How to Make Air Fryer Donuts (Easy 4 Ingredient Recipe)

Donna Elick — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 22:00:00 +0000

Our Air Fryer Donut recipe makes perfectly tender donuts that are ready in minutes! No fuss, no hot oil – make air fryer donuts with biscuits for an easy and sweet breakfast or afternoon treat. Who knew your air fryer basket could create something this delicious?

Delicious donuts are within your reach! A little bit of hot air and simple ingredients just might be the best way to create these easy air fryer donuts.

Forget about deep frying, and follow the steps on the recipe card below.

No dough hook needed, no baking sheet…just the inside of your air fryer basket and a few simple ingredients!

Air fryer recipes like this are straight forward, easy, and create some of the best flavors. Be sure to give yourself a nice clean work area before getting started.

That way, you can create the donuts quickly, and cook them in the air fryer easily, too.

If you’re ready to introduce a new family favorite to your household, this recipe is the real deal. You’ll have beautiful fluffy donuts that make the perfect treats in no time at all!

I love the delicious flavor of this simple donut recipe!

Air Fryer Donut Recipe

Not only does this air fryer donut recipe give you a plate full of soft, pillowy donuts, but you’ll also have crispy donut holes!

I think you’ll love making donuts in the air fryer. It means no messy grease on your countertops, and no pot of frying oil to get rid of when you’re done!

There are so many desserts you can make in the air fryer, like this super easy cake recipe!

I also have a recipe for homemade churros that you’ll love! The flavor is similar to these air fryer donuts, but the dough is made from scratch.

Or you can even make Nutella croissants in the air fryer for breakfast in no time flat!

Feeding a crowd for brunch? Pair these with our fried Blueberry Fritters for an indulgent breakfast spread!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Refrigerated Biscuits – Choose your favorite brand of jumbo flaky biscuits without any added flavors. (but any type of biscuit dough will work!)
Butter – When melted, this helps the cinnamon sugar coating stick to the surface. Either salted or unsalted is fine.
Sugar – Use regular granulated sugar for the best texture.
Cinnamon – Adds a hint of sweet spice. Swap in pumpkin pie spice if you’re craving some fall flavor!

And don’t forget to save the donut holes! You can easily make little donuts or air fryer donut holes with any of the scrap or leftover dough!

Decorating Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts

For something a little fancier than cinnamon sugar, try using sanding sugar in a variety of colors to match the occasion.

Be sure to coat each donut well so the color comes through. You also want to add enough so that the cinnamon sugar sticks to the top of the donut.

Or, coat air fryer donuts in a simple homemade icing instead! You can dip them one by one or simply spoon the glaze over the tops.

Wait until they have fully cooled first, or the glaze will simply melt into each donut.

Let your treats sit on the wire rack while the icing sets, and place a piece of parchment or foil underneath to catch any drips.

Enjoy as-is or top with decorative sprinkles!

Tips for the Best Air Fryer Donuts with Biscuits

Keep the dough cold. If it gets too warm, especially in a hot or humid kitchen, your treats won’t turn out as flaky.

Put the remaining dough in the refrigerator while you fry the first batch.
Don’t flip! Your air fryer biscuit donuts will end up tearing down the middle. They turn out just fine if you leave them alone during the cooking process.
Coat with sugar immediately. The combination of heat and butter is what causes the sweet coating to stick to the surface.
Want them smaller? These turn out thick and fluffy, but you can easily make them thinner and smaller if you prefer.

Simply separate the dough round in half before cutting the holes in the center. Plus, you’ll end up with a double batch!

Storing and Reheating Air Fryer Donuts

While these are best enjoyed fresh, homemade donuts should keep for up to two days in an airtight container.

Store at room temperature and keep the container tightly sealed so they don’t become hard.

Warm them back up in the air fryer, but keep the temperature low and check them after a minute or two so the sugar doesn’t burn.

Air Fryer Donut Recipe FAQ

Can I use any type of biscuits for biscuit donuts?

This air fryer doughnut recipe uses the original Grand’s variety, but I’ve also had success with the Buttermilk one as well.

I did try the Butter Tastin’ ones for my Easter air fryer biscuit donuts, but it was clear that they were made with biscuits, so I would recommend avoiding that flavor.

Air-fried donuts taste so much better than a traditional deep-fried donut!

How do you cut donuts without a cutter?

Lucky for you, you don’t need to when you make air fryer donuts with biscuits! All you need is a small knife or piping tip to cut out the center.

Otherwise, the open end of a drinking glass or a wide-mouth canning lid are both great substitutes for a round biscuit cutter.

Even if you don’t have a doughnut cutter or a cookie cutter to make this air fryer donuts recipe, don’t let that still you. You can create this easy recipe without it!
And yes, if you have a small round cookie cutter – use it! All options are good options!

Can you make donut holes in the air fryer?

You didn’t think we’d let those biscuit centers go to waste, did you?

Simply follow the air fryer doughnut recipe below, but reduce the cooking time by at least half for the holes. Be sure to add the doughnut holes in a single layer so that the hot air circulates around the air-fryer basket to cook them all evenly.

What should I decorate these air fryer doughnuts with?

You can literally add any toppings to these golden brown goodies. A nice chocolate glaze, a bit of cocoa powder, powdered sugar, vanilla glaze, or even some cinnamon sugar is all that you need.

If you’re making these fluffy doughnuts during the holidays, be sure to add sprinkles!

Enjoy!

With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.

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