Air Fryer Donuts

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These easy Air Fryer Donuts transform refrigerated canned biscuits into warm, buttery cinnamon sugar treats in about 10 minutes. They’re lightly crisp and golden on the outside, soft and fluffy inside, and require no yeast, hot frying oil, or homemade dough.

If you have a can of refrigerated biscuits sitting in the refrigerator, you are only a few minutes away from freshly made biscuit donuts. Cut a hole from the center of each biscuit, air fry until golden, and then coat the warm donuts in melted butter and cinnamon sugar.

This is one of my favorite air fryer shortcuts when we want something sweet without making an entire batch of homemade donut dough. Don’t forget to cook the centers, too—you get cinnamon sugar donut holes along with your donuts!

These are shortcut donuts made with refrigerated biscuit dough, so they won’t have exactly the same flavor or texture as a traditional yeast-raised donut from a bakery. Instead, they are buttery and tender inside, with a lightly crisp, golden exterior.

What makes them so much fun is how quickly and easily you can prepare them. Once they’re dipped in melted butter and covered with cinnamon sugar, they make a delicious warm treat that is somewhere between a donut and a sweet, fluffy biscuit.

You only need five simple ingredients to make these cinnamon sugar air fryer donuts.

• Large refrigerated biscuits: A 16-ounce can of large biscuits creates thick, fluffy donuts. Avoid biscuits that are extremely thin unless you reduce the cooking time.
• Granulated sugar: Forms the sweet coating on the outside of the donuts.
• Ground cinnamon: Adds warm cinnamon flavor to the sugar.
• Unsalted butter: Helps the cinnamon sugar stick and gives the donuts a rich, buttery finish.
• Oil: Use a light coating of spray oil or vegetable oil to help prevent the biscuit dough from sticking to the air fryer basket.

Prepare the biscuits

Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.

Remove the biscuits from the can and separate them. Place them on a cutting board or sheet of parchment paper.

Use a small round cookie cutter, biscuit cutter, bottle cap, or shot glass to cut a hole from the center of each biscuit. Save the centers so you can air fry them as donut holes.

Air fry the donuts

Lightly grease the air fryer basket with oil. Arrange four donuts in the basket, leaving room between them for the air to circulate.

Air fry at 350°F for approximately 5 minutes, carefully flipping the donuts halfway through cooking. They are ready when both sides are golden brown and the dough is cooked through.

Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the donuts in two batches.

Make the cinnamon sugar coating

While the donuts are cooking, combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl or a clean paper bag.

Melt the butter in a separate microwave-safe bowl for approximately 15 to 30 seconds.

Coat and serve

While the donuts are still warm, dip each one in the melted butter, coating both sides. Immediately transfer it to the cinnamon sugar and turn until completely coated.

Serve the air fryer donuts warm, or transfer them to a wire rack to cool.

Donuts are one of my weaknesses, but I don’t always want to make dough from scratch or deal with deep frying. That is what keeps me coming back to these biscuit donuts. They satisfy that craving for something warm, sweet, and covered in cinnamon sugar, but they take only a few minutes to prepare.

The most important thing I’ve learned is to watch the first batch closely. Air fryers can cook differently, and refrigerated biscuits can brown quickly on the outside. Flipping them halfway through helps both sides cook evenly. I also coat them as soon as they come out of the air fryer so the butter and cinnamon sugar cling to every part of the donut.

Vanilla Glazed Donuts

Skip the butter and cinnamon sugar coating. Combine:

• 1¼ cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Whisk until smooth. Let the donuts cool slightly before dipping the tops into the glaze. Place them on a wire rack until the glaze sets.

Powdered Sugar Donuts

Brush the warm donuts lightly with melted butter, and then coat them generously with powdered sugar.

Chocolate-Frosted Donuts

Allow the donuts to cool before spreading chocolate frosting or chocolate glaze over the tops. Add sprinkles before the frosting sets.

Donut Holes

Air fry the biscuit centers along with the donuts, provided there is enough room in the basket. Because the centers are smaller, check them early and remove them once they are puffed, golden, and cooked through.

To store

These biscuit donuts have the best texture when enjoyed shortly after they are made. If you have leftovers, allow them to cool completely and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days.

Storing the donuts while they are still warm can trap moisture inside the container and make the cinnamon sugar coating wet.

To reheat

Place a leftover donut in the air fryer at 300°F for approximately 1 to 2 minutes or until warmed through. Watch it carefully because the sugar coating can brown quickly.

You can also microwave an individual donut for approximately 8 to 10 seconds, although the outside will be softer.

Can You Freeze Air Fryer Donuts?

You can freeze the cooked donuts, but the texture and cinnamon sugar coating are best when fresh. If you want to freeze them, allow the donuts to cool completely and store them in a freezer-safe container for up to one month.

For the best results, freeze the cooked donuts without the butter and cinnamon sugar coating. Thaw, briefly warm them in the air fryer, and then add the coating.

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