A can of flaky biscuit dough and 5 minutes in the air fryer is the whole trick here. You get 8 doughnuts plus the little holes, and no pot of hot oil to deal with.
Set your air fryer to 350°F and know its wattage before you start. A 1500-watt basket model runs hotter than a smaller 1000-watt one, so the first batch is your test run. Mine came out a touch dark on the first try, and pulling the next batch 30 seconds early fixed it.
You finish them three ways: a thin vanilla glaze, cinnamon sugar, or melted chocolate with sprinkles. Pick one or do all three. The doughnuts are best within a few minutes of coming out, while the outside still has a little crisp.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Heat the air fryer
Set it to 350°F and let it preheat. A hot basket gives you a better crust on the outside.
2. Cut the centers
Separate the biscuits and lay them flat. Press the wide end of a large piping tip straight down through the middle of each one to punch out a hole. Wiggle it a little and lift. You now have rings and holes.
3. Spray the basket
Give the basket a light, even coat of nonstick spray. Don't skip the edges where the dough touches.
4. Fry in batches
Arrange 3 or 4 doughnuts in a single layer with space between them and cook for 5 minutes, until golden brown. Cook the holes separately, since they finish faster.
5. Mix the vanilla glaze
Whisk the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk in a small bowl until smooth. It should coat the back of a spoon.
6. Stir the cinnamon sugar
Combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon in another small bowl.
7. Melt the chocolate
Put the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a bowl and microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each one, until smooth.
8. Finish and serve
Dip the warm doughnuts in the vanilla glaze, roll them in the cinnamon sugar, or coat them in chocolate and add sprinkles. Eat them while they're warm.
Pro Tips
How to Store Air Fryer Doughnuts
Refrigerator
Keep leftovers in a sealed container at room temperature for a day, or in the fridge for up to 3 days. They firm up either way.
Freezer
Freeze plain, unglazed doughnuts in a bag for up to 2 months. Glazed ones get sticky, so add the glaze after reheating.
Reheating
Warm them at 320°F for 2 to 3 minutes to bring back some crisp. A microwave makes them soft and rubbery.
Variations
Cinnamon sugar only
Skip both glazes and roll every doughnut in the sugar mix while hot.
Chocolate drizzle
Thin the melted chocolate with an extra teaspoon of coconut oil and drizzle it over glazed doughnuts instead of dipping.
Powdered sugar finish
Dust plain doughnuts with powdered sugar for the lightest option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use a different kind of biscuit dough?
Flaky biscuit dough works best because it puffs and separates into layers. Crescent roll dough is too thin and butter-flavored grands taste rich already, so the glaze gets lost.
Q: Why did my doughnuts come out too brown?
Your air fryer runs hotter than mine. Every model is different. Try 340°F and check at 4 minutes, then adjust from there.
Q: Do I have to cut the holes out?
No. You can cook the biscuits whole as round doughnuts. They take about the same time, though the middle stays a bit denser.
Q: How do I know when they're done?
The outside should be golden brown and the dough should feel set when you press the side gently. If it still feels soft and doughy, give it another minute.
Q: Can I make these in the oven instead?
Yes. Bake at 350°F on a greased sheet for about 10 to 12 minutes. They come out a little drier than the air fryer version and don't brown as evenly.
Air Fryer Doughnuts: 45-Minute Biscuit Dough Recipe
Canned biscuit dough becomes warm air fryer doughnuts in 5 minutes, finished three ways: vanilla glaze, cinnamon sugar, or chocolate with sprinkles.
Ingredients
Instructions
- 1Heat the air fryer — Set it to 350°F and let it preheat. A hot basket gives you a better crust on the outside.
- 2Cut the centers — Separate the biscuits and lay them flat. Press the wide end of a large piping tip straight down through the middle of each one to punch out a hole. Wiggle it a little and lift. You now have rings and holes.
- 3Spray the basket — Give the basket a light, even coat of nonstick spray. Don't skip the edges where the dough touches.
- 4Fry in batches — Arrange 3 or 4 doughnuts in a single layer with space between them and cook for 5 minutes, until golden brown. Cook the holes separately, since they finish faster.
- 5Mix the vanilla glaze — Whisk the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk in a small bowl until smooth. It should coat the back of a spoon.
- 6Stir the cinnamon sugar — Combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon in another small bowl.
- 7Melt the chocolate — Put the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a bowl and microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each one, until smooth.
- 8Finish and serve — Dip the warm doughnuts in the vanilla glaze, roll them in the cinnamon sugar, or coat them in chocolate and add sprinkles. Eat them while they're warm.
Darnell covers air fryer recipes and slow cook meals, with a steady side of eggs and breakfast casseroles for people cooking on a tight schedule. He writes in a blunt, test-it-again voice and flags the mistakes that ruin texture, from soggy fries to rubbery eggs. Every post gives timings, temperatures, and a fallback if your machine runs hot.
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