Effortless Air Fryer Donuts: Your Quick Guide to Delicious Homemade Treats
Imagine warm, fluffy, tender, and buttery donuts, perfectly coated in a glistening cinnamon-sugar blend, ready in minutes. These simple four-ingredient Air Fryer Donuts are not just incredible; they’re a revelation for anyone seeking a quick and utterly delicious treat. Forget the lengthy process of traditional donut making; with an air fryer and a few pantry staples, you can enjoy homemade goodness in 20 minutes or less – no waiting for dough to rise, no messy deep-frying!
If you’re new to the world of air frying or just looking to master your device, be sure to check out our comprehensive Air Fryer Guide for tips and tricks that will unlock endless culinary possibilities.
Author’s Insight: Why Store-Bought Biscuit Dough is a Game-Changer
As a passionate home cook always looking for smart shortcuts without compromising on taste, I’m a huge advocate for using store-bought biscuit dough for these air fryer donuts. Here’s why this humble ingredient transforms into a dessert superstar:
- No Messy Oil or Deep Frying: Traditional donuts require copious amounts of hot oil, leading to a greasy mess and a heavier product. Air frying biscuit dough eliminates this, offering a lighter donut with less cleanup.
- Remarkably Light Yet Fluffy and Chewy: Despite being air-fried, these donuts retain an incredible internal texture – a perfect balance of lightness, fluffiness, and a satisfying chew that rivals bakery-bought varieties.
- Unbeatable Speed: From start to finish, these donuts are ready in under 20 minutes. There’s no proofing time, no intricate dough handling – just quick prep and even quicker cooking. This is perfect for impromptu cravings or last-minute breakfast treats.
- Zero Kneading, Minimal Prep: Say goodbye to sticky counters and tired arms. Store-bought dough means absolutely zero kneading and minimal hands-on preparation, making this recipe accessible to even the most novice bakers.
- Irresistibly Delicious: This isn’t just a convenient recipe; it’s genuinely delicious! Every time I make them, my whole family devours them in minutes, often asking for seconds (and thirds!).
- Rich and Buttery Foundation: The inherent richness and buttery flavor of quality biscuit dough provide an excellent foundation for sweet treats. This same dough performs wonderfully in other indulgent recipes like our beloved Monkey Bread and Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread.
- Incredibly Versatile: Beyond sweet applications, this dough is surprisingly adaptable for savory dishes. I frequently use it in hearty meals such as Chicken Pot Pie Pasta and comforting Biscuits and Gravy. It’s truly a kitchen workhorse!
Air Fryer Essentials: Choosing Your Device
To embark on your air-fried donut journey, a reliable air fryer is, of course, essential! I personally use, love, and confidently recommend this Air Fryer model (affiliate link). It’s proven consistent and efficient for countless recipes. Keep in mind that air fryers can vary slightly in wattage and heating efficiency from one brand or model to another. This means the cooking times for your donuts might need a minor tweak to achieve that perfect golden-brown finish and fluffy interior in your specific appliance. Always keep an eye on your donuts during their first cook to gauge the ideal timing for your device.
Mastering Air Fryer Donuts: A Step-by-Step Guide
Get ready to transform simple biscuit dough into gourmet-level donuts with these straightforward steps. The entire process is designed for speed and ease, making homemade donuts a reality any day of the week!
- Preheat Your Air Fryer: Begin by preheating your air fryer to 330°F (165°C) for 5 minutes. This crucial step ensures even cooking and helps achieve that desirable crispy exterior from the start. Let it run empty while you prepare the biscuit dough.
- Prepare the Biscuit Dough: Carefully open the can of refrigerated biscuits. Using a 1-inch biscuit or round cutter, cut out the centers of each biscuit. These small cutouts are golden opportunities – don’t discard them! Set them aside to make delightful mini donut holes later. This method creates the classic donut shape while minimizing waste.
- Oil and Arrange for Frying: Lightly spray the air fryer basket with a non-aerosol coconut or olive oil spray. It’s important to avoid traditional nonstick sprays as they can, over time, damage the nonstick coating of your air fryer. Arrange the whole donut rings in a single layer within the basket, ensuring they do not overlap. This allows for optimal air circulation and even cooking.
- Air Fry to Golden Perfection: Place the basket back into the air fryer and cook the donuts at 350°F (175°C) for 5 minutes. While they cook, prepare your luscious coating: melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl and, in a separate shallow dish, toss together the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon until well combined. The aroma filling your kitchen will be irresistible!
- Coat and Enjoy Immediately: Once the donuts are golden and puffed, remove them from the air fryer. Using a pastry brush, liberally brush the tops and sides of each donut with the melted butter. If you don’t have a brush, you can gently dip just the tops of the donuts into the butter, shaking off any excess. Immediately after buttering, gently press both sides of the donuts into the cinnamon-sugar mixture, ensuring they are thoroughly coated. Shake off any excess sugar and serve them hot. These donuts are truly at their peak right out of the air fryer!
Bonus Treat: Air Fryer Donut Holes!
Don’t let those delicious donut centers go to waste! Once your main air fryer biscuit donuts are finished, you can easily prepare delightful air fryer donut holes. Simply place the leftover centers in the air fryer basket and cook them for just 3 minutes at 350°F (175°C). After cooking, toss them in melted butter and then the cinnamon-sugar mixture, just like their larger counterparts. They make for a wonderful bite-sized addition to your donut feast!
Creative Variations: Customize Your Air Fryer Donuts!
While the cinnamon-sugar coating is a timeless classic, these air fryer donuts are incredibly versatile. Feel free to experiment with different toppings and glazes to suit your mood and palate.
- From-Scratch Donut Dough: If you’re a purist or simply prefer to bake from scratch, you can absolutely use your favorite yeasted donut recipe. After shaping, air fry them at 350°F (175°C) for 4-5 minutes, or until they achieve a beautiful golden-brown color and are cooked through. The air fryer still offers a fantastic, less greasy alternative to deep-frying.
- Classic Glazed Air Fryer Donuts: For a beloved vanilla glaze, simply whisk the following ingredients together until smooth and drizzle generously over your freshly cooked donuts. For an extra layer of flavor and texture, we love to first dip the warm donuts in plain white granulated sugar right out of the air fryer, then apply this glaze!
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar)
- 1-1/2 tablespoon whole milk (add slowly, and add a little more if you prefer a thinner glaze consistency)
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- A teeny pinch of salt (enhances sweetness and balances flavor)
- Decadent Chocolate Glaze: To transform your vanilla glaze into a rich chocolate version, simply add 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder to the base recipe and whisk until smooth. This creates a wonderfully indulgent topping.
- Healthier Glaze Options: If you’re looking to cut down on sugar or boost protein, skip the traditional cinnamon-sugar or vanilla glaze. Instead, create a healthier alternative using equal parts powdered peanut butter (like PB2) and water. Whisk them together until you reach a smooth, drizzle-able consistency. This PB2 Glaze is surprisingly satisfying and adds a nutty twist.
- Sprinkles and Fun: For a festive touch, apply your chosen glaze and then immediately decorate with colorful sprinkles before the glaze sets. This is especially fun for kids or themed parties.
- Nutty Toppings: After glazing, sprinkle finely chopped nuts like pecans, walnuts, or almonds for added crunch and flavor.
- Fruity Drizzle: A simple berry compote or a drizzle of fruit puree can add a fresh, tangy contrast to the sweet donut base.
Storing Your Air Fryer Donuts and Dough
Like most freshly baked goods, these air fryer donuts are best enjoyed immediately, right out of the air fryer when they are still warm and at their peak flavor and texture. As they cool, donuts tend to lose some of their initial tenderness and can begin to dry out. However, if you do have leftovers:
- Reheating Cooked Donuts: To gently rewarm leftover cooked donuts, place them in the microwave for a very brief 5-10 seconds. Be careful not to overheat, as this can make them tough. While reheating can restore some warmth, it won’t fully recapture the fresh-from-the-air-fryer quality.
- Storing Uncooked Dough: For the best results and to minimize waste, I highly recommend only preparing the quantity of donuts you plan to consume immediately. Any remaining uncooked biscuit dough can be tightly sealed in its original packaging (or an airtight container) and stored in the refrigerator until you’re ready to make a fresh batch. This ensures every donut you eat is as perfect as the first!
More Delightful & Easy Dessert Recipes
If you loved the simplicity and speed of these Air Fryer Donuts, you’ll adore these other quick and easy dessert ideas from our kitchen:
- Apple Dump Cake: An incredibly simple, one-pan wonder bursting with apple and cinnamon flavors.
- Oreo Popcorn: A sweet and salty snack featuring crispy popcorn coated in white chocolate and crushed Oreo cookies.
- Pumpkin Bread: A moist and flavorful quick bread, perfectly spiced with warm cinnamon and pumpkin.
- Fruit Dip: A light and creamy dip made with just four ingredients, perfect for fresh fruit platters.
- Graham Cracker Cookies: Chewy, delightful cookies studded with sweet white chocolate chips.
Air Fryer Donuts
Chelsea Lords
10 minutes
5 minutes
15 minutes
8 donuts and 8 donut holes
Video
Watch the video on how to make these delicious Air Fryer Donuts:
For best viewing experience, visit the original article for the embedded video player.
Equipment
- Air fryer
(see note 1 below for tips on choosing your model) - 1-inch round biscuit/donut cutter
- Pastry brush (optional, for butter application)
- Shallow dishes for coating
Ingredients
(Yields 8 donuts and 8 donut holes)
-
1 (16.3-ounce) can
Pillsbury Grands Flaky Jumbo Biscuits
(contains 8 biscuits) -
1/2 cup
granulated sugar -
2 teaspoons
ground cinnamon -
5 tablespoons
unsalted butter
(melted, see note 2 below)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 330°F (165°C) and let it run (empty) for 5 minutes while you prepare the donuts.
- Open the can of biscuits and use a 1-inch round cutter to cut out the centers. Set aside these cutout centers to make donut holes later. Lightly spray both the air fryer basket and the biscuits with coconut or olive oil spray. Avoid using a nonstick aerosol spray, as it can damage the air fryer’s coating over time.
- Place the biscuit donuts in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not overlap. Air fry them at 350°F (175°C) for 5 minutes, or until golden brown and puffed.
- While the donuts are cooking, melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl. In a separate shallow bowl, combine the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon, mixing until thoroughly blended.
- Once the donuts are cooked, remove them from the air fryer. Using a pastry brush, brush the tops and sides of each donut with the melted butter. Alternatively, you can gently dip just the tops into the melted butter, allowing excess to drip off. Immediately coat the buttered donuts in the cinnamon-sugar mixture, ensuring full coverage. Gently shake off any excess cinnamon sugar and serve hot for the best flavor and texture.
- For the donut holes, place them in the air fryer basket after the full-sized donuts are done. Air fry for 3 minutes at 350°F (175°C). Then, dip them in melted butter and coat with cinnamon sugar. Enjoy them warm as well!
Recipe Notes
Note 2 (Butter Quantity): The recipe calls for 5 tablespoons of melted butter, which is typically sufficient for brushing. However, if you opt to fully dip the donuts into the melted butter instead of brushing them, you might find you need a few more tablespoons to ensure adequate coverage. Prepare a little extra if you prefer the dipping method.
Storage Tips: As with most donut recipes, these Air Fryer Donuts are truly best enjoyed right out of the air fryer while they are hot. They tend to lose their optimal flavor and tender texture after cooling and can begin to dry out. If you have leftovers, you can rewarm them briefly in the microwave for 5–10 seconds, but they won’t be quite the same as fresh. For this reason, we recommend only making what you plan to consume immediately. Any leftover (uncooked) biscuit dough can be stored in its original packaging or an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to make a fresh batch another day.
Nutrition Information (Approximate)
Serving:
1
donut
|
Calories:
213
kcal
|
Carbohydrates:
27.4
g
|
Protein:
2.2
g
|
Fat:
11.1
g
|
Cholesterol:
19.1
mg
|
Sodium:
363.6
mg
|
Fiber:
0.9
g
|
Sugar:
14.1
g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation. Values may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
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