Easy Air Fryer Apple Fritters (Canned Biscuits!)

These easy air fryer apple fritters are my favorite shortcut breakfast: flaky canned biscuit dough wrapped around sweet apple pie filling, brushed in butter, and rolled in cinnamon sugar — all crisped to golden perfection in the air fryer in about 20 minutes. No yeast, no deep frying, no waiting around.

I’ve been making this trick for years, even before I owned my first air fryer, and it’s still the recipe my whole family asks for on slow weekend mornings. They taste like a bakery apple fritter, but you make them with five pantry staples.

Love air fryer donut shortcuts? Try my Air Fryer Powdered Sugar Donuts, Air Fryer Glazed Donuts, and Air Fryer Maple Frosted Donuts.

Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Apple Fritters

• Ready in about 20 minutes — start to finish, no rising time.
• Just 5 ingredients, all easy to keep on hand.
• No deep frying — the air fryer gives you that crisp outside with a fraction of the oil and mess.
• Kid-friendly and freezer-friendly — make a batch ahead and reheat in minutes.
• Endlessly adaptable — swap the dough, the filling, or the coating (ideas below).

What Are Apple Fritters?

A classic apple fritter is really just a type of donut — usually a yeast-raised dough studded with apples and spices, deep fried, then glazed. They’re delicious, but they take time.

This version is the cheater’s shortcut. We swap the from-scratch yeast dough for canned buttermilk biscuits and use apple pie filling for the fruit center, so you get that same warm, cinnamon-apple flavor with almost none of the work. Instead of a heavy glaze, we finish them in melted butter and cinnamon sugar for a crackly, churro-like coating.

If you want the bakery-style version made from scratch, see my classic Air Fryer Apple Fritters. This page is all about the fast, canned-biscuit shortcut.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Canned buttermilk biscuits — I use Pillsbury Buttermilk Biscuits. The flaky/Grands style works too (just add a minute of cook time).
• Apple pie filling — canned for speed, or use homemade. Chop the apple pieces small so they seal inside the dough.
• Granulated sugar — for the cinnamon-sugar coating.
• Ground cinnamon — warm, classic apple-fritter flavor.
• Butter, melted — helps the cinnamon sugar stick and gives a golden finish.

How to Make Air Fryer Apple Fritters

Step 1: Roll out the dough. Flatten each biscuit into roughly a 3-inch by 3-inch square.

Step 2: Prep the filling and coating. Use a knife to chop the apple pie filling into small pieces and add to a bowl. Melt the butter. In a separate bowl, stir together the sugar and cinnamon.

Step 3: Fill. Lay a piece of dough flat, add about a tablespoon of apple filling to the center, and sprinkle on a little cinnamon sugar.

Step 4: Seal. Roll the dough up and over the filling and pinch the ends closed with your fingers so nothing leaks.

Step 5: Coat. Roll each fritter in the melted butter, then in the cinnamon sugar.

Step 6: Air fry. Place in a greased basket or on a greased tray (don’t crowd them). Air fry at 320°F for 7 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and cooked through. Best warm — they’re amazing with coffee.

Expert Tips for the Best Fritters

• Coat twice for extra crunch. Roll in butter and cinnamon sugar again right after cooking while they’re hot.
• Seal the seams well. The most common issue is filling leaking out. Pinch firmly and place the seam-side down.
• Don’t overcrowd. Leave space so air circulates and every side crisps.
• Chop the filling small. Large apple chunks make the fritters hard to seal and cook unevenly.
• Check for doneness. Biscuit brands vary — if the center still looks doughy, give them 1–2 more minutes.

Variations

• Glazed: skip the cinnamon sugar and drizzle with a simple powdered-sugar glaze.
• Different fillings: cherry, blueberry, or peach pie filling all work.
• Different dough: crescent dough, cinnamon rolls, dinner rolls, or even frozen biscuits. (I’ve used Trader Joe’s and Costco pumpkin rolls with great results.)
• Pumpkin spice: swap the cinnamon for pumpkin pie spice in fall.

What Apples Are Best for Apple Fritters?

If you make your own filling instead of using canned, reach for firm baking apples that hold their shape: Granny Smith, Fuji, or Golden Delicious are all excellent here.

How to Store, Reheat, and Freeze

• Store: in an airtight container at room temperature for 2–3 days, or up to a week in the fridge.
• Reheat: pop them in the air fryer at 350°F for a couple of minutes to bring back the crisp, or microwave briefly if you’re in a hurry.
• Freeze: freeze cooled fritters in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Reheat from frozen in the air fryer at 350°F until warmed through.

Frequently Asked Questions

I don’t have canned biscuits — what can I use instead? Any prepared dough works: frozen biscuits, crescent dough, dinner rolls, or cinnamon rolls. Adjust cook time slightly depending on thickness.

Can I use homemade apple pie filling? Absolutely. Just chop the apples small so the fritters seal and cook evenly.

What temperature do you cook apple fritters in the air fryer? 320°F for about 7 minutes, flipping halfway. Add a minute or two for thicker biscuit styles.

Why are my fritters leaking? The seams weren’t sealed tightly, or the filling pieces were too big. Pinch firmly and chop the filling small.

Can you make these ahead? Yes — they’re a great make-ahead breakfast. Store and reheat as above.

More Air Fryer Donut Recipes

• Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Banana Donuts
• Air Fryer Churro Donut Holes
• Homemade Air Fryer Doughnut Holes
• Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Bites
• Air Fryer Chocolate Cake Mix Donuts
• Air Fryer Cinnamon Crumb Donuts

If you make these easy air fryer apple fritters, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and a comment below — it genuinely helps other readers find the recipe!