How to Make Air Fryer Donuts (10-minute recipe using Canned Biscuits) (2024)

These Easy Air Fryer Donuts will satisfy your donut cravings in under 10 minutes! Better than baked donuts and healthier than deep-fried! With only 4 ingredients, a can of refrigerated biscuits, some cinnamon sugar, butter, and an air fryer you will be sinking your teeth into these super simple flakey homemade donuts in no time.

Easy Air Fryer Doughnuts

My air fryer has gotten a lot of use over the past year, but it is about to get a whole lot more with these Air Fryer Donuts and Donut Holes!

Not only are they incredibly delicious, they are also so easy that even my kids can make them on their own. You will get the deep-fried taste without the deep-fried guilt (and less fat too!).

These homemade donuts made in the air fryer are soft and chewy on the inside and have a buttery crispness to them on the outside. Best of all, they are ready in less than 10 minutes!

Why we love this Air Fryer Donuts Recipe

• Ready in under 10 minutes
• Uses canned biscuits
• Only uses 4 ingredients!
• Soft and flaky texture
• Much less fat than a traditional fried donut, but way better than a baked donut
• Easy recipe that your kids can even make!

Easy Air Fryer Donuts Ingredients

• 1 (16.3 ounce) can jumbo flaky biscuits, 8 count
• ½ cup granulated cane sugar (can be substituted for regular granulated sugar)
• 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 5 Tablespoons salted butter, melted

Air Fryer Donuts Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Change up the topping: Want some variation? Feel free to skip the cinnamon sugar and add a frosting or a glaze (using butter, powdered sugar and vanilla extract) or maybe some powdered sugar, and why not sprinkle some jimmies or holiday sprinkles on top.

• Air fryer
• Donut hole cutter – if you don’t have a donut cutter, you can use a melon baller or anything that can easily cut the hole out of the center (a sharp knife will even work or even a shot glass will work.)
• Non-aerosol cooking spray – We prefer a non-aerosol cooking spray as the propellant in an aerosol cooking spray can damage the coating of the air fryer, but if you cannot find that, don’t worry!
• Parchment paper
• Cookie sheet
• Brush
• Bowls

How to make Air Fryer Donuts with Biscuits

This recipe comes together in no time and best of all, it is basically fail-proof!

1. Place a sheet of parchment paper on a rimmed cookie sheet or cutting board.Place each biscuit on the baking sheet and cut the center out of each one.
   PRO-TIP: Don’t throw away the centers of the biscuits. We are going to use them to make donut holes!
   
2. Combine sugar and cinnamon.
3. Spray your air fryer basket with non-aerosol cooking spray then place 4 donuts in the basket. Avoid the biscuits touching.
4. Set air fryer to 360 degrees for 3 minutes. (NOTE: In some air-fryers, you may need to flip the donuts and bake for another 1-2 minutes.)
5. Remove air-fried donuts, immediately brush with melted butter and roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture.
6. Repeat for remaining 4 biscuits.

How to make Air Fryer Donut Holes

For Donut Holes, place all 8 biscuit holes in air fryer basket, setting the timer for a total of 2 minutes, turning halfway through cook time. Dip in better and dredge in cinnamon mixture.

Air Fryer Doughnut Recipe FAQs

How to make a Donut Glaze

If you would like to make a traditional donut glaze you will need:

• 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter
• 2 cups of powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 4 tablespoons of hot tap water

1. Melt the butter in a small saucepan.
2. Mix in the powdered sugar and the vanilla.
3. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the hot water (do this one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency. You want the glaze to be thin but not watery.
4. To glaze donuts: Dip them in the glaze and flip them over (use a fork or tongs). Remove and let excess drip off on a wire rack.

Air Fryer Donuts Recipe Storage

These air fryer donuts are best served fresh, but they can be kept in an air tight container for up to 2 days. You may want to pop them in the microwave for a few seconds to freshen them up.

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• Air Fryer French Fries
• Air Fryer Fried Chicken
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• Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
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