Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Donuts (Print-Friendly)

Fluffy biscuit dough donuts air-fried golden, coated in sweet cinnamon sugar. Quick and irresistible in 18 minutes!

# What You'll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 1 can (16 oz) refrigerated biscuit dough (8 biscuits)

→ Coating

02 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
03 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 tbsp ground cinnamon

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 350°F for 3 minutes.
02 - Remove the biscuits from the can. Using a small round cutter or bottle cap, cut out the center of each biscuit to form a donut shape; reserve the centers for donut holes if desired.
03 - Lightly spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray.
04 - Arrange the donut shapes in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not touch. You may need to cook in batches.
05 - Air fry for 5–6 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden brown and puffed.
06 - While the donuts are cooking, mix the sugar and cinnamon together in a shallow bowl.
07 - Immediately after air frying, brush each donut with melted butter, then toss in the cinnamon sugar mixture until fully coated.
08 - Repeat with remaining dough and centers for donut holes, reducing cook time for holes to about 3–4 minutes.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • These donuts come together in under 20 minutes with ingredients you probably already have, perfect for those unexpected sweet tooth emergencies.
  • The air fryer creates a magical texture—crisp exterior with a pillowy center that tastes indulgent but uses significantly less oil than traditional frying.
02 -
  • Do not overcrowd your air fryer basket or the donuts will steam instead of getting that crisp exterior—better to work in batches than ruin the texture.
  • The donuts continue cooking slightly after removal, so take them out when they're golden rather than deep brown or they might dry out.
03 -
  • Spray the air fryer basket with oil instead of parchment paper for the best browning—I learned this after several batches with pale bottoms.
  • Let the butter cool slightly before brushing on the donuts, as extremely hot butter can make the coating soggy rather than perfectly crystallized.
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