Transforming refrigerated Grands biscuits into irresistible donuts in your Ninja Foodi air fryer is a game-changer! These fluffy, sweet treats require less than 10 minutes to “bake” without the mess and added fat of deep oil frying. If you’re craving more delightful mini-donuts, you can also whip up a batch of powdered sugar donut holes with ease.

Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts: Your New Favorite Quick Treat

Welcome to the ultimate guide for making delicious donuts right in your air fryer! We’ll walk you through the process of creating these delightful treats, highlighting the benefits of air frying over traditional deep-frying. For health-conscious individuals or those who simply prefer a cleaner taste, air frying significantly reduces calories and fat. Personally, I avoid submerging food in oil whenever possible; it’s not only better for cholesterol but also eliminates that distinct oily aftertaste often associated with fried foods.

Beyond the classic biscuit donut, we’ve also experimented with other air fryer delights, such as air fryer apple fritters. While fritters typically involve a homemade batter and slightly more prep time, the actual air frying process is quite similar. We encourage you to try both recipes and discover your personal favorite!

Creating Biscuit Donut Holes and More in Your Air Fryer

For this recipe, we’ll focus on shaping our biscuit donuts with a classic hole in the center. However, you have creative freedom! You could also break the biscuit dough into smaller pieces, roll them into balls, and cook them as delightful donut holes. If you prefer the traditional fried method, you can certainly do that too. For frying, I recommend using a cast iron pan with a thermometer. Aim for an optimal oil temperature of 350°F (175°C) to ensure your donuts achieve a beautiful golden crispness.

What are the Best Canned Biscuits for Donuts?

When it comes to canned biscuits, Pillsbury Grands consistently take the top spot for donut making. Their generous size and flaky texture are ideal for achieving that perfect donut feel. Annie’s organic flaky biscuit variety is also an excellent choice. Both options are typically found in the refrigerated section of your grocery store, usually near the milk and dairy products.

What Kind of Oil Do You Use for Donuts (If Frying)?

If you opt for frying your biscuit donuts, a decent amount of canola oil is your best bet. Canola oil boasts a high smoke point and a neutral flavor, which prevents it from overpowering the taste of your donuts. Vegetable oil is another suitable alternative with similar properties.

Elevating Canned Biscuits: Beyond the Basic Donut

Canned biscuits are incredibly versatile, and we’ve explored many creative ways to enhance them! We’ve transformed them into delicious peanut butter and jelly donuts and even a delectable refrigerated biscuit pull-apart bread. The possibilities truly are endless.

For the best donut experience, always choose the larger “Grands” style biscuits over smaller versions. These yield a much fluffier texture and a size comparable to what you’d expect from your favorite donut shops like Krispy Kreme or Dunkin’ Donuts. As for toppings, the world truly is your oyster! Let your imagination run wild and get creative with your selections.

Creative Variations: Can You Use Refrigerated Cinnamon Rolls for Donut Bites?

Absolutely! If you’re looking to make smaller “donut bites,” refrigerated cinnamon rolls are a fantastic alternative. Simply cut each cinnamon roll into quarters and air fry them. However, for the classic donut shape and that signature flaky, buttery taste we all love, Grands biscuits remain the ideal choice. I fondly remember making these with my Girl Scout troop years ago—they were always a hit because they were easy to teach, fun to make, and super affordable.

These easy biscuit donuts bring back a flood of wonderful memories for me, and I’m sure they’ll create new ones for you. If you haven’t tried them before, you’re in for a delightful treat! While you can certainly use homemade dough, like for our Biscuit Donut Holes, this semi-homemade method is much simpler and quicker. They make a perfect addition to any Christmas brunch menu or a special Sunday breakfast.

Below, you’ll find simple, step-by-step directions to create these amazing donuts, followed by a printable recipe card for your convenience.

How to Make Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts

1. Prepare the Dough: Begin by separating the buttermilk biscuit dough pieces from the package. Lay them flat on a cutting board. Use an apple corer or a small round cookie cutter to create a hole in the center of each biscuit, giving them that classic donut shape.
2. Preheat Your Appliance: Preheat your air fryer to 330°F (165°C). If you choose to deep-fry, heat 2 inches of canola or vegetable oil in a large skillet until it reaches 350°F (175°C). For air frying, lightly spray the air fryer basket with a non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
3. Cook the Donuts: Carefully place 3-4 biscuit donuts into the preheated air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer and not overcrowded. Close the basket and cook at 330°F (165°C) for 4-7 minutes, or until the outsides are beautifully golden brown and the donuts are cooked through. If deep-frying, gently drop them into the hot oil and flip after about 2 minutes, cooking until both sides are golden brown.
4. Cool: Once cooked, remove the donuts from the air fryer or oil and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to cool slightly for about 5 minutes. This helps absorb any excess oil and allows them to firm up slightly.
5. Add Toppings: While still warm, brush melted butter generously over the top of each donut. Flip them over and dip into a shallow bowl of cinnamon and sugar mixture (or just fine granulated sugar) to ensure an even coating. Alternatively, you can melt a tub of your favorite frosting or use Wilton melts for a delicious chocolate coating.

These semi-homemade donuts are simply incredible! Your kids will love helping you prepare them, and they’ll have a blast customizing their donuts with a variety of fun toppings.

Mastering the Art of Dipping Donuts

Whether you’re aiming for a simple sugar coating, a decadent melted chocolate glaze, or a classic vanilla frosting, the dipping method remains consistent. Hold the donut upside down gently with three fingers. Carefully dip the top into your chosen donut frosting or glaze. Give it a slight twist as you lift it to ensure an even coating, then turn it right side up. Place the dipped donuts on a wire rack to allow any excess glaze to drip off and for the topping to set or stiffen. Once you have a buttery, sticky glaze or frosting base, the possibilities for additional toppings are truly limitless!

Endless Topping Ideas for Your Homemade Donuts:

Get creative with your donut creations! Here are some popular and exciting topping ideas:

1. Crushed Peanuts: For a satisfying crunch and nutty flavor.
2. Colorful Sprinkles: A classic choice for a festive look and fun texture.
3. Gummy Bears: For a playful, fruity, and chewy surprise.
4. Mini Chocolate Chips: Melty goodness for chocolate lovers.
5. Powdered Sugar: A simple, elegant, and timeless classic.
6. Nerds: For a tangy, fruity twist and an exciting texture.
7. Cinnamon Sugar Mixture: A warm, comforting, and perfectly balanced sweet spice blend.

To make dipping and decorating easier, use small bowls for each topping.

Pillsbury Biscuit Donuts: Air Fried Perfection

Now that you’ve seen how simple it is, the only decision left is how you’ll cook these fantastic Pillsbury biscuit donuts. As mentioned, I’m a firm advocate for air frying. I genuinely dislike the lingering aftertaste that comes from deep-frying oil, and it adds unnecessary fat to what can be a delightful, guilt-free treat. Air frying offers a crispy exterior and fluffy interior without any of those drawbacks, making it my go-to method every time.

Other Easy Breakfast Recipes You’ll Love

1. We also used refrigerated biscuits to create this incredible cinnamon pull-apart bread. With tender apples baked inside, it’s absolutely amazing.
2. For another fruity, pull-apart delight, our fresh apple monkey bread is simply fabulous.
3. If you simply need quick directions for baking air fryer frozen biscuits, we have detailed instructions for that as well.