Copycat Tim Hortons Timbits Recipe

Homemade copycat Tim Hortons Timbits on parchment, coated in cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar, and vanilla glaze.

Warm, fluffy copycat Tim Hortons Timbits are even better fresh at home, with cinnamon sugar crunch, sweet glaze, and a snowy powdered finish.

If you love soft, sweet little donut holes, this copycat Tim Hortons Timbits recipe is for you. These bite-size treats are fluffy inside, golden outside, and easy to dress up with glaze, cinnamon sugar, or powdered sugar. They’re perfect for breakfast, dessert, brunch, or a fun weekend baking project.

And let’s be honest—there’s something extra fun about homemade donut holes. They feel special, but they’re simple enough to make in a regular home kitchen.

A Little Background on Tim Hortons and Timbits

Tim Hortons is one of the most well-known coffee and baked goods chains in North America, especially in Canada. It built a loyal fan base with coffee, donuts, and quick comfort food that feels familiar and cozy. One of its most iconic menu items is Timbits®, those tiny donut-hole treats that come in a variety of flavors.

Timbits® is a trademarked name, so this recipe is a copycat-inspired version made for home cooks. It is not the official recipe, and we do not claim any connection to Tim Hortons.

What makes these little bites so loved? It’s the contrast. The outside has that light, tender chew, while the inside is soft and cakey with a sweet bakery smell that fills the kitchen. Fresh from the oil, they’re warm, fluffy, and almost impossible to leave alone. If regular donuts are the main event, these are the small, poppable encore you keep reaching for.

Why You’ll Love This Copycat Timbits Recipe

This homemade Tim Hortons Timbits recipe works well for beginners and experienced bakers alike. You don’t need fancy equipment, and the ingredients are pantry-friendly.

Easy to make with simple ingredients
Soft and fluffy inside
Great for parties, holidays, and brunch tables
Customizable with different coatings and glazes
Tastes best fresh, just like bakery-style donut holes

Ingredients

This recipe makes about 24 Timbits-style donut holes, depending on the size you scoop.

For the dough:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2/3 cup whole milk, room temperature
1 large egg, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For frying:

Vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil for frying

Optional coatings:

1/2 cup granulated sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup powdered sugar for dusting
Simple glaze made with 1 cup powdered sugar + 2 to 3 tablespoons milk + 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Serving Size, Prep Time, and Nutrition

Yield: About 24 donut holes
Serving size: 3 donut holes
Prep time: 15 minutes
Rest time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Total time: About 40 minutes

Approximate nutrition per serving of 3 plain donut holes:

Calories: 210
Carbohydrates: 28g
Protein: 4g
Fat: 9g
Sugar: 9g
Sodium: 190mg

Nutrition will vary depending on frying oil absorption and the coating you choose.

How to Make Copycat Tim Hortons Timbits

If you’ve never made homemade donut holes before, don’t worry. Think of this as a quick muffin batter that gets fried instead of baked. The steps are simple, and I’ll walk you through them.

Step 1: Heat the oil

Pour about 2 to 3 inches of oil into a heavy pot or Dutch oven. Heat the oil to 350°F. Use a thermometer if you have one. This really helps. If the oil is too hot, the outside browns too fast and the inside stays undercooked. If it’s too cool, the dough soaks up oil and turns greasy.

Food safety note: The center of the donut holes should reach at least 190°F to 200°F for a fully cooked, fluffy interior. If you’re unsure, cut one open from the first batch and check the middle.

Step 2: Mix the dry ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. This step helps spread everything evenly so you don’t get bites with too much baking powder or salt.

Step 3: Mix the wet ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract until smooth.

Step 4: Make the batter

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir gently until just combined. The batter will be thick and sticky. That’s what you want. Try not to overmix, or the donut holes can turn dense instead of light and tender.

Step 5: Let the batter rest

Let the batter sit for about 10 minutes. This gives the flour time to hydrate and helps the texture. It’s a small step, but it makes a difference.

Step 6: Scoop the dough

Use a small cookie scoop or two spoons to portion the batter. You’re aiming for about 1 tablespoon each. Don’t worry if they aren’t perfect spheres. Once they fry, they puff up beautifully and look charmingly homemade.

Step 7: Fry in small batches

Carefully drop 4 to 6 dough portions into the hot oil, depending on the size of your pot. Don’t overcrowd the pan. Fry for about 2 to 3 minutes per side, turning as needed, until golden brown all over.

The best way to keep things even is to gently nudge them around with a slotted spoon. They often rotate on their own as they puff up.

Step 8: Drain well

Remove the cooked donut holes with a slotted spoon and place them on a wire rack lined with paper towels underneath, or directly on paper towels for a quick drain. Let them cool slightly.

Step 9: Add your coating

While still slightly warm, roll the donut holes in cinnamon sugar if you like. For powdered sugar, wait until they cool a bit more. For glaze, dip or drizzle once they are warm, not piping hot, so the glaze sticks instead of sliding off.

Step 10: Serve fresh

These are best served the same day, while the texture is at its peak. Warm and fresh is where they shine.

Helpful Tips for the Best Homemade Timbits

Use a thermometer. It takes the guesswork out of frying.
Don’t overcrowd the pot. Too many at once drops the oil temperature fast.
Keep the size consistent. Similar sizes cook more evenly.
Mix gently. Overmixing can make them tough.
Test one first. Fry a single donut hole and cut it open to check doneness.

I like to keep the first batch as my “practice round.” It’s a bit like making pancakes—the first one teaches you what the batter wants.

Easy Home Kitchen Shortcuts

Want to make this Tim Hortons Timbits copycat recipe even easier? Here are a few simple ideas.

Use a cookie scoop: This is the easiest way to portion the batter neatly.
Make a quick glaze: Powdered sugar and milk work just fine.
Try canned biscuit dough: If you need a super fast shortcut, cut biscuit dough into small pieces and fry them. The flavor will be different, but it gives you a quick donut-hole style treat.
Use a Dutch oven: It helps hold heat better than a thin pot.

Can you air fry them? Sort of. This batter is too soft for a standard air fryer basket. But if you want an air-fryer version, use biscuit dough pieces instead. Air fry at 350°F until golden and cooked through, usually about 6 to 8 minutes, turning once.

Flavor Ideas and Fun Variations

One of the best things about homemade Timbits-style donut holes is that you can change the flavor without making a whole new recipe.

Chocolate glaze: Add 1 tablespoon cocoa powder to the powdered sugar glaze.
Maple glaze: Swap vanilla for a little maple extract.
Honey dip style: Brush lightly with honey butter after frying.
Powdered sugar: A bakery classic that always works.
Plain glazed: Simple, shiny, and sweet.
Cinnamon sugar: Warm and cozy, especially in fall.

If you’re serving a crowd, try doing a mix. It makes the whole plate feel like a donut shop sampler.

Allergy-Friendly and Dietary Modifications

Need to work around food allergies or preferences? No problem. Here are some ways to adapt this copycat Timbits recipe.

Gluten-free

Use a good quality 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour blend.
Check that your baking powder is gluten-free.
The texture may be slightly softer or more delicate, so let the batter rest a little longer before frying.

Dairy-free

Use unsweetened almond milk, oat milk, or soy milk instead of whole milk.
Replace the butter with melted dairy-free butter or neutral oil.
For glaze, use plant-based milk.

Egg-free

Replace the egg with 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce.
You can also use a store-bought egg replacer that is meant for baking.
The final texture may be slightly less rich, but still tasty.

Vegan

Use plant-based milk.
Use melted vegan butter or oil.
Use an egg replacer or applesauce.
Double-check your sugar if you follow a strict vegan diet.

Nut-free

Choose dairy milk or oat milk instead of almond milk if needed.
Fry in a nut-free oil such as canola or vegetable oil.
Always read labels if cooking for someone with a severe allergy.

Lower-sugar option

Reduce the sugar in the batter slightly, down to 1/4 cup.
Skip heavy glaze and use a light dusting of powdered sugar instead.
Keep in mind they will taste less like classic donut holes, but still good.

Paleo-style note

This specific recipe is not naturally paleo because it uses flour, sugar, and milk.
For a paleo-inspired version, you would need almond flour or cassava flour, a paleo-friendly sweetener, and a different liquid balance.
That becomes more of a separate recipe than a direct swap, so expect a different texture.

How to Store and Reheat

These homemade donut holes are best on the day they’re made, but you can still save extras.

Room temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 1 day.
Refrigerator: Up to 3 days, though the texture will change.
Freezer: Freeze plain, unfrosted donut holes for up to 2 months.

To reheat: Warm in the microwave for about 8 to 10 seconds, or in a 300°F oven for a few minutes. Then add a fresh dusting of sugar or a drizzle of glaze if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make the batter ahead of time?

It’s best to make and fry the batter the same day. Since this recipe uses baking powder, you’ll get the best rise when it’s cooked soon after mixing.

Why are my donut holes raw in the middle?

The oil was probably too hot, or the dough portions were too large. Keep the oil at 350°F and use small scoops.

Can I bake these instead of frying?

You can, but the texture won’t be the same. Fried donut holes have that classic tender outside and fluffy center that baking doesn’t quite match.

What oil is best for frying?

Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point, like canola, vegetable, or peanut oil.

Final Thoughts

This copycat Tim Hortons Timbits recipe is a fun, cozy treat that brings a coffee shop favorite into your kitchen. They’re sweet, soft, and easy to customize, which makes them great for family mornings, holiday brunches, or those random afternoons when you just want something warm and homemade.

If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out. Did you go with cinnamon sugar, glaze, or powdered sugar? Did you make them for a party, or just because? Leave a comment and share your version. And if you know someone who loves donut holes, send this recipe their way.

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Disclaimer

This recipe is a copycat-inspired recipe designed to recreate the style and flavor of Timbits® at home. It is not the official recipe, is not endorsed by Tim Hortons, and no knowledge of the actual proprietary recipe is implied.

Simply Copycat Recipes is also an Amazon affiliate. This means we may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through affiliate links, at no extra cost to you.

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