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appalachian coal miners doughnuts "fried biscuits"

GMarie65 avatar
Recipe by
Gina Davis
@GMarie65
Cedar Bluff, VA

These are a true Coal Miner's Doughnut. My husband is a Underground Coal Boss here in the Appalachian Mountains of Southwest Virginia. (not west virginia--Virginia) and as soon as he gets off Chicken Ridge and gets a signal he will call and ask me to start him some so they will still be hot when he gets home (he works 3rd shift) We both grew up eating these and it is one of those recipes that has been passed around here forever :)

yield 4 - 6
prep time 5 Min
cook time 5 Min
method Deep Fry

Ingredients For appalachian coal miners doughnuts "fried biscuits"

  • BISCUIT FLOUR (SELF RISING FLOUR)
  • 8 c
    flour (all purpose)
  • 4 Tbsp
    baking powder
  • 2 tsp
    salt
  • 1 pinch
    baking soda
  • I SKIP THE HOMEMADE BISCUIT (SELF RISING FLOUR) STEP AND JUST USE WHITE LILY SR FLOUR
  • 3 c
    self rising flour
  • 1 c
    water
  • 1/2 c
    buttermilk
  • 1 pinch
    salt
  • 1 pinch
    baking soda
  • 1/4 c
    sugar (leave out sugar if you want it as a biscuit)
  • oil for deep frying

How To Make appalachian coal miners doughnuts "fried biscuits"

  • 1
    Ok I am going to write the directions as written by my Daddy's Mom. He loved these and would make them all the time (well the times my Mommoo (mom) didn't, this is his momma's recipe :)
  • 2
    Here's what i fry mine in, either my 8 inch round 4 inch deep cast iron skillet or my med. cast iron dutch oven.
  • 3
    Mix up everything for your biscuit flour (Self-Rising Flour)
  • 4
    Heat some grease in a big cast iron pot to cook the dough in **Heat oil in pot at least 3 inches deep or deep fryer (you can pay fry these but they come out more flat and don't have that round ball look to them but taste the same. If you pan fry use about 2 inches oil)
  • 5
    Mix up everything **Mix flour, water, buttermilk, baking soda, salt. Mix well, batter should be on the wet side just a little thicker then a cake batter.
  • 6
    Take a big stir spoon and a small stir spoon and use the big one to get dough and the small one to scrape it off. **Take a large metal serving spoon and scoop up dough and use another spoon to roll the dough off into the oil. Get your large spoon with dough right at the oil before rolling the dough into it. You might have to practice some but it is just like making a big hushpuppie. You can also use a Ice Cream scoop.
  • 7
    Fry until they look done and roll them over. take out of grease. **Fry until golden brown and flip over. When golden on both sides remove to paper towels or a wire rack (rack works best)
  • 8
    If making the doughnut dust with confecrioners sugar or cinnamon and sugar, drizzle with honey or molasas. I love love love them with confectioners sugar and homemade strawberry jam and BUTTER! I also like to make them hushpuppie size and roll them in sugar for a quick sweet treat. If making busciuts remember to leave out sugar, these are a fun switch up to gravy and biscuits :)
  • 9
    This recipe can also be made into biscuit bread (leave out the sugar), just put in an oven safe pan and bake at 400 until top is brown. I bake mine in cast iron just like my cornbread. Then just tear apart into biscuit size pieces and serve with gravy.
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