Introduction

Okay, confession time: sometimes, you just NEED a warm, sugary donut, right? But who has the time (or the energy!) to mess with yeast, proofing, and vats of hot oil? Not me, most days! That’s where this magical little recipe comes in. These Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts are SO ridiculously simple, you might just make them every weekend. They bring all the cozy comfort of a homemade donut without any of the fuss. Get ready to have your mind (and your taste buds) blown!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Fast: Seriously, we’re talking under 10 minutes from start to finish. Faster than a trip to the donut shop!
Easy: If you can open a can of biscuits and push buttons on your air fryer, you can make these. No fancy skills required.
Giftable: Pack these warm little bites in a cute box or bag for a sweet surprise that everyone will adore.
Crowd-pleasing: Who doesn’t love warm, cinnamony donut holes? They disappear in seconds!

Ingredients

You only need a handful of simple ingredients for this little bit of heaven:

1 package biscuit dough: Grab your favorite kind! The flaky layers or the southern style both work great.
2 tablespoons vegetable oil: Just a little bit to help them crisp up and get that lovely golden color in the air fryer.
2 tablespoons butter, melted: This is our “glue” for the delicious sugar-cinnamon coating.
½ cup sugar: The classic sweet base for our coating. Granulated sugar is perfect here.
1 tablespoon cinnamon: The warm, cozy spice that makes these taste like pure comfort. Adjust to your cinnamon loving heart’s content!

How to Make It

Alright, let’s get cooking! This is seriously the easiest part.

First things first, open up that can of biscuit dough. Separate the biscuits and then cut each one into bite-sized pieces. You can do quarters, or even smaller if you want little donut holes! I find kitchen scissors work great for this, or just a knife on a cutting board.
Grab a medium bowl. Toss those little biscuit pieces in the bowl and drizzle the vegetable oil over them. Gently toss everything together until each piece is lightly coated. This helps them get crispy in the air fryer and not stick.
Now, arrange the coated dough pieces in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Make sure they aren’t touching too much – this lets the hot air circulate and cook them evenly. You’ll likely need to cook these in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
Set your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Cook for 4-6 minutes, or until they are beautifully golden brown and cooked through the center. Don’t forget to give the basket a shake or flip the pieces halfway through the cooking time for even browning!
While your first batch is frying (or while the last batch is finishing up), get your coating ready. Melt the butter in one small bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar and cinnamon until they’re well combined.
As soon as a batch of donuts comes out of the air fryer, while they’re still piping hot, immediately dip each piece into the melted butter using a fork or tongs, letting any excess drip off.
Right after the butter bath, drop the warm, buttery pieces into the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Toss them around gently until they are completely coated in that sweet, spicy goodness.
Serve them warm right away! They are absolutely best enjoyed fresh out of the air fryer and coated. Repeat with the remaining batches of biscuit pieces.

Substitutions & Additions

This recipe is a fantastic blank canvas! Here are some ways to switch things up:

Different Oil: Olive oil or melted coconut oil could also work instead of vegetable oil for coating.
Powdered Sugar: Skip the cinnamon sugar and toss the warm, butter-dipped donuts in powdered sugar instead for a classic “powdered sugar donut hole” vibe.
Simple Glaze: Whisk together powdered sugar with a little milk (or even lemon juice!) until you get a pourable glaze. Dip or drizzle the warm donuts instead of tossing in sugar.
Chocolate Dip: Melt some chocolate chips or chopped chocolate with a tiny bit of coconut oil and dip the warm donuts for a chocolatey treat.
Add Spice: A pinch of nutmeg or cardamom can add another layer of warm spice to the cinnamon sugar.

Tips for Success

Keep these in mind for perfect biscuit donuts every time:

Don’t Overcrowd: This is key in air frying! Give the dough pieces space in the basket so they crisp up rather than steam. Cook in batches!
Watch Closely: Air fryers vary! Keep an eye on them the first time you make them, as they can go from golden to burnt quickly.
Coat Immediately: The butter and sugar stick best when the donuts are hot right out of the air fryer.
Biscuit Size Matters: Cutting the biscuits into smaller pieces means quicker cooking time. Adjust timing based on your piece size.

How to Store It

Honestly? These are SO good warm, you probably won’t have many leftovers! But if you do, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for a day or two. They might lose a little crispness, but they’ll still be tasty. I recommend popping them back in the air fryer for a minute or two at 350°F (175°C) to warm up and crisp slightly before eating.

FAQs

Can I use flaky layers biscuits? Yes! Any standard canned biscuit dough should work. The texture might vary slightly depending on the type.
Can I bake these instead of air frying? Absolutely! Place the oiled pieces on a baking sheet and bake according to biscuit package directions, likely 10-15 minutes at 350-375°F (175-190°C), until golden brown and cooked through.
Can I make the dough pieces ahead of time? You could cut the dough, but it’s best to toss them in oil and air fry immediately for the best texture. It really only takes a minute to cut them!

Crazy Easy Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts

Make quick, easy, and delicious homemade donuts using canned biscuit dough and your air fryer. Ready in minutes!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 5

Equipment

Air Fryer
Medium bowl
Small bowl You will need two small bowls.
Fork or Tongs
Kitchen scissors or knife For cutting biscuit dough

Ingredients

1 package biscuit dough your favorite kind
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons butter melted
0.5 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Instructions

Open up that can of biscuit dough. Separate the biscuits and then cut each one into bite-sized pieces. You can do quarters, or even smaller if you want little donut holes! I find kitchen scissors work great for this, or just a knife on a cutting board.
Grab a medium bowl. Toss those little biscuit pieces in the bowl and drizzle the vegetable oil over them. Gently toss everything together until each piece is lightly coated. This helps them get crispy in the air fryer and not stick.
Now, arrange the coated dough pieces in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Make sure they aren't touching too much – this lets the hot air circulate and cook them evenly. You'll likely need to cook these in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
Set your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Cook for 4-6 minutes, or until they are beautifully golden brown and cooked through the center. Don't forget to give the basket a shake or flip the pieces halfway through the cooking time for even browning!
While your first batch is frying (or while the last batch is finishing up), get your coating ready. Melt the butter in one small bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar and cinnamon until they're well combined.
As soon as a batch of donuts comes out of the air fryer, while they're still piping hot, immediately dip each piece into the melted butter using a fork or tongs, letting any excess drip off.
Right after the butter bath, drop the warm, buttery pieces into the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Toss them around gently until they are completely coated in that sweet, spicy goodness.
Serve them warm right away! They are absolutely best enjoyed fresh out of the air fryer and coated. Repeat with the remaining batches of biscuit pieces.

Notes

Tips for Success: Don't Overcrowd the air fryer basket – cook in batches for crispness. Watch Closely as air fryers vary and they cook quickly. Coat Immediately after removing from the air fryer for the butter and sugar to stick best. Adjust cook time based on Biscuit Size. Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days. Reheat in the air fryer for a minute or two at 350°F (175°C) to warm and crisp slightly. FAQs: Yes, you can use flaky layers or any standard canned biscuit dough. Yes, you can bake these instead (see article for details). It's best to cut the dough and cook immediately for the best texture.