Campfire Donut Recipe: An Easy Family Camping Treat

Some of our favorite camping memories have started with a campfire and a simple family tradition. This easy campfire donut recipe is one of them.

Our kids first learned how to make campfire donuts during a Scouting trip several years ago. They were so easy—and so good—that they quickly became one of our family’s favorite camping treats. Since then, we have made them at campgrounds across the country, including during our visit to Yellowstone National Park.

Made with refrigerated biscuit dough and coated in cinnamon sugar, these warm campfire donuts require only a few basic ingredients. They are simple enough for children to help prepare, although an adult should always handle the hot oil and frying.

Why Our Family Loves Campfire Donuts

There is something special about cooking together at the campsite. The recipe does not have to be complicated to become part of your family’s camping memories.

We love these donuts because they are:

• Easy to make with only a few ingredients
• Fun for children to help prepare
• Ready in just a few minutes
• Perfect for breakfast, dessert, or an evening snack
• Delicious when served warm around the campfire

The kids especially enjoy shaping the dough and shaking the finished donuts in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. For us, that shared experience is just as important as the finished treat.

Important Campfire Cooking Safety Before Beginning: 

• Confirm that campfires are permitted and check for local fire restrictions. 

• Use an established fire ring and a stable cooking grate. 

• Cook over controlled coals instead of tall, open flames. 

• Keep children and pets away from the Dutch oven and hot-oil area. 

• Never leave the fire or cooking oil unattended. 

• Keep the matching metal lid nearby so the pot can be covered if the oil catches fire. 

• Never pour water on burning oil. 

• Do not overfill the Dutch oven. The oil needs plenty of room to rise when the dough is added. 

• Keep water for extinguishing the campfire nearby, but away from the hot oil. 

The National Park Service recommends checking local rules, keeping campfires small, supervising children, and never leaving a fire unattended. Review its campfire safety guidance before cooking. 

Step 1: Prepare the Campfire 

Start your campfire early enough to create a bed of hot, steady coals. You do not want tall flames touching the Dutch oven, especially while heating oil. 

Place a sturdy cooking grate over the coals. Make sure it is level and strong enough to support the Dutch oven without shifting. 

If the weather is windy or the grate cannot be positioned securely, save the recipe for another time. A portable camp stove used according to its manufacturer’s instructions may offer better temperature control. 

Step 2: Make the Cinnamon-Sugar Coating 

Combine one cup of sugar and two tablespoons of cinnamon in a resealable bag or brown paper bag. 

Seal the bag and shake it until the cinnamon and sugar are evenly mixed. Set it aside, away from the fire, until the donuts are ready. 

You can also mix the coating in a bowl and turn each warm donut in it with clean tongs. 

Step 3: Shape the Donuts 

Separate the refrigerated biscuits and place them on a clean preparation surface. 

Create a hole in the center of each biscuit with a small round cutter. You can also carefully press through the center and gently stretch the dough into a donut shape. 

Our kids always enjoyed shaping the biscuits themselves. It is an easy way to let them participate while an adult manages the fire and oil. 

Do not throw away the centers. Fry them separately to make bite-sized campfire donut holes. 

Step 4: Heat the Oil 

Place the Dutch oven securely on the cooking grate before adding the oil. Add only enough oil to give the donuts room to float while leaving generous space at the top of the pot. 

Slowly heat the oil to approximately 350°F, checking it with a deep-fry thermometer. Controlling the temperature is important: oil that is too cool can produce greasy donuts, while overheated oil can smoke or ignite. 

The USDA notes that deep-frying oil can reach temperatures above 400°F and should be monitored carefully. A thermometer is safer and more accurate than testing the oil with pieces of dough. See the USDA’s deep-frying safety guidance. 

Step 5: Fry the Campfire Donuts 

Once the oil reaches approximately 350°F, an adult can carefully lower one or two donuts into the pot using long metal tongs or a metal slotted spoon. 

Do not drop the dough into the oil because it may splash. 

Fry the donuts in small batches so the pot does not become crowded and the oil does not overflow. Cook each donut until the bottom is golden brown. Carefully turn it over and cook the other side. 

The cooking time will vary depending on the oil temperature and thickness of the dough, so watch the donuts closely. Later batches may cook faster as the Dutch oven retains heat. 

Step 6: Add the Cinnamon Sugar 

Carefully remove the golden-brown donuts from the oil and place them on paper towels to drain briefly. 

While the donuts are still warm, place them one at a time in the cinnamon-sugar bag. Seal the bag and gently shake it until the donut is evenly coated. 

Allow the donuts to cool before serving. The outside may feel ready while the inside remains very hot, so always check them before handing one to a child. 

Our Favorite Campfire Donut Memory 

We have prepared these donuts during many of our RV adventures, but making them at Yellowstone National Park remains one of our favorite experiences. 

There is something memorable about enjoying a warm, homemade donut while sitting together at a campsite after a day of exploring. It was not an elaborate meal or expensive activity. It was simply our family spending time together and turning an easy recipe into a lasting memory. 

That is one of the things we love most about RV travel. Some of the best moments happen after the sightseeing is over, when everyone slows down and gathers around the campsite. 

Make This Campfire Donut Recipe Part of Your Next Trip 

This easy campfire donut recipe has become a tradition during our family RV adventures. With refrigerated biscuit dough, cinnamon sugar, and careful adult supervision, you can make a warm camping treat that everyone will remember. 

The next time you have a safe campfire and a quiet evening at the campground, give these donuts a try. They might become one of your family’s camping traditions too.

Have you made campfire donuts before? Share your favorite toppings or camping recipes in the comments.