (190°C) and your low-temp alarm to 350°F (177°C). This will keep you from cooking your donuts too quickly or slowly.

Why is this important? If your donuts cook too quickly you will end up with uncooked dough in the center and a burned outer layer. Cooking too slowly will make your donuts soggy. I've made this mistake before, which is why I invested in the thermometer. My children's disappointed faces when we were camping in the snow will haunt me forever.

GIVE THEM SPACE

Your tasty morsels will need some space in the dutch oven when cooking, which means you'll need to practice patience while frying. If too many donuts are added to the oil at once, the oil temperature will plummet leaving you with soggy donuts. Limit yourself to cooking 2-4 donuts at a time, depending on the size of your pan. If you use the dutch oven we listed above you will be able to cook 4 donuts at once.

Buon Appetito!