Sweeten up your morning by making delicious canned biscuit air fryer donuts. I grew up having these deep-fried, but these are faster, easier to make, and so much less cleanup. Plus, they are healthier and cheaper to make than most homemade recipes! Semi-homemade donuts are a fun treat.
Air Fryer Donuts from Canned Biscuits
If you’re looking for an easy, delicious treat to enjoy over the weekend, look no further than this recipe for air fryer donuts with biscuits. Using just a few simple ingredients and 15 minutes of your time, you can craft up some truly heavenly treats that will satisfy both your sweet tooth and crunchy snack cravings.
With a crispy exterior coated in cinnamon sugar goodness paired with soft biscuit dough on the inside, these donuts are sure to be a hit at any party or gathering. Plus – they’re oh-so-easy to make which is great news if you’re pressed for time but still want something special.
Ingredients:
- Canned biscuits – any work, but I prefer ones not labeled as flaky
- Granulated sugar
- Ground cinnamon
- Cooking spray – this helps them to brown nicely in the air fryer
How to Make Donuts from Biscuits in the Air Fryer
This is one of those super easy recipes that you are going to love. It’s really just a few steps. Start by making your cinnamon sugar and setting it aside. You can use a ready-made blend if you prefer, but I like making my own.
Then, you’ll open your biscuits and cut the centers out to create the classic donut shape. I do that with a small cookie cutter, but you can use a bottle cap or freehand if you prefer.
Once they are made, place them in an even layer in your air fryer basket or tray. Do the donut holes separately as they will cook faster. Spray the tops of the donuts with a bit of non-stick spray. I like using butter spray for this. Then, you will start cooking.
Set your air fryer to 350°F and then close the basket. Cook for 3 minutes, until they are browned and cooked through. You can flip them halfway if you want, but I find it isn’t needed.
As soon as they are done, pop them out and dredge them in the cinnamon sugar. They are perfect when served right then, but you can also save them for later if you prefer. Just store them in an airtight container.
Chef’s Tip: While 3 minutes is more than enough time for my air fryer, they don’t all work identically. I recommend testing at this point and continuing to cook in 1-minute increments until yours are done.
Air Fryer Recommendations
I have used a number of air fryers through the years and find that I prefer a few particular ones. Below are my top 3 choices for you to consider if you are new to air frying.
- Instant Pot Vortex – ideal if you like to prepare larger items or feed a family
- Cosori 5.8 QT – a good workhorse option that has multiple pre-set options
- Power XL 7 QT – another popular choice that fits a bit more than some and is ideal for that 4-portion meal
What are some air fryer donut variations?
This is a great base for making donuts easily. Of course, you can change them up if you want different flavors. Below are some variations that are perfect with this recipe.
- Instead of using a cinnamon sugar topping, make a simple powdered sugar glaze
- Add cocoa powder to the glaze for a bit of chocolate
- Top with glaze and sprinkles
- Use a classic cream cheese frosting and top the donuts
- Drizzle ganache over the top of the donuts
Tips for storing air fryer donuts
If you have leftovers, let them cool completely before storing them in an airtight container. They should last for up to 3 days stored at room temperature. You can refrigerate them, but they will need to be reheated to soften before serving.
While they can be frozen for up to 3 months, they are so fast and easy to make in small batches, I don’t recommend doing so. You can often find packages of canned donuts with as few as 5 per can. This makes it easy to prepare just as many as you can eat before they get stale.
FAQ
Jumbo buttermilk biscuits are best for making donuts. The jumbo size will give you more dough to work with and the buttermilk adds a nice flavor. Canned biscuits labeled as flaky do not work as well for this recipe. I recommend using traditional when possible.
There is nothing better than a warm donut and it is so simple to reheat donuts in the air fryer. Just pop them in the basket and cook for just 1 or 2 minutes at 350°F until they are warmed through. If you have added a topping or glaze, you might need to reapply after the donut has been heated through.
Air Fryer Canned Biscuit Donuts
Try these irresistible air fryer donuts made from canned biscuits. Easy, crispy, and perfect for a quick sweet indulgence!
Ingredients
- 8 canned biscuits
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon
- Non-stick spray
Instructions
- Add white sugar and cinnamon together and mix well. Set aside.
- Divide biscuits and place them onto a cutting board. Use a small, 1" circle cutter to cut the center out of the dough. Set aside and cook hole or discard.
- Grease the basket of an air fryer with nonstick cooking spray. Place donuts, in a single layer and not touching into the basket. Spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cook for 3 minutes at 350 degrees. Flip over and cook for an additional 3 minutes until browned. Remove from fryer and dip into cinnamon sugar mixture, coating both sides.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Top with glaze, sprinkles, ganache, frosting, or other flavors as desired.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Pillsbury Grands biscuits are my preferred option for this recipe.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 264Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 348mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 2gSugar: 14gProtein: 4g
If you like this recipe, then check out my cookbooks. I’ve created 4 books filled with delicious recipes that are easy to make, packed with flavor, and ideal for a new cook!