This easy air fryer donuts recipe turns refrigerated large buttermilk biscuits into warm, fluffy cinnamon-sugar donuts in about 10 to 16 minutes. You only need one can of biscuits, melted butter, sugar, cinnamon, and an air fryer to make 8 donuts plus their bite-size centers.
The finished donuts are lightly golden outside, tender inside, buttery, and wonderfully fragrant with cinnamon. They are perfect for a quick breakfast, weekend treat, after-school snack, or fresh dessert when you want homemade flavor without mixing and proofing yeast dough.
Jump to RecipeWhy You’ll Love This Recipe
These easy air fryer donuts deliver the comfort of a bakery-style treat with a remarkably short ingredient list. There is no yeast, kneading, rolling, rising, or deep-frying, so the recipe is friendly for busy mornings and beginner cooks.
Using refrigerated biscuit dough also creates a soft, pleasantly bready texture in just one short air-fryer batch. The cinnamon-sugar coating clings to the warm, buttery surface and gives every bite a sweet crunch.
The donut centers should never be discarded. They cook quickly into tender little donut holes that are especially fun for snack boards, lunchbox treats, and sharing with family.
If you enjoy simple air-fryer comfort food, our air fryer baked potato is another reliable recipe with an easy, hands-off method.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The main ingredient is one can of refrigerated large buttermilk biscuits, approximately 16.3 ounces or 460 grams. A can generally contains 8 biscuits, which become 8 donuts when the centers are cut out.
- 1 can refrigerated large buttermilk biscuits, about 16.3 ounces/460 g
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Nonstick cooking spray, optional
Choose refrigerated biscuits rather than flaky-layer biscuits when possible. The more compact dough usually keeps a round donut shape more neatly, while flaky layers can separate and produce uneven edges.
For the best coating, melt the butter just before the donuts finish cooking. Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl so each donut can be rolled easily without crushing its delicate surface.
How to Make It Step-by-Step
Step 1: Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for about 3 minutes if the appliance requires preheating. Some models heat quickly without a separate preheat cycle, so follow your manufacturer’s guidance.
Step 2: Open the biscuit can and separate the 8 biscuits. Use a small round cutter or piping tip to remove the center from each biscuit, and place the cut centers aside for donut holes.
Step 3: Lightly coat the air-fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray if needed. Arrange the donuts in one layer with room around each piece so hot air can circulate and brown the dough evenly.
Step 4: Air fry the donuts at 350°F for 5 to 6 minutes, checking them at the 5-minute mark. Turn them halfway through cooking if your air fryer browns more strongly on one side, and remove them when puffed and lightly golden.
Step 5: Cook the donut holes separately for approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Their small size means they finish sooner, so watch closely and remove them as soon as they are puffed and lightly browned.
Step 6: Melt the unsalted butter and brush it over the hot donuts and donut holes on all sides. Working while the dough is still warm helps the cinnamon sugar stick evenly.
Step 7: Stir the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon together in a shallow bowl. Roll each buttered donut and donut hole through the mixture until coated, then serve warm for the softest texture.
Pro Tips for Better Air Fryer Donuts
Leave visible space around every biscuit. Overcrowding blocks airflow, which can lead to pale sides, uneven cooking, and a less tender result; cooking in batches is worth the extra few minutes.
Start checking at 5 minutes because air fryers vary considerably in power, basket design, and heat circulation. Canned biscuit dough can become dry or overly brown when left in too long, even if another appliance needs the full 6 minutes.
Do not press the biscuits flat before cutting them. Keeping their original thickness allows the donuts to puff into a pleasantly plump shape while the center opening stays recognizable.
Brush with butter immediately after cooking, but coat with cinnamon sugar one piece at a time. This simple order gives you a more even finish and keeps the sugar mixture from becoming clumpy.
For a richer, heavier coating, some versions use 1/4 cup melted butter instead of 2 tablespoons. The listed 2 tablespoons provide a lighter coating, while the larger amount creates a more buttery, dessert-like finish.
For another cozy treat to serve after brunch, you can pair these donuts with whipped coffee for a sweet café-style combination.
Cinnamon Sugar or Simple Glaze
Cinnamon sugar is the fastest topping and works especially well when the donuts are served warm. The butter gives the sugar something to cling to while adding a soft, rich finish to the biscuit dough.
To make a glaze instead, combine 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract in a small bowl. Stir until smooth, then dip cooled donuts into the glaze and let the excess drip back into the bowl.
Glazed donuts should cool before dipping so the icing does not slide straight off. Place them on a rack or parchment for a few minutes, allowing the glaze to set before serving.
If you are planning a dessert spread, these donuts can sit alongside a creamy butterscotch pie or a small tray of brownies. Their quick preparation makes them useful when you need one warm item at the last minute.
Serving, Storage & Reheating
Serve the donuts warm, shortly after coating them. They are delicious with coffee, hot chocolate, cold milk, or fresh fruit, and the donut holes make an easy grab-and-go addition to the plate.
Because refrigerated biscuit donuts are best fresh, make only what you expect to eat when possible. If you have leftovers, keep them covered at room temperature for a short period and expect the coating to soften as it sits.
Reheat leftovers briefly in the air fryer until warmed through, checking often so they do not dry out. A short, gentle reheat is preferable to leaving them in long enough to become firm.
For a savory contrast after a sweet breakfast, our easy Big Mac casserole makes a satisfying dinner option. For a festive dessert pairing, try our peppermint brownie recipe alongside the cinnamon-sugar donuts.
Easy Air Fryer Donuts Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for about 3 minutes if your model requires preheating.
- Separate the biscuits and cut a hole in the center of each with a small round cutter or piping tip. Keep the cut centers to cook as donut holes.
- Lightly spray the air-fryer basket and arrange the donuts in a single layer, leaving space between them. Cook in batches if needed rather than stacking or overcrowding.
- Air fry the donuts at 350°F for 5 to 6 minutes, turning halfway if needed, until puffed and lightly golden. Air fry the donut holes for approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
- Brush the hot donuts and donut holes on all sides with melted butter.
- Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl, then roll the buttered donuts and donut holes in the mixture. Serve warm.
Notes
Final Thoughts
This easy air fryer donuts recipe is proof that a quick shortcut can still create a warm, memorable treat. Refrigerated buttermilk biscuits, a little melted butter, and cinnamon sugar are all you need for golden donuts and tender donut holes in minutes.
Keep the donuts in a single layer, check them at 5 minutes, and coat them while hot for the best texture and flavor. Whether you choose classic cinnamon sugar or the simple powdered-sugar glaze, serve them warm and enjoy every soft, buttery bite.