4-Ingredient Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts
Canned biscuit dough turns into soft, cinnamon-dusted donuts in under 15 minutes, no hot oil needed.
The air fryer gives them a lightly crisp shell and a tender inside. Coat them in butter and cinnamon sugar while they are still warm and they taste just like the ones from a fair.
What Makes These Air Fryer Donuts So Good
The whole thing starts with a can of plain biscuit dough, the kind you find in the refrigerated aisle. Cut out the centers, air fry them, and you get eight full-size donuts plus eight little holes in a single batch.
They puff up in the hot air and end up with a texture that is somewhere between a yeast donut and a fried cake donut. A quick roll in melted butter and cinnamon sugar gives them a sticky, spiced crust that clings to every crevice.
Ingredients
- 1 (16.3 oz) can refrigerated buttermilk biscuits (8 count): use the flaky, layered kind for the best rise
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted: salted butter works too, just skip any extra salt
- ¼ cup granulated sugar, plus 1 tsp ground cinnamon: mix the sugar and cinnamon together in a wide shallow bowl
- A little butter or oil spray for the air fryer basket
Variations / Substitutions
- Sweetener: swap the cinnamon sugar for powdered sugar sifted over the warm donuts, or dip them in a simple glaze made from ½ cup powdered sugar and 1 to 2 tbsp milk.
- Spice: add ¼ tsp nutmeg or a pinch of cardamom to the cinnamon sugar for a warmer, more fragrant coating.
- Savory twist: brush with garlic butter and grated parmesan right after air frying for a quick garlic knot.
- Dairy-free: use melted plant-based butter and choose a dairy-free biscuit dough.
If you like a simpler cinnamon sugar snack, try Cinnamon Sugar Air Fryer Tortilla Strips next.
How to Make Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts
Step 1: Cut the Donut Shapes
Open the biscuit can and separate the 8 biscuits onto a cutting board. In about 2 minutes, use a 1-inch round cutter, a small bottle cap, or even the back of a wide piping tip to punch a hole out of the center of each biscuit. Keep the little dough holes, they cook into bite-size donut holes right alongside the rings.
Step 2: Air Fry the Donuts
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for 2 minutes. Lightly grease the basket with butter or oil spray. Lay the 8 donut rings and 8 holes in a single layer, leaving a finger’s width between each piece so the air can move freely. Air fry for 4 to 5 minutes, flipping once halfway, until the tops are deep golden brown and the edges feel set.
Step 3: Coat in Cinnamon Sugar
While the donuts cook, melt the 3 tbsp butter in a small bowl. In another shallow bowl, stir the ¼ cup sugar with 1 tsp cinnamon. As soon as the donuts come out of the air fryer, brush each one all over with melted butter, then toss it in the cinnamon sugar until completely coated. Work fast so the butter stays slick and the sugar sticks.
Step 4: Pile and Serve
Stack the warm donuts on a plate and serve right away while the sugar coating is still a little gritty and the centers are steamy. The holes get eaten first, so no fighting over them.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts
- Pick buttermilk biscuits: They taste richer and puff higher than plain or extra-flaky kinds. Avoid “grand” biscuits with a lot of layers, they can turn doughy in the center.
- Do not crowd the basket: If your air fryer is small, cook in two batches. Overlapping donuts will steam instead of brown.
- Coat them hot: The butter seeps into the warm dough best within the first minute out of the basket. If they cool too much, give them a 30-second reheat in the air fryer before coating.
- Re-crisp leftovers: A light 1 to 2-minute reheat in the air fryer at 350°F brings back the crisp shell.
Storing Leftover Donuts
Refrigerate any cooled donuts in an airtight container for up to 2 days. They lose their crispness but stay soft. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 1 to 2 minutes, then give them a fresh dusting of cinnamon sugar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use homemade biscuit dough instead of the can?
Yes. Roll your dough about ½ inch thick and cut out 2½-inch rounds with a 1-inch hole in the middle. The cook time stays about the same.
My donuts came out dry. What went wrong?
You likely cooked them a minute too long. Check at the 4-minute mark and pull them when the color is a rich golden brown, not deep amber.
Is there a way to coat them without butter?
You can brush the hot donuts with a little neutral oil or use a butter-flavored cooking spray, but the flavor and stickiness won’t be quite the same.
Can I use gluten-free biscuit dough?
Yes. Any gluten-free refrigerated biscuit dough that is firm enough to cut into shapes will work. Watch them closely in the last minute since they can brown faster.
Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Separate the biscuits and cut a 1-inch hole in the center of each using a round cutter. Save the holes.
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F. Grease the basket, arrange donuts and holes in a single layer, and air fry 4 to 5 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Melt butter and mix sugar with cinnamon in separate bowls. Brush each hot donut with butter and toss in the cinnamon sugar.
- Serve immediately while still warm and crisp.
