Spudnuts are deep-fried pastries made out of mashed potatoes and covered in coarse sugar or a delicious glazed frosting. They’re simple to make and totally delicious!
Spudnuts are some of my family’s favorite desserts to make. Some of our other family-favorites are these amazing Homemade Brownies, these quick and easy Cake Mix Cookies or these classic Chocolate Chip Cookies.
What is a Spudnut?
When you think of doughnuts, potatoes might not be the first ingredient that comes to mind. However, there’s a delightful treat that combines the best of both worlds – meet Spud Nuts!
These unique doughnuts are made with mashed potatoes, resulting in a doughnut that’s incredibly moist, fluffy, and slightly crispy on the outside.
If you’re a doughnut enthusiast or simply curious about this unusual twist on a classic treat, you’re in for a mouthwatering adventure.
The Origins of Spud Nuts
The story of Spud Nuts dates back to the mid-20th century when inventive bakers sought to create a doughnut recipe that could be made with readily available ingredients during times of rationing, such as during World War II.
The use of mashed potatoes not only added moisture to the dough but also allowed for a reduction in the use of more expensive ingredients like eggs and butter. Over the years, Spud Nuts gained popularity for their unique texture and flavor, becoming a beloved treat in many regions.
Here’s how to make them –
How to Make Donuts with Mashed Potatoes
INGREDIENTS –
- 1 1/2 tsp yeast
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1/3 cup butter
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup hot mashed potatoes*
- 1/2 cup scalded milk
- 1 egg, beaten
- 3/4 tsp. salt
- 1 cup flour, plus 2 1/2 to 3 cups more
INSTRUCTIONS –
In a small bowl, mix the yeast and warm water and leave to proof.
Mix together your butter, sugar, hot mashed potatoes, and scalded milk. (I reheat my mashed potatoes with the butter so that the butter will melt).
Mix your yeast and water, egg, salt, and one cup of flour. Beat well.
Add your mixture of butter, sugar, potatoes, and milk. Blend well, then add an additional 2 1/2 to 3 cups of flour. Mix well until you have a slightly sticky, but very soft dough.
Cover the dough and allow to rise for about 1 1/2 hours.
Punch dough down and roll out about 1/2-inch thick onto a heavily floured surface.
Cut out doughnuts and doughnut holes. Remove excess dough, roll out, and cut out more doughnuts and holes until all dough is used. Let doughnuts rest for about 30 minutes while the oil heats up. Add about an inch of oil into an electric skillet. Heat oil to 375 degrees.
Carefully add doughnuts to the oil. When bottom begins to brown (after 30 seconds to a minute), flip doughnuts and cook until golden brown on both sides. Use tongs to remove from the oil and place warm doughnuts on a plate lined with paper towels.
Sprinkle sugar, powdered sugar, or drizzle your favorite glaze over the top. Serve & enjoy!
Tips For Making Spudnuts
What If They’re Too Salty – If your mashed potatoes are too salty, mix in a little sugar to sweeten them.
Use Leftovers – You don’t have to make mashed potatoes specifically for this recipe. Just use your leftover mashed potatoes from dinner the night before! Your mashed potatoes can have salt and pepper and other flavors in them and your spudnuts will still turn out as tasty as ever!
The Best Tool – For this recipe, I suggest using an electric skillet if you have one. Electric skillets let you set the temperature, and they keep that temperature constant. You don’t have to worry about turning your stove up and down and guessing about the correct temperature. If you have a fryer, you can also use that, but you won’t be able to make as many doughnuts at a time.
Cutting Tip – When I cut out the doughnuts, I just use a large cup. Then I use a medicine cup (the kind that comes with Children’s Tylenol) for the holes.
Toppings – Decorate your donuts as desired! We love dipping our spudnut donuts in sugar, sprinkled with powdered sugar, or topped with a delicious chocolate glaze!
Next time you’re craving something sweet and nostalgic, give Spud Nuts a try. These tender potato-based doughnuts are sure to become a cherished addition to your baking repertoire, a reminder of the simple joys of homemade treats.
Other Easy Donut Recipes
HERE’S A PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE –
Spudnuts Donuts Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
- Mix the yeast and warm water and leave to proof.
- Mix together your butter, sugar, hot mashed potatoes, and scalded milk. (I reheat my mashed potatoes with the butter so that the butter will melt).
- Mix your yeast and water, egg, salt, and one cup of flour. Beat well.
- Add your mixture of butter, sugar, potatoes, and milk. Blend well, then add an additional 2 1/2 to 3 cups of flour. Mix well until you have a slightly sticky, but very soft dough.
- Cover the dough and allow to rise for about 1 1/2 hours.
- Punch down dough and roll out about 1/2-inch thick onto a heavily floured surface.
- Cut out doughnuts and doughnut holes. Remove excess dough, roll out, and cut out more doughnuts and holes until all dough is used. Let doughnuts rest for about 30 minutes while the oil heats up.
- Add about an inch of oil into an electric skillet. Heat to 375 degrees. Carefully add doughnuts to the oil. When bottom begins to brown (after 30 seconds to a minute), flip doughnuts and cook until lightly browned on both sides. Use tongs to remove from the oil and place on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Sprinkle sugar, powdered sugar, or drizzle your favorite glaze over the top. Serve & enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Other Notes
There was a little shop in town when I was a kid that made spudnuts. These were so good and tasted just like them! Light and fluffy, and so easy to make. I had to cook longer than stated in the recipe so they were dark brown but still tasted wonderful. I might not have rolled the dough thin enough….will try again!
What a fun memory! I love that Sally!
So I made this with sweet potatoes and used diced marshmallows inside. Sweet potatoes pie meets doughnut Mmmmmmmm
Sounds amazing! I think I’m going to have try that next time I make these.
Could a person use left over mashed potatoes from KFC? I assume they are instant.
Yes, those should work.
I lived on spudnuts growing up. These were delicious and taste exactly like what I’m used to.
I’m so glad you loved them!
Butter?
The recipe calls for a third of a cup of butter which is slightly more than 6 tbs. (As indicated on the printing from most butter stick wrappers. The video shows around 3 tbs of butter. Which is it please. I will try for now with the amount shown in the video since that comes from actual preparation.
Use 1/3 cup. It might be hard to tell, but the video uses 1/3 cup too.
Made the donuts. Yummy. Family loves them. I love the texture…. spongy and soft .
However the dough was too sticky. Maybe due to factors like flour and humidity(?) Added a cup or more extra flour to half the dough and freezed the other half. I find that after freezing the dough was not so sticky as originally. Defrosted dough only needed a little extra flour and the texture of this batch was much lighter. Next time I will chill the dough first.
With potato added is just the recipie I had been searching for as I know the texture will be softer.
Thanks for the recipie
You bet, so glad you loved them! And thanks for the tip!
Hi! Do you have a recipe for using an air fryer? Thanks!
Unfortunately, I don’t. Sorry about that!
I grew up out west, where spudnuts came from. I ate them as a child, but I never made them myself. I have a hand written recipe I want t8 compare with yours. Then I am going to make some. I will let you know how everything turns out.
Please do! I’d love to know how they compared.
Could you please tell me what brand of electric skillet you used to fry the spudnuts and how much oil did you use.
The one I have is pretty old but it’s very similar to this one https://amzn.to/2SZb6Xk. As for the oil, it’ll vary depending on the size of the skillet but I like to use enough oil so the spudnuts will float in the skillet which is usually filling the skillet about 1/2 full.
These donuts look soooo good! I would never think about making a donut from mashed potatoes. I can’t wait to make these this weekend!
Thanks! I couldn’t believe it when I heard about this recipe the first time either but they are so delicious!
My kids loved this! They were so good!
I’m so glad they loved them! My kids are huge fans of spudnuts too.
These are seriously one of the best ways to make donuts!! They are so soft & who knew, you could make them with mashed potatoes?! We love them with a chocolate glaze!
Spudnuts are the best ever! In love! We like to makes these for halloween every year
Homemade donuts are the best, and these are so good! Great recipe!