With premade pizza dough, these fritters come together in less than an hour. Served warm, they’re the perfect after-school snack for special occasions, or as a donut alternative for an otherwise boring brunch.

What to buy: We designed these around premade pizza dough, available bagged in 14- or 16-ounce portions at well-stocked groceries. If you’d like to make your own, you’ll need two-thirds of our Basic Pizza Dough recipe.

Special equipment: You’ll need a candy/fat thermometer for frying.

Game plan: When deep-frying the fritters, make sure the oil stays at a constant temperature, adjusting your stove’s heat as necessary.

This recipe was featured as part of our Turn Store-Bought Pizza Dough Into Sweet Treats! project.

  • Yield: 12 fritters
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Total: 15 mins, plus 30 mins rising time

Ingredients (6)

  • 14 to 16 ounces pizza dough
  • Flour, for dusting the work surface
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup jam or jelly
  • 2 quarts vegetable oil
  • Powdered sugar, for dusting

Instructions

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Place the dough on a lightly floured work surface and roll it out to about 1/4 inch thick. With a sharp knife, cut the dough into a dozen 1-1/2-by-3-inch rectangles.
  2. Put a dab of peanut butter and a dab of jam in the center of each rectangle, then fold and seal the edges.
  3. Transfer the uncooked fritters to the prepared baking sheet and cover loosely with plastic wrap or a damp towel. Let them rise in a warm place until puffy and about 1/2 inch thick, about 30 minutes.
  4. Place the oil in a Dutch oven or a large, heavy-bottomed pot and set it over medium heat until the temperature reaches 365°F on a candy/fat thermometer. Line a second baking sheet with a double layer of paper towels; set aside.
  5. When the oil is ready, add 4 of the fritters and fry until golden brown, flipping halfway through, about 2 minutes total. Using a slotted spoon, remove the fritters to the paper towel–lined baking sheet. Add 4 more uncooked fritters to the oil. Repeat with the remaining 4 fritters. Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm.