I first encountered Chinese sugar donuts at my favorite local buffet after a particularly long week at work. Nestled between the fortune cookies and fried wontons, these golden, sugar-dusted treats caught my eye. One bite of that crispy exterior gave way to a pillowy center, and I was hooked. I returned to the buffet repeatedly, but just for these donuts!
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After several “research trips” (and probably a few too many donuts), I was determined to recreate this simple yet irresistible dessert at home. The result is this incredibly easy recipe that captures all the magic of those restaurant favorites—without having to pay for an entire buffet just to satisfy your craving.
Table of Contents
What Makes Chinese Sugar Donuts Special?
Chinese donuts served in American Chinese restaurants are a delightful adaptation of the traditional Chinese “you tiao” (crispy fried bread). While authentic you tiao is usually shaped into long strips, the Americanized version comes in bite-sized round balls, making them perfect for snacking. The exterior crunch gives way to a soft, airy interior, and the entire donut is generously coated in white sugar for just the right amount of sweetness.
The best part? This copycat version uses simple refrigerated biscuit dough as a shortcut, making it accessible for home cooks of all skill levels. They’re perfect for dessert after a homemade Chinese meal, weekend breakfast treats, or anytime you need something sweet in under 30 minutes.
Why you should try this recipe
While Chinese Buffet Style Donuts may not be the world’s healthiest treat, they are pretty delicious. They have a heavenly exterior crunch. You may want to try these not just as a dessert with a meal, but you may want to try them for a weekend breakfast or afternoon snack.
What are Chinese Donuts?
These are like donuts. They are typically deep-fried balls of dough and then rolled in white granulated sugar. You can find these puffy donuts with a generous sugar coating on a Chinese buffet dessert table.
They may have originated from Youtiao, the Chinese deep-fried dough often served for breakfast. In China, these are made in different shapes and long forms, so it’s easy to see how they are Americanized in many restaurants.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Refrigerated canned biscuits – forms the base of our donuts, providing the perfect texture when fried
- Granulated white sugar – Creates the signature sweet coating that makes these donuts irresistible
- Vegetable oil (for frying) – Provides the medium for deep-frying and contributes to the crispy exterior
Equipment Needed
- Deep fryer or large heavy-bottomed pot
- Deep-fry thermometer
- Slotted spoon or tongs
- Paper towels or wire cooling rack
- Shallow dish for sugar coating
Ingredient Notes
For the canned biscuits, I don’t recommend purchasing expensive ones. In fact, by the least expensive that you can. Do not purchase the flaky ones if you want to recreate this recipe at home.
I recommend using plain vegetable oil. Other types of oil would work; you could use corn oil, soybean oil, or even peanut oil.
How to Make Chinese Donuts (Sugar Donuts Chinese Buffet Style)
- Add enough oil to a deep fryer or large heavy-bottomed pot so that it is a few inches deep. Heat the oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a deep-fry thermometer to check the oil’s temperature.
- Place a couple of biscuits in the oil and cook until lightly browned on one side, about 1 to 1½ minutes.
- Turn the biscuits over to brown on the other side.
- When both sides of the donuts are golden brown, transfer them to a wire rack or paper towels and drain for 15 seconds, you will want to remove the excess grease.
- Dredge the donuts in sugar while they are still warm.
How do you eat a Chinese doughnut?
You would eat them as you would any donut; keep in mind these round donuts do not have holes in them, so you should enjoy them one bite at a time!
How to Store and Reheat Chinese Doughnuts
These donuts do not store very well. You can enjoy them immediately for the best flavor and texture, if you want to enjoy them later, I recommend storing them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 48 hours.
I do not like to store these in the fridge, because I feel like it will give you poor results, they seem to get too hard if you refrigerate the leftovers. If you have an air fryer, you should reheat them for about 60 seconds at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Variations to Try
- Mini donuts: Cut each biscuit in half for smaller, bite-sized treats (reduce frying time accordingly).
- Cinnamon sugar coating: Mix ground cinnamon with the granulated sugar for a warm, spiced flavor.
- Powdered sugar: Use confectioners’ sugar instead of granulated for a different sweetness profile.
- Dipping sauces: Serve with chocolate sauce, condensed milk, or fruit coulis for dipping.
What to serve these with?
These Chinese sugar donuts pair wonderfully with:
- As part of a complete Chinese buffet-style meal at home
- A scoop of vanilla ice cream for an elevated dessert
- Fresh fruit for a balanced sweet treat
- Hot coffee or tea for breakfast or afternoon snack
How to Store and Reheat Chinese Doughnuts
These donuts do not store very well. You can enjoy them immediately for the best flavor and texture, if you want to enjoy them later, I recommend storing them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 48 hours.
What is the best way to reheat these homemade donuts?
- Air fryer: 60 seconds at 350°F (best method for restoring crispiness)
- Toaster oven or conventional oven: 6-8 minutes at 350°F
- Microwave: 10-15 seconds (note: this will make them softer, not crispy)
Do you love donuts? Check out these recipes!
More Easy Dessert Recipes
- Blueberry Cheesecake Bars
- Cherry Turnovers
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
- Coca Cola Cake
- Hershey Cocoa Brownies
- Homemade Twix
- Kool-Aid Pie
- Pecan Pie Brownies
- Pineapple Angel Food Cake
- Sara Lee Pound Cake
Be sure to take a look at more of my Chinese cuisine recipes and the best desserts.
Chinese Doughnut (Buffet Style)
Ingredients
- 1 can refrigerated biscuits
- oil for frying
- 1/3 cup sugar
Instructions
- Add enough oil to a deep fryer or large, deep heavy pot so that it is a couple of inches deep.
- Heat the oil to 350 degrees.
- Place 2 to 3 biscuits in the oil and allow them to lightly brown on one side, about 90 seconds. Be sure to fry only a couple at a time or the oil may cool too much and the donuts will absorb too much oil.
- Turn the biscuits over to brown on the other side.
- When the donuts are golden brown on both sides, transfer them to a wire rack or paper towels to drain for 15 seconds.
- Pour sugar into a small bowl.
- Dredge the warm donuts in the sugar.
Video
Notes
Tips for Perfect Chinese Donuts
- Oil temperature is key: Maintain the oil at 350°F. If it’s too hot, the outside will burn before the inside cooks; if it’s too cool, the donuts will absorb too much oil and become greasy.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan: Fry in small batches to maintain oil temperature and give the donuts room to float.
- Choose the right biscuits: Use the least expensive, regular (not flaky layers) canned biscuits for the most authentic texture.
- Sugar while hot: Roll the donuts in sugar while they’re still warm so the coating sticks better.
Nutrition
Common Questions & Troubleshooting
Q: Why are my donuts greasy? A: The oil temperature was likely too low. Always ensure it’s at 350°F before frying.
Q: Can I make these ahead of time for a party? A: These are best served fresh. If you need to make them ahead, fry them 1-2 hours before serving and keep at room temperature.
Q: Can I freeze these donuts? A: Not recommended. The texture significantly changes after freezing.
Q: Can I use homemade biscuit dough instead of canned? A: Absolutely! Any basic biscuit recipe will work, though the texture may vary slightly.
Scaling the Recipe
- For a crowd: Simply use more cans of biscuits. The recipe scales easily, though you may need to change the oil partway through if frying many batches.
- For a small batch: Use a smaller can of biscuits and reduce the amount of oil accordingly.
Dietary Modifications
- Gluten-free: Use gluten-free canned biscuits (now available in many supermarkets).
- Vegan: Look for vegan-friendly refrigerated biscuit dough or use a simple vegan biscuit recipe.
- Lower sugar: Use a sugar substitute that measures like sugar, or reduce the amount used for coating.
The best thing I have ever made with my favorite child. It tested very good
Tasted just like the Golden Palace!
Can they be filled? Thank you
It would be fairly easy to fill them after if a pastry bag.
I made them last week and filled them with smucker’s raspberry preserves. I Used a disposable pastry bag fitted with a decorating tip. Suggest trying to fill one and cut it open t9 see how you did. The first one I filled did not have enough jelly. It took more squeeze force than I expected to get a good jelly-donut ratio. They were delicious.
Greetings Stephanie,
Interesting recipe but I am presently in Hong Kong for work, been here already 2-years, and have to say I’ve never encountered anything like these doughnuts! There is a dessert pastry which is deep fried and rolled in sugar but it is more like a choux paste/pastry in texture although somewhat more dense.
Thanks for the great recipes though!
A.H.
My guess these “Chinese donuts” are a “Chinese American” dish just like General Tso’s chicken. There are many dishes that were created in the US for the American audience.
Can u use cinnamon rolls instead of plain ones ?
Sure this could work!
what do you use to cut small circles and do you just take biscuit out and make holes or roll the dough out, which way do you do it. thanks
You could poke a hole in the center of the dough with your finger. For this recipe, I just took the biscuits out of the can, and deep fried them.
How about try to copycat white castle burgers if anyone can do this it would be you i’ve tried came close but still missing something.
Thank you for your suggestion. I will have to keep this in mind during my travels. Right now I can only get the frozen ones.
What setting on the stove should i put in the on to fry
Jesus can of donuts, oil and sugar, people are preschooler would have no questions
Lmao!!!
Right?! Nobody’s building a rock ship here, ya know?! Lol!
People come to my blog with all sorts of cooking skill levels. While you may not need the instructions, I sometimes I some very basic questions!
????????……?…… Exactly!!!!!!
Can you use homemade biscuits?
Which biscuit dough do you use, (Without naming a brand name), the small ones or the big ones.
I use a can of inexpensive biscuits, store brand if available.
Hi, do I cut the biscuits or fry them whole. I am new to cooking.
Thank you,
Fry whole but I’m sure cutting them in half would be fine.
What type of oil is best to use? In Chinese lo mein as well?
Ideally I would use peanut, but you can use what you have on hand.
Made these tonight but I used my frozen yeast pre-made rolls. Thawed and allowed them to proof. Flattened out to about 1 ” thickness, deep fried in 375 degree canola oil.Once golden brown on both sides, rolled them in white granulated sugar. So good!!!
Next time I am going to fill all of them with jelly! Linda Winchell
Then I think you will have jelly donuts!
I’m quite sure my husband will. Thank you Stephanie Manley
How do I cook.them using a skillet
Yes you can they cook quickly. Have your eve’s on them at all times. Make sure there thoroughly cooked before you rook them in sugar. Pan frying doesn’t make a difference at all then deep frying! Have fun!
What should the temp of the oil be?
It should be at 350.
Hello my stove doesnt have 350 and so forth it has numbers low 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 high which one do i use
Stephanie Manley, I have the same question as Dee. We made them yesterday, the outside was perfect, the inside was doughy. Any suggestions?
You should cook them a little bit longer, or you may want to flatten them a bit before you fry them.
Get a frying thermometer or get an electric fryer with temp settings. No home stove on earth has temperature settings for the burners.
You are right no home stove has temperature settings. I have found you can fry on the stove, you may need to use a candy thermometer to assist.
4 is a good temp
Invest in a thermometer, especially one for oil. You can find them at a kitchen supply store or maybe your local grocery store. You could also find them on Amazon. This will give you the temperature of the oil, not the amount of heat being put out by the burner (the numbers you mentioned).
do u have to shape the biscuit dough form the can to get it round shape for the doughnuts
If you want them to be that exact shape you can. Yes!
I tried making them but the inside is not fully cooked yet When the outer is like almost burnt already. Am I doing something wrong?
Try to make them smaller. A lot of the time they are just to big. Your dough maybe to cold also.
This always happens to me when the oil is too hot. Just turn down the burner and you will have much better results.
Cook it on about 300 for 2 to 3 minutes
Amazing
Loved these! I also roll them in cinnamon and sugar as well!
What temp. do you fry them at?
350