Save to Pinterest Last Sunday morning I woke up craving something sweet but refused to spend hours in the kitchen. These air fryer donuts saved the day. The whole house smelled like cinnamon in minutes.
My teenage nephew walked in right as I was coating the first batch in cinnamon sugar. His eyes lit up when he realized Id made donuts from scratch. Now he requests them every time he visits.
Ingredients
- Refrigerated biscuit dough: The secret weapon for instant donuts that taste homemade
- Nonstick cooking spray: Prevents sticking without adding excess oil
- Granulated sugar: Creates that classic crunch on the outside
- Ground cinnamon: Use fresh cinnamon for the best aroma
- Unsalted butter: Helps the cinnamon sugar adhere beautifully
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer:
- Set your air fryer to 350°F and let it run for 3 minutes empty
- Shape the donuts:
- Press a small cutter through each biscuit center and save those holes for bonus treats
- Prepare the basket:
- Mist the air fryer basket lightly so nothing sticks during cooking
- Air fry to golden:
- Cook for 3 to 4 minutes then flip halfway until puffed and golden brown
- Mix the coating:
- Whisk together sugar and cinnamon in a wide shallow bowl while donuts cook
- Coat immediately:
- Brush warm donuts with butter then toss them in cinnamon sugar right away
- Share warm:
- These taste best fresh from the air fryer while still slightly warm
Save to Pinterest These became my go to for snow days when we want comfort food without the effort. Theres something magical about watching them puff up through the air fryer window.
Glaze Options
Sometimes I skip the cinnamon sugar entirely and make a vanilla glaze instead. Mix powdered sugar with a splash of milk and vanilla until smooth then drizzle it over the cooled donuts. The glaze sets into a beautiful thin coating that kids especially love.
Flavor Variations
Try rolling warm donuts in powdered sugar for a classic cake donut vibe. Cocoa powder mixed with a little sugar creates a chocolate version. You can also add nutmeg to the cinnamon mixture for a spiced twist.
Serving Suggestions
These disappear fastest when served with coffee or hot chocolate. The contrast between warm donuts and cold milk is perfection.
- Set up a donut bar with different coatings for parties
- Serve immediately after coating for the best texture
- Make extra because people always want seconds
Save to Pinterest Who knew donuts could be this simple. Keep a can of biscuit dough in your fridge and youre never more than 10 minutes from fresh donuts.
Recipe FAQs
- → What type of dough is used for these donuts?
Refrigerated biscuit dough is used, which puffs up nicely and cooks quickly in the air fryer.
- → How do I shape the donuts before cooking?
Use a small round cutter to punch out a hole in the center of each biscuit to form the classic donut shape.
- → Can I use a different cooking method instead of an air fryer?
While this method is optimized for air frying, these donuts can also be baked or fried traditionally but cooking times may vary.
- → How is the cinnamon sugar coating applied?
After air frying, brush the warm donuts with melted butter, then toss them in a mixture of granulated sugar and ground cinnamon for full coverage.
- → Can these donuts be stored for later?
They are best enjoyed fresh and warm but can be kept in an airtight container for up to one day to preserve texture.