Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts
Canned biscuits turned into warm, fluffy donuts in minutes. Air fry, brush with butter and toss in cinnamon sugar or dip in a quick chocolate glaze.
Ingredients
Ingredients for servings
Enter a number of at least ½, in steps of ½.
Original recipe serves 8. Ingredient amounts adjust automatically. Cooking times and pan size may need adjusting separately.
- 16 oz refrigerated biscuits, 1 can of 8 large, not flaky layers
- cooking spray
- 4 tbsp butter, melted
Cinnamon sugar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
Chocolate glaze (optional)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 tbsp milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Gear
- Air fryer
- 1-inch round cutter or bottle cap
- Pastry brush
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Steps
Step 1: Separate the biscuits. Cut a hole in the center of each with a 1-inch round cutter or the cap of a water bottle. Save the holes.
Step 2: Spray the air fryer basket. Arrange the donuts in a single layer with space to puff.
Step 3: Air fry at 350°F for 5 to 6 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and cooked through. Cook the donut holes 3 to 4 minutes.
Step 4: Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.
Step 5: While the donuts are still warm, brush them all over with melted butter and toss in cinnamon sugar.
Step 6: FOR CHOCOLATE GLAZE: Whisk the powdered sugar, cocoa, milk and vanilla until smooth. Dip the tops of the warm (unbuttered) donuts and let set 5 minutes.
Step 7: Serve warm.
Swaps
- Glaze: Vanilla glaze (powdered sugar, milk, vanilla) with sprinkles.
- Filled: Skip the hole and pipe jelly or Nutella into the side after cooking.
- Spice: Add a pinch of nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice to the cinnamon sugar.
Tips
- Coat them while they’re warm so the butter soaks in and the sugar sticks.
- They’re best within an hour of cooking.
The story
HAM Cooking. Let’s fire it up.
Biscuit donuts are the closest thing to magic in the kitchen. You open a can, poke a hole in the middle, and 6 minutes later you’re eating warm cinnamon sugar donuts. No yeast, no rising, no pot of oil. Just a can, a bottle cap and a craving.
Canned biscuit dough is already a soft, leavened dough, similar to a cake donut. In the air fryer, the hot air puffs it up and browns the outside while the inside stays tender and fluffy. Since there’s no oil bath, brushing them with melted butter afterward is what gives them that rich, fried-donut flavor and helps the cinnamon sugar stick.
Don’t toss the holes. Donut holes cook even faster and are perfect for little hands or for snacking while you finish the rest. The cook always gets the first one. That’s the rule.
HAM out.
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