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    Popular » Recipes » Air Fryer

    Easy Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Jul 26, 2021 by Dee

    Easy Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts made with Pillsbury Grands canned biscuits and rolled in cinnamon sugar are ready in minutes! A quick and easy donut recipe for Instant air fryer, Ninja foodi or any basket or air fryer oven. via @meamel

    Easy Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts made with canned biscuits and rolled in cinnamon sugar are ready in minutes! A quick and easy donut recipe that works with basket and oven style air fryers!

    Jump to Recipe -
    air fryer biscuit donuts coated in cinnamon sugar mixture on white plate
    Jump to:
    • Simple Ingredients
    • How to Make Donuts in the Air Fryer from Grands Biscuit Dough
    • Cooking Time
    • Cinnamon Sugar Mixture
    • What Biscuit Dough Works Best?
    • Storage
    • Recipe
    • More Easy Air Fryer Breakfast Recipes
    • Reviews

    These air fryer cinnamon sugar biscuit dough donuts are definitely one of the easiest air fryer recipes ever! If you happen to have an insatiable craving for homemade donuts, you can whip up these delicious donuts in about 5 minutes -- even quicker than cake mix donuts and definitely the easiest donut recipe on the planet!

    I actually made this air fryer donuts recipe in my Instant Vortex Plus air fryer oven the first time just to see if it would work. I had some canned biscuit dough leftover after making breakfast sandwiches, so I had to give it a try.

    Bottom line -- Yes, you CAN make donuts in the air fryer. And, yes, you can turn a can of biscuits into donuts. They are not the same as donuts fried in hot oil, but they do come close and will satisfy your sweet tooth without visiting your favorite donut shop!

    My picky kids approved!

    Simple Ingredients

    You will need just 4 ingredients, for this super easy air fryer donut recipe:

    • 1 can of large biscuits, like Pillsbury Grands (We liked the flaky layers best)
    • Melted butter
    • Sugar
    • Cinnamon

    You'll also need a small biscuit cutter, a small round cookie cutter or a shot glass to cut holes in the center of the biscuits. You can even use a bottle cap if you want!

    In addition, I recommend having a pair of kitchen tongs or a fork, olive oil spray and a silicone basting brush or pastry brush.

    How to Make Donuts in the Air Fryer from Grands Biscuit Dough

    First, you need to open the canned biscuits, and separate the biscuits into 8 rounds. Place them on a cutting board and use parchment paper prevent sticking.

    If you're using the flaky layered variety, you can try pulling those apart for even thinner donuts.

    Next, use the cookie cutter to cut the center out of each biscuit. Save the centers to make air fryer donut holes!

    cut hole in biscuit with small cookie cutter

    Then, spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray, and place the biscuit donuts on the air fryer tray or in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Make sure the donuts are not touching.

    I recommend cooking 4 donuts at a time so that they brown evenly.

    Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees f -- use the air fryer setting for best results. Next, place the donuts into the air fryer, and cook.

    Cooking Time

    How long does it take to cook donuts in your air fryer? I found 5 minutes cooking time was perfect for the larger flaky biscuit dough and other varieties. You'll need to turn them over ( use tongs) about halfway through cooking.

    The biscuit donuts should be flaky, soft and golden brown when done. Just like fried donuts! Exact times may vary according to the brand and make/model of your air fryer.

    The smaller donut holes took about 4 minutes to cook in the air fryer. So, I recommend cooking the donut holes after you make the donuts.

    biscuit dough donuts on vortex plus

    Cinnamon Sugar Mixture

    While the donuts are cooking, you can make the cinnamon sugar mixture. Just, melt the butter in a small bowl. Add the cinnamon and sugar to another small bowl, and stir until well combined.

    When the donuts are done, brush some melted butter over the hot donuts, using a silicone basting brush or pastry brush. Make sure to cover all sides. Then, sprinkle a mix of sugar and cinnamon all over the warm donuts, until fully coated.

    I find it's easier to sprinkle the cinnamon sugar topping over the donuts instead of dipping them into the cinnamon sugar mixture. The mixture tends to clump up a bit from the butter.

    brush donuts with melted butter

    And, that's all there is to making delicious air fryer donuts from canned biscuits! These fluffy donuts taste a lot like old fashioned cinnamon sugar donuts. Perfect for an easy breakfast on Saturday morning or a fun treat any day of the week!

    The little air fryer donut bites are fun to snack on, so I munched on these and let the kiddos have the larger donuts!

    What Biscuit Dough Works Best?

    We preferred the texture of the flaky layered biscuits. They were lighter and fluffier than the regular Pillsbury Grands biscuits and tasted more like actual fried donuts.

    But, any variety of large biscuit dough will work here. So, if you're looking for a quick and easy breakfast treat, give these a try.

    Variations -- Instead of cinnamon sugar, you can make an easy chocolate glaze or vanilla glaze to dip the donuts in. You can also use your favorite flavor of frosting to frost the donuts.

    air fried cinnamon sugar biscuit donuts stack

    Storage

    Store leftover donuts in an airtight container at room temperature. No need to refrigerate them! My kids gobbled up the donuts right away -- no leftover donuts for us!

    These delicious donuts should keep for 2 to 3 days before becoming stale.

    Recipe

    air fryer biscuit donuts with cinnamon sugar coating

    Easy Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts

    Published by Dee
    Easy Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts made with canned biscuits and rolled in cinnamon sugar are ready in minutes! A quick and easy donut recipe that works with basket and oven style air fryers!
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Email
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 6 mins
    Total Time 11 mins
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 261 kcal

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot Vortex Plus Air Fryer
    • Omni Plus Air Fryer Oven

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 can biscuit dough I used Pillsbury Grands flaky layers
    • 3 tablespoons butter melted
    • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

    Instructions
     

    • Separate the biscuit dough into 8 pieces
    • Use a small round cookie cutter to cut holes in the center of the biscuits
    • Place the donuts on the air fryer tray or in a basket, and preheat air fryer to 350 degrees f
    • Cook donuts for 5 minutes, flipping about halfway through, or until golden brown and cooked through. Repeat process until all donuts and donut holes are cooked (donut holes cook in about 4 minutes)
    • Brush donuts with melted butter, and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture, then serve immediately

    Notes

    You can use a small round cookie cutter, biscuit cutter, a medicine cup, shot glass or a knife to cut a hole in the biscuit dough.
    We preferred Pillsbury Grands flaky layers, but any brand of large biscuit dough will work.
    Exact cook times may vary with different air fryer makes/models/brands.

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 261kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 4gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 582mgPotassium: 129mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 131IUCalcium: 32mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    More Easy Air Fryer Breakfast Recipes

    • Crispy Air Fryer Bacon
    • Air Fryer Breakfast Sausage
    • Crispy Air Fryer Breakfast Burritos
    cinnamon sugar air fryer donuts on a white plate

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Matt says

      July 28, 2021 at 10:51 pm

      Wow so easy and the little ones loved helping and eating them.5 stars

      Reply
    2. Matt H says

      March 02, 2021 at 9:44 am

      Yes!!!!!! These are a new favorite in our home. Just made them for the second time for my wife’s Birthday!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 02, 2021 at 3:14 pm

        Happy Birthday to her! So glad you like the donuts!

    3. Cathy says

      March 09, 2020 at 8:07 am

      Wow I LOVE this idea! Definitely a much healthier way to do donuts!

      Reply
    4. katerina @ diethood.com says

      March 08, 2020 at 9:01 am

      I can't wait to make these for my kids!! They look SO YUMMY!!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 09, 2020 at 1:10 pm

        My kids love them! Thanks, Katerina.

    5. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

      March 08, 2020 at 7:29 am

      This sounds amazing! This Air Fryer Donuts looks so good!

      Reply
    6. Sara Welch says

      March 07, 2020 at 3:24 pm

      What a great way (and quick too) to start my day tomorrow! These look delicious; definitely too good to pass up!5 stars

      Reply
    7. Catalina says

      March 07, 2020 at 2:44 pm

      I love my Air Fryer! I am so glad to make try to make donuts in it!5 stars

      Reply
    8. Carrie Robinson says

      March 07, 2020 at 6:19 am

      Such a great idea to make donuts in the air fryer! 🙂5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 10, 2020 at 3:55 pm

        The kids had fun with this one!

    9. Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says

      March 06, 2020 at 2:59 pm

      Great quick idea for the air fryer! I am in love with mine...find that I use it for something every single day!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 10, 2020 at 3:52 pm

        Same here, Dorothy. I love my air fryer!

    10. James says

      March 06, 2020 at 6:52 am

      The kids help me make them last night. Easy and very tasty. This will be a new breakfast staple around here.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 06, 2020 at 11:09 am

        So glad you all liked the recipe! Thanks!

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    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

    More about me →

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