Natural Health & Wellness

Yum Alert! Healthier Coconut Oil Fried Dough Recipe, Grandpa’s Take on A Classic

Yum Alert! Healthier Coconut Oil Fried Dough Recipe, Grandpa's Take on A Classic Thewellthieone

There’s nothing quite like homemade, warm fried dough – a treat that many of us have fond memories of enjoying as kids. Grandpa’s special fried dough recipe is sure to bring back those memories and make your whole family smile. 

It’s made with simple ingredients, like all-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, coconut oil and lukewarm water. 

After it’s deep-fried in either coconut until it becomes golden brown and crispy on the outside, you can top it off with whatever topping you like! From a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar to marshmallows or chocolate chips – the possibilities are endless. Get ready to indulge in a delicious piece of nostalgia!

Making anything with grandpa in the kitchen, especially fried dough, was always a good time!
Making anything with grandpa in the kitchen, especially fried dough, was always a good time!

My Grandfather, A Master of Fried Dough

My grandfather was renowned for his fried dough recipe. He had been perfecting it since he was a young boy and had passed it on to every generation in our family. 

As a child, I would watch him make the dough with fascination. He told me stories about how his grandmother had taught him her recipe and that he was determined to perfect it before teaching it to us.

I’ll never forget the first time my grandfather taught me his fried dough recipe. We were in the kitchen, and I could feel the warmth from the oven radiating through the room as he mixed together all of the ingredients. 

Grandpa says that it is important that you do not  “overhandle” the dough.  If you want it to be light and fluffy, don’t crunch it down too much.
Grandpa says that it is important that you do not “overhandle” the dough. If you want it to be light and fluffy, don’t crunch it down too much.

Why did grandpa opt to use coconut oil in his dough and for frying?

Grandpa opted to use coconut oil in his fried dough because it has many health benefits, such as being:

Coconut oil liquifies at approx. 78 degrees, making it an easy oil to work with when baking.
Coconut oil liquifies at approx. 78 degrees, making it an easy oil to work with when baking.

Moreover, compared to other cooking oils, coconut oil has a smoke point that’s higher than most cooking temperatures so it doesn’t break down easily during the frying process. This makes it an ideal choice for Grandpa’s fried dough recipe — not only does it provide numerous health benefits but also allows him to fry his delicious treat without risking damage to its nutritional content.

With every step, he explained what he was doing and why. For example, why you must use cold water when making the dough instead of warm or hot water, or why you should add just a dash of nutmeg for flavor.

After he finished mixing everything together and formed perfect balls with his hands, he placed them onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper to line them up to go into the deep fryer pan.

To stay organized, grandpa says to have all of your dough pieces on a board or sheet ready to go into the oil before you start frying.
To stay organized, grandpa says to have all of your dough pieces on a board or sheet ready to go into the oil before you start frying.

While each dough ball was frying in the hot oil, my grandfather shared some tips with me on how to get them just right — like timing your flipping technique so that each side gets golden-brown yet not too crispy.

When they came out of the oil looking beautiful, grandpa set them down on some paper towels to blot out an excess oil. 

You can make your fried dough any shape you like.
You can make your fried dough any shape you like.

My grandfather handed me one while they were still warm — so warm that I burned my tongue while taking a bite! 

But even though this happened we both laughed and my grandfather said “That’s gonna be a lesson learned!”  I still use this phrase for many applicable moments in my life. Surely there have been many more “That’s gonna be a lesson learned!” moments.

That day I took away not only his classic fried dough recipe but also that life is about enjoying moments like these with friends and family around us, no matter how small or big they are.

You can make your fried dough any shape you like.
You can make your fried dough any shape you like.

Grandpa’s Fried Dough Recipe


2 cups of all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons white sugar

½ teaspoon salt

¼ cup coconut oil, melted and cooled slightly, plus coconut oil for frying

¾ cup lukewarm water 

Please note:  For a gluten free version of grandpa’s fried dough, we recommend using fine masa flour, like harina pan.

Toppings for Grandpa’s fried dough: To be determined by the chef, here are some great topping ideas.  Try them all!


Confectioners’ Sugar

Caramelized Apples

Sweet Cinnamon Glaze

Powdered Chocolate

Whipped Cream and Berries

Nutella Spread

Honey Syrup

Chocolate Chips and Toasted Coconut Flakes

Cream Cheese Icing and Sprinkles

Butterscotch Sauce and Chopped Walnuts

Chocolate sauce

Chocolate or caramel sauce toppings are amazing on warm fried dough!
Chocolate or caramel sauce toppings are amazing on warm fried dough!

Instructions to make Grandpa’s Fried Dough:

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.

Make a well in the center and add in the cooled melted coconut oil and lukewarm water. Mix until a soft dough forms.

Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until it’s soft and smooth. Cover with a damp cloth and let rest for 15 minutes.

Prepare a deep skillet or pan over medium heat; add in an inch or two of coconut oil to fry the doughnuts in. Take small pieces of dough (about 2 tablespoons) and shape into circles.

A favorite of ours was making bite-sized dough balls and putting cinnamon and brown sugar on them.
A favorite of ours was making bite-sized dough balls and putting cinnamon and brown sugar on them.

They should be around 3 inches wide each–the size is up to you! Carefully place them in the hot oil and fry on both sides until golden brown. Remove from oil onto paper towels or cooling rack to drain off any excess grease/oil.

Once completely cool, top with your favorite toppings like cinnamon sugar, marshmallows, chocolate chips or whatever you desire! Enjoy!

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