These air fryer donuts turn refrigerated biscuits into a warm cinnamon-sugar breakfast in minutes. The air fryer gives the dough a lightly crisp outside while keeping the center soft, and melted butter helps the sweet coating cling to every edge. Cut the centers for classic rings, save the pieces for three-minute donut holes, and serve the batch while it is still warm for the best texture.
What are air fryer donuts?
Air fryer donuts are biscuit-based rings cooked in circulating hot air rather than deep oil. They are quick, lightly crisp outside, and soft inside.
Why these air fryer donuts work
Refrigerated biscuits provide a consistent dough, so this recipe focuses on timing and finishing. A short preheat helps the donuts begin cooking immediately, while five minutes at 360°F keeps them tender rather than dry. Butter adds richness and gives cinnamon sugar something to hold onto.
Ingredients
- 1 can jumbo refrigerated biscuits, such as flaky biscuits
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 5 tablespoons melted butter
How to make air fryer donuts
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Mix the cinnamon and sugar in a medium bowl.
- Cut the center from each biscuit with a 1-inch round cutter. Lightly coat the basket with coconut or olive oil spray.
- Air fry the donuts, without the centers, at 360°F for 5 minutes. Melt the butter while they cook.
- Brush the warm donuts with butter, roll them in cinnamon sugar, spoon sugar over the tops, and serve hot.
- Air fry the donut holes for 3 minutes, then dip them in butter and cinnamon sugar.
Serving ideas
Serve these donuts for breakfast with coffee, tea, or cold milk. They also make a quick after-school snack. Arrange the warm rings on a platter with the donut holes in the middle. A little vanilla glaze on the side is a useful optional dip, but avoid soaking the donuts so their lightly crisp surface stays intact.
Tips and optional variation
Leave space between the donuts so hot air can circulate; cook in batches if necessary. Check early because air fryer baskets and biscuit sizes vary. The best visual cue is a puffed, lightly golden surface rather than a deeply browned crust. Optional variation: replace part of the cinnamon sugar with a pinch of pumpkin pie spice for a seasonal coating while keeping the primary recipe unchanged.
Storage and reheating
Air fryer donuts are best the day they are made. Store cooled leftovers in a covered container at room temperature for one day. Reheat them in a 300°F air fryer for 1 to 2 minutes, then add a fresh light coating of butter and cinnamon sugar if needed. Avoid microwaving for too long because biscuit dough can become chewy.
Search questions about air fryer donuts
How long do biscuits take in the air fryer?
For these donuts, five minutes at 360°F is the starting point. Donut holes take about three minutes.
Can you make donuts from canned biscuits?
Yes. Cut out the centers, air fry the rings, and finish them with butter and cinnamon sugar.
Why are my donuts not crisp?
Cook them in a single layer with space around each piece and preheat the air fryer before adding the dough.
Choosing the right biscuit dough
Jumbo biscuits make substantial rings and leave enough dough around the cutout to stay soft. Keep the dough cold until you are ready to shape it, and press the cutter straight down for clean edges. Twisting the cutter can seal the layers and make the centers less defined. If your can contains unusually large biscuits, give the first batch a close look at the four-minute mark so you can learn how quickly your basket cooks.
Doneness and batch timing
Donuts are ready when they have puffed and the outside looks lightly golden. They do not need a deep brown crust. Arrange them in a single layer and avoid crowding, because overlapping dough blocks the circulating heat. Between batches, brush away loose sugar and check the basket so crumbs do not scorch. Let the air fryer return to temperature before the next batch for the most even result.
Making the finish cling
Brush the donuts while they are warm, working one or two at a time. Roll the buttered surface through the cinnamon sugar, then use a spoon to reach the top and inner edge. Shake off only the loose excess. The coating sets as the butter cools, so a short rest of a minute or two makes the donuts easier to handle while keeping the aroma fresh.
FAQs
Final texture notes
The first donut is also a useful guide for the rest of the batch. If it feels pale and soft, add a short extra minute; if it is already deeply browned, reduce the next batch slightly. The cinnamon sugar is easiest to manage in a shallow bowl, and a pastry brush gives you more control than pouring butter over the rings. Keep the finished donuts uncovered for a few minutes so steam does not soften the coating.
With a short preheat, a simple biscuit base, and a buttery cinnamon finish, these air fryer donuts are an easy warm treat whenever the craving hits.
Air Fryer Donuts
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 can jumbo refrigerated biscuits such as flaky biscuits
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 5 tablespoons butter melted
Instructions
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Mix the cinnamon and sugar in a medium bowl.
- Cut the center from each biscuit with a 1-inch round cutter. Lightly coat the basket with coconut or olive oil spray.
- Air fry the donuts, without the centers, at 360°F for 5 minutes. Melt the butter while they cook.
- Brush the warm donuts with butter, roll them in cinnamon sugar, spoon sugar over the tops, and serve hot.
- Air fry the donut holes for 3 minutes, then dip them in butter and cinnamon sugar.
