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Air Fryer Donuts

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Air fryer Donuts are a delicious breakfast that can be made in less than 5 minutes in the air fryer. Making these fluffy donuts will be one of your favorite air fryer recipes. Air Fryer donuts are the perfect breakfast treat with your cup of coffee.

Golden donuts frosted with sprinkles and sugar, on a white plate

You will love this air fryer donut recipe because there is almost no prep time and it is a very simple way to have soft and warm donuts for breakfast, without driving to your favorite donut shop. They are so much easier than deep frying. For more breakfast ideas, you will love how easy Air Fryer Bacon and Egg Bites are to make too. 

I love this simple recipe and that I can make these for a busy weekday breakfast. I make Cinnamon Sugar Donuts by brushing melted butter on the hot donuts and then coat them with cinnamon and sugar. You can also make a chocolate glaze or vanilla glaze frosting, and add holiday sprinkles to give them a festive look.

Air Fryer Biscuit Donut Ingredients

Ingredients needed to make air fryer biscuits, measured out in bowls on a white marble table
  • Flaky Honey Butter biscuit dough-you can use grands or buttery layers are great too.
  • Butter-melted
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Cinnamon

How to make biscuit donuts in the air fryer

  1. To make cinnamon sugar coated biscuits into fresh donuts, begin by making the cinnamon sugar coating. In a small shallow bowl mix the sugar and cinnamon together, and then set aside.

  2. Open the can of refrigerated biscuits and separate, then lay them on a flat surface. To make them into a donut shape, use a donut cutter, biscuit cutter, apple corer, or a 1-inch round cutter, to cut a small hole in the center of each biscuit. Set the inside piece aside to make donut holes later.biscuits with center being cut with circles removed from centers.

  3. Lightly spray the basket with cooking spray. You can also line your basket with air fryer parchment paper.Uncooked donuts in the air fryer basket

  4. Transfer Donuts to the air fryer basket. Lay them in a single layer, work in batches as necessary. I only cook 4 donuts at a time. Air Fry at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-6 minutes, until golden brown.Golden donuts in the air fryer basket before being glazed or frosted

  5. Once they are done cooking, brush donuts on both sides with the melted butter and then dip the donuts into the cinnamon sugar to coat.brushing donuts with melted butter before dipping into cinnamon and sugar coating

Homemade Air Fryer Donut Recipe Ingredients

To make a flaky donut in a hurry and to keep it simple, I use biscuit dough from a can. There are several brands of biscuit dough to choose from, like Pillsbury. Flaky dough makes the best batch of donuts.

However, if you have a little bit of time, and want to make fluffy donuts from scratch, you can make Air Fryer Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes, or use this simple homemade donuts recipe.

  • ½ cup warm milk
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar, plus 1 teaspoon, divided
  • 1 packet active-dry yeast, or  2 ¼ teaspoons
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup melted butter
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Making Air Fryer Homemade Donuts from Scratch

In a small bowl, combine the warm milk, one teaspoon of sugar, and yeast. Stir together to activate yeast. Let bowl sit for about 5 minutes until the yeast has bloomed.

In a large bowl, combine the sugar, butter, egg, and vanilla. Pour in yeast mixture and stir to combine. Slowly add in flour and salt, until the dough becomes slightly flaky. 

Remove the dough from the bowl, and knead on a lightly floured surface. Knead for 3-5 minutes until the dough is somewhat smooth and can be shaped into a ball. 

Place dough into a medium glass bowl that has been lightly oiled. Cover with dish cloth and keep in warm spot for about 30-45 minutes until dough doubles in size. 

Punch dough to release air and then roll into sheet of dough, about ½ inch in thickness. Use a doughnut cutter, or large round cookie cutter, and cut into circles. Use a small 1 inch cutter, or paring knife, to remove center.

Lightly spray basket, or use parchment paper liner, and place cutouts into air fryer basket. Air fry 350 degrees F for 5-6 minutes, until golden brown. When done cooking, remove from air fryer and frost or glaze as desired. 

I use a Cosori 5.8 Quart air fryer. Cooking times may need to be adjusted for different air fryers.

How to Air Fry Donut Holes

Golden donut holes glazed with cinnamon and sugar coating

To make air fryer donut holes, use the center piece of the donut you removed earlier. This recipe also works well for a perfect donut hole. 

Place the small pieces in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 350° F for 5-6 minutes until they are golden brown.

Repeat the same steps for the donuts. After cooking, apply a butter coating and then coat with the cinnamon sugar mixture.

Chocolate Glaze

To make a chocolate glaze, you will need:

  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons milk
  • 2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder

Combine ingredients in a medium bowl, and whisk together. For thicker glaze, add additional powdered sugar, one teaspoon at a time, until it reaches your desired thickness. Dip the top of the donut into the glaze and place on parchment paper until the glaze sets. Add sprinkles immediately after dipping.

Vanilla Glaze

To make traditional glaze, you will need:

  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons milk
  • 2 Tablespoons light corn syrup

Combine ingredients in a medium bowl, and whisk together. For thicker glaze, add additional powdered sugar, one teaspoon at a time, until it reaches your desired thickness. Dip the top of the donut into the glaze and place on parchment paper until the glaze sets.

FAQ'S

How do I store leftover donuts?

These donuts are best when fresh. If you have leftovers, store at room temperature and keep sealed in an airtight container, for 2-3 days.

How to cut donuts without donut cutter

If you don't have a donut cutter, you can use a round cookie cutter, or even a drinking glass or a lid. Anything that is round will work. 

What can I coat these in besides sugar and cinnamon or glaze?

You can sprinkle powdered sugar over them, or sprinkles. You can also fill them with jelly or frosting using a piping bag and frosting tip.

Chocolate glazed donut on a white plate with blue straws on the table

MORE AIR FRYER BREAKFAST RECIPES:

  • French Toast
  • Turkey Bacon
  • Blueberry Muffin Bites
  • Hash Browns
  • Canned Biscuits
Plate of glazed, sugar coated, and chocolate covered golden donuts on a white plate served on a white marble table.

Air Fryer Donuts

Becky
Making these fluffy donuts will be one of your favorite air fryer recipes. Air Fryer donuts are the perfect breakfast treats.
4.5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 6 mins
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 484 kcal

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Donut Cutter

Ingredients
  

  • 1 can refrigerated flaky biscuit dough

Cinnamon Sugar Coating

  • ¼ cup butter melted
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • To make biscuits into fresh sugar cinnamon donuts, begin by making the cinnamon sugar coating. In a small shallow bowl mix the sugar and cinnamon together, and then set aside.
  • Open the can of refrigerated biscuits and separate. Lay each biscuit on a flat surface. To make them into a donut shape, use a donut cutter, biscuit cutter, apple corer, or a 1-inch round cutter, to cut a small hole in center of biscuit. Set the inside piece aside for later to make donut holes.
  • Lightly spray the basket with cooking spray. You can also line your basket with air fryer parchment paper.
  • Transfer donuts to the air fryer basket. Lay them in a single layer, working in batches as necessary. Air Fry at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-6 minutes, until golden brown.
  • Once they are done cooking, brush donuts on both sides with the melted butter and then dip the donuts into the cinnamon sugar to coat. You can also frost or glaze.

Notes

I use a Cosori 5.8 Quart air fryer. Cooking times may need to be adjusted for different air fryers.

Nutrition

Calories: 484kcalCarbohydrates: 71gProtein: 8gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 1104mgPotassium: 288mgFiber: 3gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 33IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 94mgIron: 4mg

*Nutritional information is a calculated guesstimate. Please note that this can change with different brands and modifications you may make to the recipe. For the most accurate information, use a nutritional calculator with the exact brands and measurements you're using with each recipe.

©AirFryingFoodie 2021

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Welcome to Air Frying Foodie, where our recipes have been featured in the New York Times, MSN, MOM.com, Parade, and more. Here we share all of our favorite Air Fryer recipes from breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. Find out more about Jen and Becky in the ABOUT section in the menu. Read More about the Air Frying Foodies here...

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