Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts recipe transforms a modest can of biscuits into fabulous homemade donuts! An easy treat will be your new favorite breakfast snack to go with your morning cup of coffee!
Whip up a batch of warm, golden brown, delicious donuts on a lazy Saturday morning in less time than it takes to visit your local donut shop!
This easy donut recipe is ideal for the whole family to enjoy and is the perfect way to make homemade donuts when you don't want the hassle of hot oil and deep fryers.
These air fryer biscuit donuts are incredibly versatile, so whether you prefer cinnamon sugar donuts or ones covered in a simple glaze, the possibilities are endless!
For more of my favorite air fryer snacks, check out these recipes for Air Fryer Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls, Air Fryer Refrigerated Chocolate Chip Cookies, Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Easy Air Fryer Frozen Pretzels, Copycat Starbucks Cheese Danish, Canned Pillsbury Grand Biscuits in Air Fryer and Air Fryer Bagel Bites!
Ingredients Needed for Easy Air Fryer Donuts
- Pillsbury Grands Biscuits. These canned biscuits provide the perfect fluffy and flaky base for the donuts, saving you the time and effort of making dough from scratch!
- Powdered Sugar. Creates a sweet and smooth icing that perfectly complements the donuts. The fine texture dissolves easily for a lump-free glaze.
- Vanilla Extract. Adds a rich, aromatic flavor to the icing, elevating it from plain sweetness to a more complex taste.
- Milk. Thins the powdered sugar to the right consistency for dipping or drizzling over the donuts. You can adjust the amount to get the thickness you prefer.
- Sprinkles. These are optional but a great way to add a little bit of fun and color.
How to Make Air Fryer Doughnuts
Air Frying the Biscuits
- Open the Pillsbury Grands Biscuits. Use a small round cookie cutter or a large pastry tip to cut small holes in the center of each biscuit to give them the donut shape.
- Spray the Air Fryer Basket with nonstick baking spray. Carefully place 3-4 Biscuits in the basket of the air fryer, making sure the biscuits do not touch each other. You may be able to cook more or less of them at a time depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Air fry at 350 degrees F for 6 minutes. Flip the biscuits halfway through to cook both sides evenly.
- Carefully remove baked donuts using tongs and place them on a wire cooling rack.
Making the Icing
- In a medium bowl, combine Powdered Sugar with Vanilla Extract and gradually add milk a little at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
- Dip the warm donuts in the icing or use a pastry brush to glaze the donuts.
- Place the iced donuts on a cooling rack.
- Garnish with Sprinkles (optional). Icing will drizzle down the sides of the donuts as it cools. Allow donuts to fully cool and icing set before serving.
FAQs
Yes, you can bake premade biscuit dough in a regular oven, but it won't have the same crispy texture as when cooked in an air fryer. For best results, follow the cooking instructions on the packaging of the canned biscuit dough.
If you don't have a biscuit cutter that will work to make the small holes, try using a soda bottle cap or the wide end of a piping tip. Even the mouth of a thin glass can work, such as a champagne flute.
Any refrigerated biscuit dough should work, though the texture and taste will differ slightly from brand to brand.
Yes, you can use homemade biscuit dough. Remember that the cooking time will probably be different than what I've got here, so make sure to take them out when they're a nice golden brown color.
Storage & Freezing
Storage: Store leftover donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days.
Freezing: Biscuit donuts can be stored in a sealed container and frozen for up to 3 months. Just thaw and reheat in the air fryer or oven when ready to eat.
Substitutions & Variations
- If Pillsbury Grands Biscuits aren't available, or not your favorite, any refrigerated biscuit dough will work. Use a gluten-free dough to make an easy gluten-free version.
- Mix things up by adding cocoa powder to your icing for a chocolate flavor, or a bit of lemon zest for a citrusy twist. Check my tips below for Icing recipes, and instructions on how to make easy Cinnamon Sugar Air Fryer Donuts!
- For alternative topping ideas besides icing, try chocolate glaze, or even powdered sugar make great alternatives.
- For a savory twist, skip the icing and sprinkle cheese and herbs on top before air frying. These savory biscuit donuts work great as an appetizer or snack!
Pro Tips
Air Frying Baking Tips
Place the biscuit donuts in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Make sure the donuts are not touching each other, baking them in batches if necessary.
Air fry the donut holes for the same baking time.
Carefully flip the donuts over halfway through baking time using tongs to bake both sides of the donuts.
Donut Holes
Use the dough cut-outs to make mini donut holes. These mini-bites can be a fun addition, especially for kids.
Donut Icing
Make the donut icing while the biscuit donuts are air frying. Dip the warm donuts in the icing as soon as you can reasonably handle the donuts without burning your hands.
Optional Donut Icing Ideas
Cinnamon Sugar Coating: Make easy Cinnamon Sugar Donuts by brushing baked donuts with melted butter using a pastry brush, and then roll them in a cinnamon sugar mixture made of ½ a cup of granulated sugar combined with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
Chocolate Icing: Combine 1 cup Powdered Sugar with 2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder. Add ½ teaspoon vanilla extract and drizzle 1-2 tablespoons milk until desired consistency is reached. Dip donuts into Chocolate Icing and place on cooling rack.
Have you tried this Air Fryer Donut recipe?
Please leave a comment below if you have tried making this recipe. I love to hear from you and enjoy reading about what you think. Be sure to tag @devourdinner when posting to social media. I can't wait to see your photos!
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Apple Fritters
- Trader Joe's Orange Chicken Air Fryer Recipe
- Cheddar Bay Red Lobster Biscuits in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli
- Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes
- Garlic Knots in Air Fryer
- Cheese Stuffed Breadstick Air Fryer Recipe
Biscuit Donuts in Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 pkg Grands Biscuits
Icing
- 1 ½ cup Powdered Sugar
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1-2 tablespoons Milk
- Sprinkles - optional
Instructions
- Open Pillsbury Grands Biscuits.
- Using a small round biscuit cutter or using a large pastry tip cut holes in center of biscuits.
- Spray Air Fryer Basket with non stick baking spray. Carefully place 3-4 Biscuits in bottom of air fryer making sure biscuits do not touch each other. 1 pkg Grands Biscuits,
- Air fry at 350 F Degrees for 6 minutes. Flipping half way through to cook both sides.
- Carefully remove baked donuts using tongs and placing on wire cooling rack.
Icing
- In a bowl combine powdered Sugar with vanilla extract and gradually add milk a little at a time until desired consistency is reached. 1 ½ cup Powdered Sugar, ½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract, 1-2 tablespoons Milk, Sprinkles
- Dip warm donuts in Icing and place on cooling rack. Garnish with Sprinkles (optional)
- Icing will drizzle down sides of donuts as it cools. Allow donuts to fully cool and icing set before serving.
Notes
Air Frying Baking Tips
Place Biscuit Donuts in a single layer in Air Fryer Basket. Do not allow donuts to touch each other baking in batches if necessary. Air Fry donut holes for same baking time. Carefully flip donuts over half way through baking time using tongs to bake both sides of donuts.Donut Icing
Make donut icing while Biscuit Donuts are air frying. Dip warm donuts in icing as soon as you are able to reasonably handle donuts without burning hands.Optional Donut Icing Ideas
Cinnamon and Sugar: Combine ½ cup granulated sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and combine. Brush baked donuts with melted butter and roll into cinnamon sugar mixture. Chocolate Icing: Combine 1 cup Powdered Sugar with 2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder. Add ½ teaspoon vanilla extract and drizzle 1-2 tablespoons milk until desired consistency is reached. Dip donuts into Chocolate Icing and place on cooling rack.Nutrition Disclaimer
All nutrition values are approximate and calculated by a plugin and are provided as a courtesy. Adding or subtracting ingredients will change the nutritional value.
Inger
Well how perfect for those of us who have donut cravings!
Devour Dinner
So quick and tasty!
Cathi Vanderwell
I thought I heard you say on your video to use Grands Southern Biscuit, but the type is not mentioned in the ingredient list of the recipe. I saw a picture on your recipe and it showed Grands Flaky.
Devour Dinner
Hi Cathi,
You can use either. But I do prefer the southern style Grands.