July 29, 2020

Air Fryer Toasted Coconut Lime Donuts

Name: Air Fryer Toasted Coconut Lime Donuts
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 23 min
Ingredients: 1 can large flaky biscuits; 1 cup confectioners powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon coconut extract; 2 tablespoon lime juice; 1 teaspoon lime zest; ¼ cup sweetened coconut flakes, toasted

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Air Fryer Toasted Coconut Lime Donuts are made with canned biscuits and a quick coconut lime glaze. Top them with toasted coconut and you have a quick and easy breakfast or treat.

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Ingredients Needed for this Air Fryer Donut Recipe

can of large, flaky biscuits
non-stick spray for air fryer
confectioners powdered sugar
coconut extract
lime juice and zest
toasted coconut flakes

How to Make these Easy Donuts

Remove the biscuits from the can and allow them to rise on a cutting board or silicone mat. Use the tool of your choice (I used a piping tip!) to make a hole in each biscuit. Now you have 8 large donuts and 8 donut holes to air fry.
Preheat your air fryer at 350º. Once preheated, spray the basket with non-stick spray. Place 3-4 donuts and holes in the basket and spray the top of them. Cook each side for 3-4 minutes, spraying the other side after flipping.
Once the donuts are nice and brown, remove them from the air fryer and allow them to cool. While the donuts are cooking and cooling, make the coconut lime glaze.
Add all of the ingredients to a bowl and whisk together to fully incorporate the powdered sugar.
Once your donuts have cooled, top with the glaze and sprinkle with toasted coconut. Enjoy!

air fryer coconut lime donuts on a plate with glaze and limes on a cutting board — Click on the image above to PIN for later!

Different Ways to Make a Hole in the Biscuit

I don’t make donuts that often so I’ve never purchased a donut cutter. They do make them, they are cookie cutters with a large hole around a small hole just like a donut. A lot of times you don’t need a specific tool for one thing. Here are some ideas of what tool you might have around your kitchen to make a hole in your donut:

bottom of a large piping tip
shot glass
the lid of cooking spray (or any round lid with deep sides)
cookie/biscuit cutter
if you can’t find any of these, you can use a knife

biscuit with piping tip to cut a hole for donuts

Tips on making the Coconut Lime Glaze

To get the glaze nice and smooth, use a whisk to make sure all of the powdered sugar gets mixed in well. You can add more lime juice or a little milk if you want a thinner glaze. For the coconut extract, I started with 1/2 tsp and added another 1/2 after tasting the ratio. Remember, you can always add more flavor but you can’t remove it!

An easy Way to Toast Coconut

Did you know you can toast coconut in the microwave?? Place sweetened coconut on a microwave-safe plate and cook for 1 minute in the microwave. Remove the plate from the microwave and stir the coconut. Put it back into the microwave for 20-30 second intervals, stirring after each time to even out the cooking. Be careful, the plate gets hot!! You can also toast coconut in the oven or on the stovetop in a pan. I always burn it on the stove so the microwave has become my method of choice.

Which Air Fryer I Use

There are so many different types of air fryers out there now, and each one is slightly different. There are countertop air fryers, air fryer ovens, and air fryer attachments to name a few. I have the Mealthy CrispLid attachment for my Instant Pot and I love it! It fits right on top of my Instant Pot and has a glass lid so I can see what’s happening to my food while air frying. It is a little smaller than some other air fryers out there, but it’s the perfect size for my family of 3!

meathy-air-fryer-on-instant-pot — Mealthy Crisp Lid attachment

Air Fryer Tips

Non-stick spray is your friend! You always want to spray the basket and food before air frying (unless otherwise noted) so that nothing sticks to the basket and the outside of your food gets nice and crispy.
Preheating the Air Fryer makes a big difference. Preheating will help with even cooking and less wait time in the beginning. If you don’t preheat, the first batch will cook differently than the next, etc.
I’ve started putting a piece of foil at the bottom of my pot under the basket to catch any oil or food that falls, it makes clean up so much easier!
Remember to always read the instruction manual and follow what your manufacturer recommends.

air fryer donuts, frosting, toasted coconut and limes on a cutting board

Can these be made without an Air Fryer?

Yes! IF you don’t have an air fryer, no problem. Preheat your oven to 350º. Dip each donut in melted butter or spray with non-stick spray on both sides. Place on a baking sheet and bake for around 15 minutes. They are done when they are nice and golden brown. Allow them to cool before adding the glaze.