Ditch the baker and try these Easy Canned Biscuit Donuts that are ready in minutes!
You won't believe how fluffy and delicious these homemade donuts are, made with just THREE ingredients including a can of biscuits. No yeast, no fuss, just pure donut bliss in a flash!
You probably have everything you need to make them! Air Fryer directions included as well as the traditional frying instructions.
Check out all the other Refrigerated Biscuit Dough Recipes available to transform your pantry staple into quick, delicious meals!
Who doesn't love a warm, fresh donut? But let's face it, homemade donuts can be intimidating. The kneading, the rising, the frying... it all seems like a lot of work.
But what if I told you that you could have bakery-style donuts ready in minutes, using just a can of biscuits and a few simple ingredients?
I couldn't believe how incredibly easy these canned biscuit donuts are to make. Even better news...they bake up fast too!
You'll be enjoy semi-homemade powdered sugar donuts in minutes when you follow this recipe I'm sharing with you today.
Table of Contents
Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts
You can make these the traditional way, deep fried in vegetable oil or you can make them in an air fryer which will help you save a few calories on this recipe:
- Place 4 biscuit donuts in a single layer in the preheated 350 degree air fryer.
- Cook for about 3 minutes and then flip the donuts and continue to cook another 3 minutes or until the donuts are golden-brown.
- Remove the donuts to a baking cooling rack and then sprinkle with powder sugar.
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📋Ingredients
Here's a quick overview of the ingredients for this recipe. Find the exact amounts and click the Instacart button to easily add them to your cart – all in the printable recipe card below!
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Cinnamon Sugar: Dip the donuts in melted butter and then in a combination of cinnamon sugar.
- Canned Frosting: Warm the frosting in the microwave for 15 seconds and then drizzle on top of the baked donuts.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Pour about two inches of oil into a cast iron pan or sturdy skillet and place it over medium heat to start warming up. While the oil heats, open your can of biscuits and separate them onto a clean surface.
Step 2: Grab a small round cookie cutter (or even a bottle cap!) and carefully cut a hole out of the center of each biscuit. Don't discard those little holes – they'll make delicious donut holes!
- 12 PIECES ROUND CUTTER SETS - 12 Pieces different size stainless steel circle cutters,with the largest measuring a great 4.4” (11.3cm) and the smallest a miniature 1” (2.6cm), you’ll find a cutter for every dish.Come complete with a tin storage box to reduce clutter in your kitchen drawer.
How to Fry Biscuit Donuts
Step 3: Carefully add the donuts to the hot oil in batches of four, cooking each side for about two minutes, or until golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to transfer them to a paper towel-lined baking cooling rack to drain.
Step 4: Use a slotted spoon to transfer them to a paper towel-lined baking cooling rack to drain.
Top Tip
Don't forget to cook the centers of the biscuits too! Check out my post on Homemade Donut Holes with Biscuits for an easy recipe.
Sprinkle with Powdered Sugar
Step 5: Add the powdered sugar to a small sifter or fine-mesh strainer.
Step 6: Hold the sifter over each donut and gently tap the sides to create a beautiful, even coating of powdered sugar. For an extra touch of sweetness, flip the donuts over and repeat the process on the other side.
Before You Begin!
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Recipe FAQ's
Could I dip the donuts in melted chocolate?
Dip the slightly cooled biscuit donuts in melted chocolate. You can also warm up canned frosting in the microwave for 15 seconds and then drizzle that over the freshly cooked donuts.
What is the best oil to fry in?
For this recipe I used vegetable oil to fry the donuts. In fact, I use vegetable oil for most of my recipes. Vegetable Oil heats up fast and made the donuts really crispy on the outside which is just what you want for this recipe.
Storage, Freezing and Reheating Tips
Refrigerator: Place any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. They will typically stay fresh for 1-2 days.
Freezer: Allow the donuts to cool completely before wrapping each one individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Place the wrapped donuts in a freezer-safe bag, squeezing out as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. They can be frozen for up to 2 months.
Reheating Tips: Thaw the donuts overnight in the refrigerator and warm them up in a 300°F oven for a few minutes, or in the microwave on low power for a few seconds until they're heated through. They'll be just as soft and fluffy as the day you made them!
📖 Recipe Card
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Biscuit Donuts
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 can biscuit dough; 16.3 ounce size
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- Oil for frying; about 1 to 2 cups
Instructions
- Fill a pan with two inches of oil and heat over medium heat.
- While the oil is heating, remove the biscuits from the can.
- Use a small round cookie cutter to cut holes from the center of each biscuit.
- Place the donuts in the hot oil in groups of four. Cook one side for two minutes, or until you see them turning slightly brown. Then flip each donut and cook for an additional one to two minutes; or until they're golden brown.
- Remove the cooked donuts from the oil to a baking cooling rack.
- After a few minutes, sprinkle the tops with powdered sugar.
- Flip each donut over and coat the bottom with powdered sugar.
- Continue cooking the remaining biscuit donuts and topping with sugar until all the biscuits are cooked.
- Cook the centers of each biscuit in the hot oil to make donut holes.
- Cook each donut hole for one minute on each side, then remove from the oil and top with powdered sugar.
Debbie says
My mom made these for us when we were kids. You can also coat them with cinnamon sugar instead of powdered sugar. They are good both ways. 😋
Lois says
Thank you for visiting. I think cinnamon/sugar would be great as well!
Donna @ Modern on Monticello says
This reminds me of childhood and camping memories. My mom used to make these for us when I was growing up and I remember just how delicious they were. Thanks for the reminder and I have pinned these to try out when my son comes to visit next month. Thanks for sharing again with us at #HomeMattersParty
T'onna | Sew Crafty Crochet says
Oh my! These donuts look perfect and delicious! I want some! I'm pinning this because I will definitely make some donuts soon! Thanks so much for sharing at the Snickerdoodle Create Bake Make Link Party!!!
Allyson says
Definitely pinning this one! I haven't had a doughnut in so long and I like them crispy.