If you're craving homemade donuts but don't want to spend hours in the kitchen, these air fryer donuts with biscuits are about to become your new favorite breakfast! Made with just canned biscuits and a simple glaze, these air fryer biscuit donuts are ready in under 15 minutes and taste absolutely incredible.
Why You'll Love This Air Fryer Donut Recipe
They're incredibly easy. No bread-making skills required! These air fryer donuts with canned biscuits use store-bought dough, so anyone can make them successfully.
Ready in 10 minutes. From start to finish, you'll have warm, fluffy donuts in less time than it takes to drive to the donut shop.
Healthier than fried donuts. Air fryer biscuit donuts use minimal oil compared to traditional deep-fried donuts, making them a lighter option.
Ingredients
Canned Biscuit Dough. Pillsbury Grands Biscuits work perfectly, but any refrigerated biscuit dough will do. The flaky layers create an amazing texture.
Cooking Spray or Melted Butter. Essential for getting that golden-brown exterior on your air fryer donuts with biscuits.
Powdered Sugar. For the classic vanilla glaze that makes these donuts irresistible.
Milk or Heavy Cream. This creates the perfect glaze consistency. Pro tip: vanilla coffee creamer takes the flavor up a notch!
Vanilla Extract. Adds that bakery-style flavor to your glaze.
How to make biscuit donuts in the air fryer
- Preheat your air fryer to 350. If your air fryer does not have a preheat setting, let it run, empty, at 350F for 3 minutes.
- Using a piping tip, a small cooking cutter, a shot glass, a bottle cap, or just a knife, cut a small holes in the middle of the biscuits. Save these to make doughnut holes!
- Spray your air fryer basket with oil, and then place your donuts in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may be able to fit anywhere from 2-4 donuts in the air fryer basket at one time.
- Cook your donuts at 350F for 4-5 minutes, or until golden brown.
- While the first batch of your donuts are cooking, make your glaze. Whisk together your powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract in a bowl.
- Once your donuts are out of the fryer, using a spatula, take them out and put them onto a cookie sheet or cooling rack. IF you use a cooling rack, put parchment paper, aluminum foil or something under it to catch the glaze drippings.
- Because these are biscuits, you CANNOT dip them into the glaze like you would a normal donut. These have layers and they will separate. You'll have half the donut in the glaze and half in your hand when you try to pull it out.
- Using a spoon, spoon your glaze over each donut. Repeat for the next batch of donuts, and enjoy!
- Once your large donuts are done, toss your donut holes in melted butter and air fry at 350F for 3-4 minutes. Then you have both donuts and air fryer donut holes!
Air Fryer Donut Variations and Flavor Ideas
Chocolate Glazed Donuts. Add 1-2 teaspoons of cocoa powder to your glaze mixture for rich chocolate air fryer donuts with biscuits.
Cinnamon Sugar Donuts. Mix cinnamon and granulated sugar in a shallow bowl. Brush the hot donuts with melted butter, then roll them in the cinnamon sugar mixture until fully coated.
Maple Glazed Donuts. Substitute half the vanilla extract with maple extract for a maple-flavored glaze.
Strawberry Glazed Donuts. Add a tablespoon of strawberry jam to your glaze and whisk until smooth.
Sprinkle Donuts. Top your glazed donuts with rainbow sprinkles, chocolate sprinkles, or chopped nuts while the glaze is still wet.
Best Biscuits for Air Fryer Donuts
While you can use any refrigerated biscuit dough, here are my top recommendations:
- Pillsbury Grands Flaky Layers - Creates the fluffiest texture
- Pillsbury Grands Original - Classic, reliable choice
- Great Value Biscuits - Budget-friendly option that works great
- Buttermilk Biscuits - Adds extra richness
Avoid using smaller "regular" size biscuits as they'll cook too quickly and may not have the same donut-like texture.
Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts
Don't overcrowd the basket. Air needs to circulate around each donut for even cooking. Leave at least 1 inch between donuts.
Use parchment paper liners. Air fryer parchment paper liners make cleanup easier and prevent sticking.
Watch the first batch closely. Every air fryer cooks slightly differently. Check at 4 minutes and adjust time as needed.
Glaze while warm. The glaze sets better and tastes more delicious when spooned over warm donuts.
Spray generously. Don't skip the cooking spray or butter - it's what gives these air fryer donuts their golden color.
How to store air fryer donuts with biscuits
Room Temperature Storage: Store leftover air fryer donuts with biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Refrigerator Storage: For longer storage, keep them in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheating: Warm your donuts in the air fryer at 300°F for 2-3 minutes. This brings back that fresh-from-the-fryer texture! You can also microwave for 10-15 seconds, but the air fryer method is superior.
FAQs
Can you air fry donuts instead of deep fry?
Yes! You absolutely can. The hot air circulates in the air fryer making these donuts perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside without having all the oil that comes with a deep fryer.
How do you keep biscuits from sticking in an air fryer?
You'll want to make sure you don't overstuff the basket of your air fryer and you want to spray the basket with non-stick cooking spray.
Do air fryer donuts taste like regular donuts?
Air fryer biscuit donuts have a slightly different texture than yeast donuts - they're more flaky and biscuit-like. But they're absolutely delicious and satisfy that donut craving!
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Air Fryer Donuts with Biscuits
If you're craving homemade donuts but don't want to spend hours in the kitchen, these air fryer donuts with biscuits are about to become your new favorite breakfast!
Ingredients
- 1 can refrigerated biscuits
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 tablespoon heavy cream or milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. If your air fryer doesn't have a preheat function, run it empty at 350°F for 3 minutes.
- Open your can of biscuits and separate them. Using a piping tip, small cookie cutter, shot glass, or even a bottle cap, cut a hole in the center of each biscuit. Save those little centers for donut holes!
- Spray your air fryer basket with cooking spray or brush with melted butter. Place 2-4 donuts in a single layer (depending on your air fryer size), making sure they don't touch. Lightly spray or brush the tops with oil or butter.
- Cook at 350°F for 4-5 minutes until golden brown. The exact time may vary based on your air fryer model.
- While your first batch cooks, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk or cream, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth.
- Here's a crucial tip: DO NOT dip these air fryer biscuit donuts into the glaze! Because they're made from layered biscuit dough, dipping will cause them to separate. Instead, use a spoon to drizzle the glaze over the top of each donut.
- Once all your donuts are done, toss those saved donut holes in melted butter and air fry at 350°F for 3-4 minutes. Now you have both full-size donuts and adorable donut holes!
Notes
Air Fryer Donut Variations and Flavor Ideas
Chocolate Glazed Donuts. Add 1-2 teaspoons of cocoa powder to your glaze mixture for rich chocolate air fryer donuts with biscuits.
Cinnamon Sugar Donuts. Mix cinnamon and granulated sugar in a shallow bowl. Brush the hot donuts with melted butter, then roll them in the cinnamon sugar mixture until fully coated.
Maple Glazed Donuts. Substitute half the vanilla extract with maple extract for a maple-flavored glaze.
Strawberry Glazed Donuts. Add a tablespoon of strawberry jam to your glaze and whisk until smooth.
Sprinkle Donuts. Top your glazed donuts with rainbow sprinkles, chocolate sprinkles, or chopped nuts while the glaze is still wet.
Best Biscuits for Air Fryer Donuts
While you can use any refrigerated biscuit dough, here are my top recommendations:
- Pillsbury Grands Flaky Layers - Creates the fluffiest texture
- Pillsbury Grands Original - Classic, reliable choice
- Great Value Biscuits - Budget-friendly option that works great
- Buttermilk Biscuits - Adds extra richness
Avoid using smaller "regular" size biscuits as they'll cook too quickly and may not have the same donut-like texture.
Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts
Don't overcrowd the basket. Air needs to circulate around each donut for even cooking. Leave at least 1 inch between donuts.
Use parchment paper liners. Air fryer parchment paper liners make cleanup easier and prevent sticking.
Watch the first batch closely. Every air fryer cooks slightly differently. Check at 4 minutes and adjust time as needed.
Glaze while warm. The glaze sets better and tastes more delicious when spooned over warm donuts.
Spray generously. Don't skip the cooking spray or butter - it's what gives these air fryer donuts their golden color.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Room Temperature Storage: Store leftover air fryer donuts with biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Refrigerator Storage: For longer storage, keep them in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheating: Warm your donuts in the air fryer at 300°F for 2-3 minutes. This brings back that fresh-from-the-fryer texture! You can also microwave for 10-15 seconds, but the air fryer method is superior.
Luciana says
I loved the recipe!
Katie Kelly says
I'm so happy to hear that!
Kerry says
Super easy, and I used cinnamon extract instead of vanilla. Love these!
Katie Kelly says
Oh love the cinnamon idea!
Kelli says
I wanted to like this recipe but my biscuits came out undercooked. They had to cook for like ten minutes before they were done. Not sure where the 4 minutes came from ):
janice M beggs says
Really just tasted like topped biscuits, was excited but this recipe will be canceled
Kellie Fielding says
Love it
Katie Kelly says
Thank you so much!
Karah says
Times may very for some because mine came out very undercooked. I cooked them for 5 minutes at 350 and that was not long enough.
Katie Kelly says
Timing may vary indeed!