My Quick & Easy Air Fryer Donuts

Tested By June Hart

Safety Review HACCP Nouhayla A.

Updated: January 3, 2026

Oh, my dears, there is something so special about a warm, fresh donut. It takes me right back to Saturday mornings, holding my father’s hand on a trip to the local bakery. The smell of sugar and cinnamon in the air was just the happiest thing! It was a simple, perfect treat.

But goodness, the thought of deep-frying at home has always stopped me in my tracks. The splattering oil, the lingering greasy smell, the whole production of it all—it just never seemed worth the fuss. That’s why I was so delighted when I discovered that our marvelous air fryers, with a little help from a clever shortcut, can give us that same warm, bakery-fresh joy in minutes.

With a can of biscuit dough, we can skip the mess and the oil completely. Trust the process, and I promise you’ll be pulling out donuts that are golden brown on the outside, fluffy and tender on the inside, and ready for a generous coating of cinnamon sugar. It’s a bit of weekend magic, any day of the week!

Easy Air Fryer Donuts

alami

A wonderfully quick and easy way to make warm, fluffy donuts in the air fryer using canned biscuit dough.

Print Recipe

Ingredients

  

• 1 16.3-ounce can refrigerated biscuit dough (8 biscuits)
• 1/4 cup 1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Cooking spray

Instructions

 

• Separate the 8 biscuits and place them on a cutting board. Using a small, 1-inch round cutter (a bottle cap from a soda bottle works perfectly!), cut a hole in the center of each biscuit. Don’t throw away those little “holes”!
• Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
• In a shallow dish, mix together the granulated sugar and cinnamon. In another shallow dish, place your melted butter.
• Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place 4 donuts in a single layer in the basket. Don’t overcrowd them!
• Air fry for 5-6 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until they are puffed and golden brown.
• Now, the secret here is to coat them while they’re hot! As soon as you remove the donuts from the air fryer, use a pastry brush to coat one entirely with melted butter.
• Immediately transfer the buttered donut to the cinnamon-sugar mixture and toss to coat all sides completely. Place on a wire rack. Repeat with the remaining donuts.
• Don’t forget the donut holes! You can cook them all at once for about 3 minutes, shaking the basket halfway, then give them the same butter and sugar treatment.

June’s Tips

For a simple glaze instead, you can skip the cinnamon sugar. Just whisk together 1 cup of powdered sugar with 2-3 tablespoons of milk until smooth, and dip the tops of the warm donuts.
These are truly best when eaten fresh and warm, right after you make them!

Why This Recipe Works (June’s “Why”)

The magic of this recipe is its beautiful simplicity. The air fryer works like a powerful little convection oven, circulating hot air all around the dough. This cooks the biscuits incredibly quickly, causing them to puff up and become golden and “fried” on the outside while staying perfectly soft and fluffy inside. Canned biscuit dough is the perfect shortcut because it’s designed to rise and bake consistently every time, taking all the guesswork out of the equation for us. It’s all the satisfying parts of a donut, with none of the work or the greasy mess.

June’s Tips for a Perfect Result

1. Don’t Overcrowd the Basket: This is my number one rule for air frying! The donuts need space for the hot air to circulate around them to get that even, golden-brown color. Cook in batches for the best results.
2. Find a Small Cutter for the Holes: A 1-inch cookie cutter is ideal, but truly, a clean plastic bottle cap is the perfect size and a trick my grandmother would have appreciated for its practicality!
3. Coat Them While They’re Hot: As soon as the donuts come out of the air fryer, get them into the butter and sugar. The heat helps the butter soak in just a little, and it makes the cinnamon sugar stick perfectly.

Common Questions & Answers (FAQ)

Can I use the “flaky layers” style of biscuits?

You can, but I find the “homestyle” or “Southern style” buttermilk biscuits give you a texture that’s much closer to a classic cake donut. The flaky layer biscuits will still be delicious, but they will separate into layers a bit as they cook.

Can I make these ahead of time?

Oh, my dear, these are a treat that is truly best enjoyed within minutes of making them. They tend to get a bit hard as they sit. The good news is that they are so quick to make, you can whip up a fresh, warm batch whenever the craving strikes!

What if I don’t have cooking spray?

Not to worry. You can lightly brush the inside of your air fryer basket with a neutral-tasting oil, like canola or vegetable oil, using a paper towel. The goal is just to prevent the dough from sticking.

What to Serve With These Air Fryer Donuts

These warm, sweet donuts are a wonderful treat all on their own. They don’t need much company at all! They are absolutely perfect for a special breakfast or a fun afternoon snack with a tall, cold glass of milk or a warm cup of coffee or tea. Simple, classic, and completely delightful.

I’m so excited for you to try this recipe! It’s such a fun and easy treat for when the grandkids visit, or just for yourself. Please come back and let me know how it turned out for you in the comments below. And if you have your own family secret for a quick and fun dessert, I’d absolutely love to hear it!