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    Urban Bliss Life » All Recipes » Breakfast Recipes » Easy Air Fryer Donuts

    Published: April 6, 2020 / Updated: December 30, 2020 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Easy Air Fryer Donuts

    236 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    air fryer donuts
    air fryer donuts

    These Air Fryer Donuts are the easiest donuts you can make at home, thanks to the secret ingredient and your air fryer!

    air fryer donuts

    Every other Sunday is Donut Day in my house. And this stay-at-home time hasn't stopped us!

    My husband used to go out on Sunday mornings to get some donuts from a local donut shop for the whole family. He'd also stop by our local Starbucks and bring back coffee for the two of us.

    Now, we make our own coffee at home every day. And, we make these SUPER EASY, CRAZY DELICIOUS Air Fryer Donuts every other Sunday!

    The Secret Ingredient

    air fryer donuts and donut holes

    The secret shortcut to making these donuts: canned biscuit dough.

    Say whaaat??

    Yep. Canned biscuit dough. The kind you find in the grocery store next to the canned cinnamon rolls and pizza dough.

    Some people use pizza dough for fast, easy donuts. But I like the flaky fluffy texture you get using biscuit dough.

    Is it exactly like a classic donut? No. But it's buttery, light, and flaky, and my family and I LOVE it!

    What You Need to Make This Recipe

    air fried donuts ready for cinnamon sugar

    First, you need an air fryer. This is the XL basket-style air fryer that I have and use almost every day now.

    You only need three ingredients to make these easy air fryer donuts:

    • can of biscuits
    • melted butter
    • cinnamon sugar

    Okay, technically that's four ingredients, since the last one is made up of cinnamon and sugar. But I always have a small mason jar made up of cinnamon sugar.

    To make cinnamon sugar: simply mix together one part granulated sugar with one-fourths part ground cinnamon in a jar. Now you always have cinnamon sugar mix ready to go!

    I use cinnamon sugar on so many things: waffles, donuts, muffins.

    ✅ Step-by-step instructions

    cut dough for air fryer donuts
    cutting doughnut holes in dough for air fryer donuts
    biscuit dough cut out and ready to air fry
    donut shapes in air fryer basket
    biscuit dough air fried into donuts

    Start by preheating your air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes. Meanwhile, mix the sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl. Set aside.

    Open the can of biscuits and placing each raw biscuit dough onto a plate or a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper.

    Use the wide end of a pastry tip to create a hole in the middle of each biscuit. Save the dough for donut holes!

    Spray your air fryer with a bit of olive oil spray.

    Place cut biscuits down onto the air fryer basket, leaving room between each one so that they don't touch. I have an XL air fryer and make these in two batches; depending on your specific air fryer, you might need to do the same.

    Air fry at 360°F for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a bowl, and set aside.

    air fryer donuts and coffee

    When done, the biscuit tops will be golden brown. Carefully remove the hot donuts (use tongs to avoid burning your fingers if they are too hot) from the air fryer and dredge immediately Into the shallow bowl with cinnamon sugar mix. Be sure to coat all sides.

    As you work on the donuts, you might want to first brush them with the melted butter before coating with the cinnamon sugar.

    🧇 More breakfast & brunch recipes

    • Strawberry Turnovers
    • Air Fryer Crispy Bacon
    • Banana Chocolate Chip Waffles
    • Chorizo Breakfast Bowl

    Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!

    air fryer donuts

    Air Fryer Donuts

    5 from 6 votes
    Prep Time: 5 mins
    Cook Time: 10 mins
    Recipe by Marlynn Schotland
    Make fluffy, delicious donuts in just 5 minutes with this quick air fryer shortcut!
    Servings: 8 donuts
    Calories: 286kcal
    PRINT PIN RATE

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Ingredients

    • 1 can biscuit dough (8 biscuits)
    • olive oil spray
    • ½ cup sugar
    • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
    • 2 tablespoons melted butter

    Instructions

    • Preheat air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes. Meanwhile, mix the sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl. Set aside.
    • Take biscuit dough out of the can and use a small round cookie cutter or the back of a pastry tip to cut out holes in the middle of each donut. Use the center dough for donut holes.
    • Spray the interior of the air fryer basket with oil spray. Place donuts In a single layer. Make sure donuts do NOT touch each other or overlap; they will stick to each other if they do.
    • Air fry at 360°F for 5 minutes. During this time, you can melt the butter and have it ready.
    • When done, the biscuit tops will be golden brown. Carefully remove the hot donuts (use tongs to avoid burning your fingers if they are too hot) from the air fryer and dredge immediately Into the shallow bowl with cinnamon sugar mix. Be sure to coat all sides.
    • As you work on the donuts, you might want to first brush them with the melted butter before coating with the cinnamon sugar.
    • Enjoy immediately!

    Notes

    The melted butter may not be necessary, as the heat from the freshly air fried donuts will often cause the cinnamon sugar to coat the donuts without butter. However, you may find that as you continue to work through coating the donuts, they start to cool and dry, and that is when you can brush all sides with melted butter before dredging them in the cinnamon sugar. You can also use the melted butter from the start if you wish. 
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment! Then snap a pic of your dish and share it on social media. Tag @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 286kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 567mg | Potassium: 135mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 92IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 2mg

    Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.

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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Candice says

        April 07, 2020 at 2:09 pm

        5 stars
        Everything about this recipe is genius!
        1. Using an air fryer to make donuts.
        2. Using biscuit dough.
        3. Knowing I am always only 15 minutes away from donuts.
        Thank you for this great recipe. Can't wait to make them again!

        Reply
      2. Toni says

        April 07, 2020 at 1:48 pm

        5 stars
        I love how easy this is to make!! Thank you for sharing the recipe!

        Reply
      3. Sara Welch says

        April 07, 2020 at 1:20 pm

        5 stars
        Another great recipe for my Air Fryer! Going to start my day off right with these, tomorrow!

        Reply
      4. Anita says

        April 07, 2020 at 1:04 pm

        5 stars
        I would never have guessed one can fry donuts in an air-fryer. This is a game changer, probably not so great for the waist line, but good for being able to make donuts whenever I want. :)

        Reply
      5. Carrie Robinson says

        April 07, 2020 at 1:00 pm

        5 stars
        I just love that you made these in the air fryer! They look perfect. :)

        Reply

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      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. Here you'll find my fast, easy, and delicious recipes, wine pairings, and travel guides. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

      More about me →

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