Homemade donuts are a delicious treat, but they can be time-consuming to make from scratch. Luckily, these Air Fryer Biscuit donuts are a shortcut that will still give you all the flavor and fun of homemade donuts without all the work. All you need is some pre-made biscuit dough and an air fryer.
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Why You’ll Love this Recipe
Air fryer donuts are a delicious and convenient treat that can be enjoyed any time of day. They are quick and easy to make, and can be customized to suit any taste. Whether you prefer them plain or coated in icing, air fryer donuts are sure to satisfy.
Best of all, they can be made with healthy ingredients that are good for you with no deep frying. So why not give air fryer donuts a try today? You won’t be disappointed with this simple recipe which is one of my favorite air fryer recipes.
Air Fryer Biscuit Donut Ingredients
*Ingredient amounts are located in the recipe card at the end of this post.
Pre-made Biscuit Dough: I used Pillsbury, but feel free to use any similar brand.
Oil: A neutral tasting dough like canola or vegetable oil will be used to brush over the dough before air frying.
Powdered Sugar: One of the main ingredients for the donut glaze.
Vanilla Extract: You can use pure vanilla extract, or imitation. You can also use a different extract to mix up the flavor!
Milk: This us used to make the donut glaze. Any type of milk or cream will work.
Instructions:
[1] Preheat your air fryer to 320 degrees Fahrenheit.
[2] Cut each biscuit dough into four pieces using a pizza cutter.
[3] Place the donut bites in a single layer in the air fryer basket, then brush with oil.
[4] Air fry for 3-5 minutes, then shake the basket. Air fry for another 3-5 minutes until golden brown.
[5] Remove from the air fryer and enjoy the delicious donuts!
[6] For the Glaze: Mix the powdered sugar with the milk and vanilla until smooth. Dip the donut bites in the glaze and set aside to dry.
*For a more indulgent treat, you can dip your air fryer donuts in icing or chocolate sauce. Or, if you’re looking for a healthier option, try topping them with fresh fruit or a drizzle of honey.
Making Air Fryer Homemade Donuts from Scratch
If you’re feeling ambitious, you can also make air fryer donuts from scratch. This recipe is a little more involved, but the results are worth it.
From Scratch Air Fryer Donut Ingredients:
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1 egg
Instructions:
- Heat milk in a small saucepan over low heat until it reaches 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a medium bowl, combine the milk, sugar, and yeast. Stir until the yeast is dissolved, then let the mixture sit for 5 minutes
- Add the flour and salt to the bowl, then stir until well combined.
- Pour in the melted butter and egg, and mix until everything is fully incorporated.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp towel, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
- Once the dough has doubled in size, roll it out to 1/2-inch thickness on a floured surface.
- Cut out donut shapes using a biscuit cutter or a glass.
- Place the cutouts on a lightly floured baking sheet, cover with a damp towel, and let rise for another 30 minutes.
- Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Fry the donuts in the air fryer for 3-5 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Remove from the air fryer and enjoy!
As you can see, making air fryer donuts from scratch is a bit of a process. But the results are truly delicious, and well worth the effort. So why not give it a try? You might be surprised at how easy and tasty air fryer donuts can be.
How to Air Fry Donut Holes
Doughnut holes are just as easy to make as regular air fryer donuts. In fact, they might even be easier, since there’s no need to cut out shapes. Simply roll the dough into balls, brush with oil, and air fry. It’s that simple!
Air fryer donut holes are perfect for a quick snack or a light dessert. And like regular air fryer donuts, they can be coated in icing, chocolate sauce, or any other topping you desire. So why not give them a try? You’ll be glad you did.
Frequently Asked Questions
An air fryer is a small appliance that uses hot air to cook food. It is similar to a convection oven, but it cooks food faster and more evenly.
Air fryer donuts are made by frying dough in hot air. The dough is typically cut into shapes, then air fried for 5-8 minutes.
There are many good air fryers to choose from. Check out different brands and their reviews on Amazon.
Air fryer donuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Yes, air fryer donuts can be frozen. Just place them in a freezer-safe bag or container and they will keep for up to 2 months
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Pizza Cutter
- Cutting Board
- Pastry Brush
- Mixing Bowl
- Whisk
- Cooling Rack
- Parchment Paper
Optional Chocolate Glaze
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions:
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat.
- Stir in the milk and cocoa powder until well combined.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Add the powdered sugar to the mixture and stir until smooth.
- Dip the air fryer donuts into the glaze, then place on a wire rack to cool.
- Enjoy!
Optional Cinnamon Sugar Coating
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions:
- Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
- Dip the air fryer donuts into the delicious cinnamon sugar mixture, then place on a wire cooling rack.
- Enjoy!
How to Cut Donuts
If you want to make your air fryer donuts look like they came from a donut shop, you’ll need to cut them out with a biscuit cutter. Here’s how:
- Roll the dough out onto a floured surface.
- Use a biscuit cutter to cut out donut shapes.
- Place the donuts on an air fryer basket and air fry for 5-8 minutes.
- Remove from the air fryer and enjoy!
With this method, you’ll end up with perfectly shaped air fryer donuts that look just like the ones you’d get at your favorite donut
How to Shape Donuts Without A Donut Cutter
If you don’t have a biscuit cutter, you can still make air fryer donuts. Just follow these simple steps:
- Roll the dough out onto a floured surface.
- Use a knife to cut the dough into small rectangles.
- Place the rectangles on a air fryer basket and air fry for 3-5 minutes.
- Remove from the air fryer and enjoy!
With this method, you’ll end up with air fryer donuts that are a bit rustic in shape, but they’ll still taste just as delicious. So don’t worry if you don’t have a biscuit cutter. You can still make air fryer donuts without one.
How to Make Donut Holes
If you want to make air fryer donut holes, just follow these simple steps:
- Roll the dough out onto a floured surface.
- Use a small cookie cutter or glass to cut out small circles.
- Place the circles in an air fryer basket and air fry for 3-5 minutes.
- Remove from the air fryer and enjoy!
Making air fryer donut holes is a great way to use up any leftover dough. And they’re the perfect size for popping into your mouth. So if you’re looking for a bite-sized treat, air fryer donut holes are the way to go.
Other Donut Glaze Recipes and Toppings:
- Chocolate Glaze: Melt 1/2 cup of chocolate chips with 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir in 1/4 cup of milk until well combined. Remove from the heat and stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Add 1 cup of powdered sugar to the mixture and stir until smooth. Dip the air fryer donuts into the glaze, then place on a wire rack to cool.
- Maple Glaze: Combine 1/4 cup of maple syrup with 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir in 1/4 cup of milk until well combined. Remove from the heat and stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Add 1 cup of powdered sugar to the mixture and stir until smooth. Dip the air fryer donuts into the glaze, then place on a wire rack to cool.
- Cream Cheese Glaze: Combine 4 ounces of cream cheese with 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir in 1/4 cup of milk until well combined. Remove from the heat and stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Add 1 cup of powdered sugar to the mixture and stir until smooth. Dip the air fryer donuts into the glaze, then place on a wire rack to cool.
- Lemon Glaze: Combine 1/4 cup of lemon juice with 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir in 1/4 cup of milk until well combined. Remove from the heat and stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Add 1 cup of powdered sugar to the mixture and stir until smooth. Dip the air fryer donuts into the glaze, then place on a wire rack to cool.
Adding these glazes will surely make your easy air fryer donuts better than the donuts at your favorite donut shop!
How Long are Air Fryer Donuts good for?
Air fryer doughnuts are best enjoyed the day they are made. But if you have leftovers, they will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
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Air Fryer Donut Recipe
Homemade donuts are a delicious treat, but they can be time-consuming to make from scratch. Luckily, these Air Fryer Biscuit donuts are a shortcut that will still give you all the flavor and fun of homemade donuts without all the work. All you need is some pre-made biscuit dough and an air fryer.
Ingredients
Donut Bites
- 1 Can Biscuit Dough
- 2 Tablespoons Oil
Glaze
- 2 Cups Powdered Sugar
- 1/4 Cup Milk
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 320 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cut each biscuit dough into four pieces using a pizza cutter.
- Place the donut bites in a single layer in the air fryer basket, then brush with oil.
- Air fry for 3-5 minutes, then shake the basket. Air fry for another 3-5 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove from the air fryer and enjoy the delicious donuts!
- For the Glaze: Mix the powdered sugar with the milk and vanilla until smooth. Dip the donut bites in the glaze and set aside to dry.
