I did a thing this past Sunday morning. I made Air Fryer donuts.
Me, like everyone else on social media, was scrolling and saw the cinnamon sugary wheels of glory calling my name. And they look so easy! I happened to have requested 2 cans of biscuit dough on hubby’s last trip to the store, so why not give them a whirl?
Most folks bought an Air Fryer to be healthier. To make their favorites with less oil but all the crisp.
Apparently I didn’t get that memo because I used mine to take buttery biscuit dough, fry it, baste it with more butter and then toss it in cinnamon sugar.
They graced the pages of my Instagram stories and to my surprise people demanded the recipe. My sister-in-law said “what people need right now is DONUTS!”
What's In This Article
Air Fryer Doughnuts
This is most certainly a doughnut hack. These aren’t going to rival the best yeast donuts or cake-like donuts you’ve ever had.
I likened them to the now famous cronut – Dominique Ansel’s cross between a croissant and donut. But my sister, a true doughnut connoisseur, quickly corrected me that these should not be uttered in the same sentence.
What I can tell you they are is delicious. They are quick to make and require just 4 ingredients. I would tell you they aren’t very messy, but I made mine with a 2-year-old (it’s also her hands in the video- but she’s 4 now), so mine were totally messy and every surface was covered in sugar fingerprints.
Donut Toppings
My Air Fryer Donuts are topped with just cinnamon and sugar. Plain and simple, I like the crunch.
But you can use whatever toppings your heart desires. Dress them like any other donut. A basic powdered sugar and milk glaze is always acceptable. As are sprinkles, or “sparkles” as my daughter calls them.
More donut toppings:
- Chocolate Frosting
- Sweetened Coconut Flakes
- Candied Bacon
- Fresh Fruit
- Crushed candy, cereal or cookies
- Marshmallow fluff
- Caramel Sauce
- Powdered Sugar
Air Fryer Donut Recipe
Start with a can of refrigerated biscuit dough. My Air Fryer only accommodates 4 donuts without overlapping, so I worked in 2 batches.
- Make the Donut. Work on a non-stick surface or a lightly floured surface. Using a 1-inch cookie cutter, make holes in the center of each biscuit. This is necessary for them to cook the whole way through. It if you fry them whole, the center will still be doughy. I didn’t have a 1-inch cookie cutter so instead I used the cap off a pouch of frozen breast milk. Ha! But most any bottle cap will be the right size, just clean and dry it well.
- Grease them Up. Set aside the doughnut holes. Spray the inside of your Air Fryer with oil and then add donuts. Lightly spray the tops.
- Air Fry. Cook at 350°F for 5 minutes, turning half way through. No need to respray, as the bottoms will have residual oil on them already.
- Butter Baste. Baste with melted butter.
- Toss in cinnamon and sugar. Serve warm!
Make Ahead
You can make anything ahead of time, the question is will it taste good? Donuts are best right out of the fryer when made traditionally and the same rings true here.
Donuts can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for several days, if they last long. They are best on day #1 and might need a quick 10-15 seconds in the microwave to reheat the butter goodness back to its former glory.
I do not recommend freezing these donuts. You can, but the texture is totally off when thawed. They take less than 10 minutes to make, might as well make them fresh.
Serve them with a frothy cup of whipped coffee. Yum!
More breakfast recipes:
- Cranberry French Toast Casserole
- Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes
- Blueberry Muffin
- Baked Donuts
- Mochi Donuts
Air Fryer Donut Recipe
Ingredients
- 16.3 ounce can refrigerated flaky large biscuits
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- cooking spray*
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter , melted
Instructions
- Remove the biscuits from the can, separate them, and place them on a work space like a cutting board or rolling mat. Use a 1-inch round cookie cutter (or similarly-sized bottle cap) to cut holes out of the center of each biscuit.
- Lightly coat your air fryer basket with cooking oil.
- Place 4 donuts in a single layer without touching in the air fryer.
- Close the air fryer and set to 350°F (nope, you do not need to preheat).
- Cook for 5-6 minutes or until donuts are lightly browned and you can see the layers of biscuit start to seperate. Flip halfway through the cooking process.
- Repeat with the remaining biscuits.
- In a small, shallow bowl or pie plate, mix together sugar and ground cinnamon.
- Baste both sides of the warm donuts with melted butter.
- Toss in cinnamon sugar mixture. Serve immediately.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings!
These donuts are so easy!! Canned biscuits for the win.
Canned Refrigerated ‘Biscuits’ Well, there goes your non-American readership. What with the Canned, and then what definition you might use for ‘biscuits’…
Sorry Paull, but I live in the states and 90% of our readership is in the states. I can’t write about what I am not familiar with. Best and cheers!
OK
due you have Donuts recipes from scratch
I do not, sorry.
This looks like a super easy way to make donuts. I’m wondering if you could also use frozen dough for dinner rolls. I may have to try that too!
I’m sure you can- let us know how it works.
I love finding new recipes for my air fryer! These donuts were super easy and a hit with my kids!
These air fryer donuts are so easy to make! Sometimes I add honey with the cinnamon and sugar and my kids love them!
I had no idea you could use biscuit dough to make donuts, and make it healthier by using the air fryer instead of a deep fryer! This recipe is genius – and turned out so good!!
So smart to make these in the air fryer! They look so light and flaky. 🙂
Loved this recipe, easy to make and a big hit with the family!!
Can you cook in convection oven?
You can- use the conversions for your convection oven.
Super easy recipe and can be made at a low cost. A total hit with the guys. Will be making many times over.
Thank you, Johna!
These donuts turned out perfectly! Great idea!
Awesome! They are a little addictive, but totally easy and yummy!
These look amazing! I’m adding an air fryer to my Amazon cart!
I make biscuit donuts all the time on the stovetop fried in oil, but never thought to do them in the air fryer – brilliant! I love how easy these are to make.
Not “healthy” but healthier! LOL. And just as tasty!