Air Fryer Jelly-Filled Cinnamon Sugar Biscuit Donuts
Transform refrigerated buttermilk biscuits into warm, pillowy donuts in minutes using an air fryer. Golden exterior coated in cinnamon sugar, brushed with melted butter, and filled with bright strawberry or raspberry jam. Quick weekday breakfast or weekend treat that delivers donut-shop results without deep frying. The air fryer method is faster and less messy than traditional frying while keeping donuts surprisingly light inside.
Ingredients
- 1 can buttermilk biscuits, refrigerated
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 6 tablespoon butter, melted, unsalted
- 6 tablespoon jam, strawberry or raspberry, seedlessNutella1:1chocolate hazelnut
sweeter, richer filling
Instructions
- 1
Arrange buttermilk biscuits on a work surface.
- 2
Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- 3
Place biscuits in basket in single layer.
- 4
Air fry at 350F for 5 to 7 minutes until golden.
- 5
While biscuits cook, combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
- 6
Melt butter in microwave in another small bowl.
- 7
Thin jam in a small bowl if needed for easier injector filling.
- 8
Remove cooked biscuits and immediately roll in melted butter.
- 9
Coat butter-rolled biscuits in cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- 10
Fill each biscuit with jam using injector.
- 11
Serve warm.
Tips
Thin jam with a splash of water if too thick to inject smoothly; consistency matters for even filling without bursting biscuits.
Coat biscuits immediately after air frying while still warm so butter adheres better to cinnamon sugar.
Use a meat injector or cake decorator with small tip for cleaner, fuller filling without overflow.
Good to Know
Store in airtight container at room temperature up to 2 days. Reheat 2 minutes in air fryer at 300F if desired.
Prepare uncooked biscuits with jam injected up to 4 hours ahead; refrigerate on parchment. Air fry from cold, adding 1-2 minutes to time. Mix cinnamon-sugar and melt butter just before cooking.
Serve immediately while warm for best texture and jam flow. Pair with coffee, milk, or hot chocolate for breakfast or brunch.
Common Mistakes
Overcrowd air fryer basket to avoid uneven cooking; air needs circulation around each biscuit.
Skip butter coating to prevent cinnamon sugar from adhering properly.
Overfill with jam to avoid bursting during air frying; inject slowly and stop when resistance increases.
Use chilled biscuits straight from fridge without room-temp adjustment for slightly longer cooking.
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
nuttier flavor, more fiber
General Alternatives
FAQ
Can I use homemade biscuits instead of canned?
Yes, use similarly-sized biscuits. Homemade may cook slightly faster if thinner, so start checking at 4 minutes. Texture will be fluffier than refrigerated versions.
What if my jam is too thick to inject?
Thin with 1/2 teaspoon water at a time in microwave until pourable but not runny. Test consistency by attempting to draw into injector before filling donuts.
How long can I keep these and can I freeze extras?
Store unfrozen up to 2 days in airtight container. Freeze cooked donuts up to 3 weeks on parchment-lined tray, then transfer to freezer bag. Reheat directly in air fryer at 300F for 3-4 minutes.