Air Fryer Donuts

When the boys and I wake up on the grumpy side of the bed, we turn the day around with these super fun and easy Air Fryer Donuts! Using a few simple ingredients and your air fryer, you can make fluffy, warm donuts in just FIVE minutes!

glazed air fried donuts

Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts

The wonders of the air fryer never cease. Since my husband convinced me to buy an air fryer, we’ve been using it almost daily to heat up leftovers, make crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs, Parmesan Air Fryer Pork Chops, and quickly air fry favorites like egg rolls and wonton mozzarella sticks.

Now, the air fryer is even getting used for the first meal of the day with these puffy, golden Air Fryer Donuts!

These donuts are pillowy soft and served warm from the fryer for an incredible breakfast treat. But the best part about them is how EASY they are to make!

All you need to get started is a can of biscuits! This simple shortcut means you can be eating a warm donut in ten minutes. SERIOUSLY.

biscuit donuts in an air fryer

How to Make Donuts in the Air Fryer

  1. Pop open a can of biscuits. Does this give anyone else anxiety or is it just me? It’s the kitchen equivalent of a Jack-in-the-Box.
  2. Separate the biscuits and cut holes in the centers.
  3. Pop them in the air fryer (mine holds about 4 at once).
  4. Air fry at 350 degrees for 3 minutes, then flip. Fry another 2-3 minutes or until the donuts are puffy and golden brown.
  5. While they’re frying, whip up one (or all 3!) of the easy glaze recipes. Once the donuts are done and cool enough to handle, you can dip, glaze and enjoy!

These are a GREAT treat to make with the kids. They can easily separate the biscuits and cut holes, and they’ll love glazing and sprinkling the tops.

air fryer donuts with cinnamon sugarTips for the Best Air Fried Donuts

  • Use buttermilk canned biscuits: We tested air frying donuts with both a home style buttermilk and flaky layers variety. The flaky layers biscuit donuts looked amazing, but weren’t soft or sweet enough to mimic real donuts. We muchย preferred the buttermilk variety and recommend them instead of the flaky kind.
  • Use a small circle cookie cutter (<<this set is the best bang for your buck) or the large end of a pastry tip to cut holes out of the center. Spray them with cooking spray so the holes release easily.
  • Don’t over bake– These donuts are done SO quickly, it’s easy to over bake them. They need only 4-6 minutes (5 was perfect in our air fryer), with a flip halfway through.
  • Eat them fresh– The cinnamon sugar glaze donuts are absolutely INCREDIBLE served warm right out of the fryer. The classic glazed can also be glazed and eaten soon after they’re out of the fryer. For the chocolate, you’ll need to wait until they’re a little cooler so the glaze doesn’t run off, but all the donuts taste best when eaten soon after frying.

hand dipping air fryer donuts into chocolate glaze

Air Fryer Donut Glaze Recipe

  • Butter + Cinnamon Sugar– As simple as it sounds! While the donuts are still warm, dip them in melted butter, then swirl them in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. These are our personal favorites. If you love cider donuts, these are a very good copy cat.
  • Classic Glazed Donut– A simple combination of powdered sugar, butter, milk, and vanilla gives you that classic crackly glaze!
  • Chocolate Glaze– Chocolate glaze made with chocolate chips, butter, and a little corn syrup for shine. You can also layer the classic glaze and chocolate frosting for a double whammy.
  • Add more toppings- Let everyone add flavor and pizzazz to their donuts with sprinkles, chopped nuts or candy bars, cereal, and homemade toasted coconut.

chocolate glazed air fryer donuts with sprinkles on top

Love fun and easy baking projects? You might also want to check out this collection of Easy Baking Recipes for Kids.

Don’t have an air fryer? These Chinese Donuts are also incredibly easy and delicious and made on the stove top!

chocolate glazed air fryer donuts with sprinkles on top

Air Fryer Donuts

Yield: 8
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

You can make these easy Air Fryer Donuts in less than 10 minutes! There is nothing better than fluffy, warm air fried donuts!

Ingredients

  • 1 16 ounce can buttermilk biscuits (NOT flaky)

For cinnamon sugar topping:

  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

For chocolate glaze:

  • 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 Tablespoon light corn syrup (optional)
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla

For classic vanilla glaze:

  • 1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon melted butter
  • 1-2 Tablespoons milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. If required, preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees. (My Ninja does great without preheating, but some do better with a preheat).
  2. Separate the donuts and use a cookie cutter or big end of a pastry tip to cut holes in the center.
  3. Pop the donuts in the air fryer (mine fits four comfortably) and fry for 3 minutes. Flip them over and fry an additional 2-3 minutes or until golden brown and puffed.
  4. Meanwhile, whip up one or all of the glazes.

For cinnamon sugar:

  1. Melt butter in a bowl. In another bowl, whisk together cinnamon and sugar. When the donuts are cool enough to handle, dip in butter then cinnamon and sugar. EAT!

For vanilla:

  1. Whisk together powdered sugar, butter, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Add an extra splash of milk if the glaze is too thick. When the donuts are cool enough to handle, dip both sides in the glaze and place on a cooling rack to harden slightly.

For chocolate:

  1. Melt chocolate chips and butter together in the microwave. Stir in corn syrup and vanilla. The corn syrup isn't necessary, but it does give it a really nice shine. Wait until donuts are just barely warm to dip into the chocolate. Serve fresh!

Notes

Each of these glaze recipes should be enough for a full 8 donuts, which means if you make more than 1 you'll have extra. Use them for more donuts! Or use the cinnamon sugar on toast and the chocolate for pretzels!

Calories listed below are for 1 cinnamon sugar donut.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 251Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 617mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 1gSugar: 12gProtein: 4g

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6 Comments

    1. I’ve never tried it before. Since the base is biscuit dough, I think they’d do ok, but I’m not sure. If you try it, I would freeze them unfrosted, and pop them back in the air fryer for a few minutes to warm and crisp them up again!

  1. I’m just curious as other recipes call for you to use avocado oil spray or cooking spray on the doughnuts but yours doesn’t so I’m a fan of that. But my question is do you have any problems with them sticking

    1. I haven’t had any problem with sticking. I find cooking spray leaves a sticky residue on my nonstick air fryer pan, so I try not to use it unless necessary.

  2. These were so quick and easy to make. My air fryer is new and I’ve been a little intimidated to try it out but these donuts have got me excited to explore other recipes in it. We will be baking our biscuits this way for now on. They came out so light and fluffy in just 5 minutes! I loved your comparison about the Jack-In-The-Box and popping the biscuit can with a spoon! ๐Ÿ™‚

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