These easy Air Fryer Donut Holes taste and look just like the real deal. Except they're baked, not fried. Just 4 ingredients and ready in 15 minutes! This recipe has 2 flavor options: cinnamon sugar and jelly filled donut holes. A hit with the whole family. (Vegan option).
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These easy Air Fryer Donut Holes with cinnamon sugar are the perfect sweet treat. They use store-bought biscuit dough. So, they're fast to make—just 15 minutes! And you have the option of making jelly-filled donut holes too.
We've made this recipe many times to ensure it's perfect. We tested different types of dough (spoiler alert: pizza dough isn't great), different methods, and different types of air fryers. Find more details in the post and recipe card below.
For other easy dessert recipes, check out: Easy Zucchini Muffins, Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies, and Vegan Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- Easy: Only 4 ingredients and 15 minutes to make. Faster than driving to a donut shop!
- Looks and tastes like the real thing: These donut holes are baked, not deep fried. But you'd never guess it! You'll be surprised by how these look exactly like classic donut holes, especially when rolled into balls and dipped in cinnamon sugar.
- Two flavor options: You can even make 2 flavors in one batch! Toss everything in cinnamon sugar, then choose whether you want to fill some with jam or not.
- Easily made vegan: This recipe can be made vegan and dairy-free without anyone guessing! Most store-bought biscuit doughs are already "accidentally" vegan. Then, all you need to do is choose a vegan butter for melting.
- Thoroughly tested: We made a lot of donut holes to perfect this recipe. We tested different types of store-bought biscuit dough, other dough substitutes, and different air fryer models and methods. The recipe card gives you all the tips to get perfect air fryer donut holes in your own kitchen!
Recipe video
Watch a step-by-step video and learn how to make this recipe!
Ingredients (and substitutes)
You only need 4 ingredients for cinnamon sugar donut holes. Or, 5 ingredients if you want jelly filled donut holes. Here's what you need:
- Biscuit Dough: Store-bought dough makes this recipe quick and easy. In the air fryer, the dough becomes golden on the outside and pillowy soft on the inside. Use a can of regular-sized biscuits (typically 10 per can). We tested Pillsbury Southern style ("Country style") and Flaky Layers biscuit dough...but anything similar would work.
- Butter: Melted butter adds flavor and helps the cinnamon sugar stick to the donut holes. We recommend salted butter, but unsalted works too. Much like in our Nutella Palmiers recipe, a bit of salt helps balance out the sugar. You can substitute a vegan butter instead.
- Jam (optional): If you want to make jelly filled donut holes, then you'll need jam. Strawberry or raspberry jam are classic flavors. But, you could use a different flavor if you prefer. Make sure the jam doesn't have big chunks of fruit in it, otherwise it can clog the pastry tip when you are filling the donut holes.
Want to make this recipe vegan? Most store-bought biscuit dough is already vegan because they use vegetable oils instead of butter. But check the label to confirm. Then, all you need to do is use vegan butter for brushing.
Find the recipe card below for the complete recipe, including all ingredients and instructions.
How to make (step-by-step photos)
These delicious air fryer donut holes are ready in 15 minutes! Here's how to make them:
Find the recipe card below for the complete recipe, including all ingredients and instructions.
Tips
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer: Arrange the dough so there's enough space for the balls to double in size. They'll puff up in the air fryer. And, it's important the hot air can circulate around them so they bake evenly.
- Adjust if using a toaster-oven air fryer: In our testing rounds, a few donut holes stuck to the wire trays used by toaster oven air fryers. (This didn't happen in the nonstick basket-style air fryers). Brushing the bottoms with melted butter helped a bit; and spraying the trays with oil worked better. But, the best results came from lining the tray with parchment paper and flipping half-way through.
- Brush generously with butter after baking: Deep fried donuts are cooked in oil, and the excess oil helps the sugar stick. Since our donut holes are baked (not fried!), it's important to generously brush them with melted butter after baking. This ensures the cinnamon sugar sticks as an even coating.
- Best enjoyed warm: These donuts are best enjoyed fresh and hot from the oven! But, you'll also be happy to know they can be easily reheated. Store at room-temperature. Then, just reheat in the air fryer at 250°F (120°C) for a couple minutes.
- If making jelly filled donuts: Choose a jam that doesn't have chunks of fruit in it. Otherwise, it might clog the tip when you're trying to fill the donuts.
- Don't substitute pizza dough: We tested this recipe with pizza dough but weren't impressed. In the air fryer, the dough got really brown and firm on the outside...before the inside baked through. So, it didn't really resemble the texture or taste you'd expect in a donut hole.
Other easy air fryer recipes:
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Donut Holes (2 ways)
These easy Air Fryer Donut Holes taste and look just like the real deal. Except they're baked, not fried. Just 4 ingredients and ready in 15 minutes! This recipe has 2 flavor options: cinnamon sugar and jelly filled donut holes. A hit with the whole family. (Vegan option).
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 oz refrigerated biscuit dough (see note 1)
- 6 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1¼ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons melted butter (see note 2)
- Strawberry or Raspberry Jam (optional, see note 3)
Instructions
- Shape dough: Separate 12 oz refrigerated biscuit dough into pre-cut biscuit pieces. Cut each biscuit in half. (A typical can makes 10 regular sized biscuits, which will become 20 donut holes). Use your hands to pinch and roll the dough into a smooth ball.
- Bake in air fryer (see note 4): If using basket-style air fryer: Arrange balls in an air fryer basket, with enough space for each to double in size. (Bake in batches if needed). Without pre-heating, air fry at 325℉ (165℃) until golden-brown, about 8 minutes. (Cook times vary by brand, watch carefully so they don't burn). If using a toaster-oven air fryer: Line tray with parchment paper. Arrange balls with enough space for each to double in size. (Bake in batches if needed). Without pre-heating, air fry on the lowest rack at 325℉ (165℃) until golden-brown on top, about 4 minutes. Flip balls and air fry until golden-brown all over, about another 4 minutes. (Cook times vary by brand, watch carefully so they don't burn).
- Mix cinnamon sugar: In a shallow bowl, whisk together 6 tablespoons granulated sugar and 1¼ teaspoons ground cinnamon.
- Coat: Brush 3 tablespoons melted butter all over the hot donut holes. Then, toss in cinnamon sugar until evenly coated. Serve hot.
- Optional—Fill donuts: For jelly filled donuts, add Strawberry or Raspberry Jam to a piping bag fitted with a plain piping tip. After donut holes are tossed in cinnamon sugar, insert piping tip into the donut and gently squeeze jam inside.
Notes
- Biscuit dough: Use a can of refrigerated ready-to-bake biscuit dough. A 12-oz (340g) can usually makes 10 regular-sized biscuits. We tested this recipe with Pillsbury Southern Homestyle (Country Style) and Flaky Layers. But a similar biscuit dough should work.
- Butter: Salted butter recommended, but unsalted butter works too. If you're using unsalted butter, you can add a pinch of salt to replicate salted butter—but this is optional.
- Jam: We recommend strawberry or raspberry jam, but use your favorite flavor for jelly-filled donuts. Make sure the jam is smooth (no chunks of fruit), otherwise it might clog the pastry tip.
- Different air fryer styles: In testing, our basket style air fryer produced different results than our toaster oven air fryer. So, this recipe lays out separate instructions for each—so you get the best results! Toaster oven air fryers are larger so they tend to cook less evenly. And, the wire rack sometimes caused a couple of the donut holes to stick (even after brushing dough with oil or spraying the tray directly). So, if using an oven-style air fryer, line the tray with parchment and flip the balls half-way through baking so they brown on both sides. And, place the tray on the lowest rack (farthest away from heat source) to prevent burning. If using an basket-style air fryer, these extra steps aren't needed.
- Storage and reheating tips: Best enjoyed fresh and hot. Can be stored in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 days at room-temperature. Reheat cinnamon sugar donut holes in an air fryer at 250℉ (120℃) for 2 to 4 minutes. (We don't recommend re-heating jelly filled donuts because the jam might leak in the air fryer and make a mess. Instead, fill with jam just before eating).
Nutrition
Calories: 86kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 172mg | Potassium: 39mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 44IU | Vitamin C: 0.004mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Let us know by leaving a rating below and tag us @evergreenkitchen on instagram!
Joanne K says
Made these this morning with my toddler. He loved them! We made the cinnamon sugar kind. I used less cinnamon (3/4 tsp) because I was worried it would be too much for him. If I was making just for me, I would have used what the recipe said. Will make again!
bri says
Hi Joanne! Yay, so glad your kiddo enjoyed these! Thanks so much for sharing:)