Banana Caramel Pecan Doughnuts (gourdoughs copycat)

These Caramel Banana Pecan Doughnuts are totally sinful – and if you’ve ever been to Gourdough’s in Austin you’ll understand why! This doughnut is a mini copycat of Gourdoughs Granny’s Pie Doughnut and it is one of the best doughnuts I’ve ever had, and they are made so easy by using Pillsbury Biscuits!

If you follow me (or any bloggers who attended BlogHer Food last weekend) on Instagram, you may have been overwhelmed with the amount of doughnut photos you were bombarded with. I apologize, because I know if it were me I would have been drooling all over my phone!

One thing I love about visiting new cities is trying out local food – especially the sweet variety. A few weeks before I left for Austin it was brought to my attention that there is an iconic doughnut shop there, called Gourdoughs. Actually, it’s an iconic food truck/trailer that’s parked in a stationary location. I could not wait to get my hands on one of their doughnuts.

They have so many varieties on their menu:

The Funky Monkey

The Mother Clucker

The Naughty & Nice

The Flying Pig

That last one? That’s a doughnut the size of a dessert plate frosted with maple syrup and topped with bacon. You may remember that I made Bacon Maple Cinnamon Rolls a few months ago based on the Bacon Maple Bar at Voodoo Doughnut in Portland. I’m not saying which one is better, except that I wish I lived in Austin.

When a few of us decided to copycat some Gourdoughs doughnuts, I had the hardest time choosing which one to make. I wanted to make every single one. Finally, I decided on the Granny’s Pie…because well. It’s got pie in the name! I was so excited to try the Granny’s Pie doughnut and I was able to eat my way through it and several flavors at the Picmonkey PJ Party during the conference. OMG, I think I gained 25 pounds just that night!

Let me state: Gourdoughs doughnuts are the size of a dessert plate. I’m so not kidding. After eating my way through Austin last weekend (more about that to come in a few days!) I didn’t want a 6″ doughnut. So I made small ones instead. Then I can eat three.

These doughnuts are cheaters doughnuts. I used Pillsbury Biscuits (the small ones) but you can also use Grands. You simply cut out a hole in the center of each biscuit, heat some oil in a pot and fry the biscuits. Poof! Doughnuts!

And then, what makes these Granny’s Pie worthy are the toppings. Oh, the toppings.

The toppings are what makes a Gourdoughs doughnut. On top of these Banana Caramel Pecan (Granny’s Pie) Doughnuts are:

1. Cream Cheese Frosting – is there anything better?

2. Graham cracker crumbs – the crust!

3. Bananas

4. Pecans

5. Caramel ice cream topping

Now that’s a lot of toppings! The marriage of the caramel and banana and frosting and pecans is one of those party-in-your-mouth moments. If you’ve ever had Gourdoughs and are craving one…or if you’ve never been and want to try them…try these.

They won’t disappoint, I promise!

Banana Caramel Pecan Doughnuts {gourdoughs copycat}

5 from 1 vote

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Ingredients

 

For the Doughnuts:

• ▢ 1 can refrigerated biscuits either small or large, 8-10 count
• ▢ Vegetable Oil for frying

For the Frosting:

• ▢ 4 ounces cream cheese room temperature
• ▢ 1/4 cup butter room temperature
• ▢ 2 cups powdered sugar
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla

For the Toppings:

• ▢ 1 graham cracker sheet smooshed to make crumbs (I used my hands)
• ▢ 1 banana sliced thin
• ▢ Caramel ice cream topping about 1/4-1/2 cup
• ▢ Chopped Pecans

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Instructions

• Make your frosting: beat cream cheese and butter with a hand mixer in a large bowl. Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla until frosting comes together. Set aside.
• Fill a medium saucepan or dutch oven with oil so that it comes 2” up the sides. Heat over medium-high heat until it reaches 350 degrees (I used a candy thermometer to measure it).
• While the oil is heating, line a cookie sheet with paper towels. Unwrap your biscuits and cut a hole in the center of each. Depending on the size of your biscuit you can use a small cookie cutter or the large end of an icing tip.
• Once the oil comes up to temperature, fry the doughnuts in batches. Place each doughnut in the oil, cook until the bottom is golden, flip with a spatula, and cook until the other side is golden. Use a slotted spoon to remove each doughnut from the oil carefully and place it on the cookie sheet. Let cool a few minutes before topping.
• Top doughnut: frost with cream cheese frosting. Sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs. Top each doughnut with a few slices of banana then sprinkle with pecans and drizzle with caramel sauce. Serve immediately.

Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate

Author Dorothy Kern

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Click here for easy ways to use overripe BANANAS

Want to check out some other Gourdough’s Doughnuts? Go see some of my friends today!

PB & J by Capturing Joy
Granny’s Pie by Crazy for Crust
Heavenly Hash by Something Swanky
The Carney (Apple Pie Doughnuts) by Shugary Sweets
The Flying Pig by The Novice Chef
Dirty Berry by Inside BruCrew Life
Bring the Heath by Mom on Timeout
Son of a Peach by Chef-in-Training
Mama’s Cake by The Domestic Rebel
The Mother Clucker by Oh Sweet Basil
Cherry Bombs by My Life as a Mrs.
The Funky Monkey by The Little Kitchen
The Baby Rattler by Confessions of a Cookbook Queen
Black Out Cupcakes {inspired by Gourdoughs} by Cookies & Cups
ODB by Sweet Treats and More
The Puddin’ by Lauren’s Latest
Naughty & Nice by Life’s Ambrosia
Miss Shortcake by Kevin & Amanda

Like Doughnuts? How about these…

Triple Mocha Donuts

Chocolate Twist Donuts with Avocado Whipped Cream Filling

Thanks for reading!