If you love the nostalgic joy of a jelly donut but want a lighter, less guilty way to indulge, you are going to adore this Jelly Donuts: A Healthier Twist on a Classic Treat Recipe. Imagine fluffy, golden-baked donuts injected with vibrant, sweet jelly, all finished with a delicate buttery sugar coating. This fresh approach uses simple pantry staples and an air fryer to create warm, soft donuts with irresistible flavors—minus the deep frying. It’s comfort food with a conscious upgrade, perfect for breakfast, snack time, or anytime you need a cozy pick-me-up.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients may be few, but each one plays a key role in delivering that delicate balance of texture, flavor, and color in this healthier version of jelly donuts. From the flakey biscuit dough to the luscious jelly and perfectly crisp sugar coating, every component matters.
- Homestyle biscuits (like Pillsbury Grands!): The foundation of the donuts, providing a tender, flaky base that bakes beautifully in the air fryer.
- Raspberry jelly (or your favorite jelly flavor): Adds a burst of fruity sweetness right at the heart of each donut.
- Unsalted butter (melted): Used to give a rich buttery flavor while helping the sugar stick to the donuts.
- Granulated sugar: Creates a crisp, sweet crust that complements the soft, fluffy donut interior.
How to Make Jelly Donuts: A Healthier Twist on a Classic Treat Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Air Fryer Basket
Begin by spraying the bottom of your air fryer basket with a little oil or lining it with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and helps your donuts maintain their perfect shape and texture.
Step 2: Arrange the Biscuits
Open your package of homestyle biscuits and place four in a single layer inside the air fryer. You’ll do this in two batches to ensure they cook evenly and get golden without overcrowding.
Step 3: Air Fry to Golden Perfection
Set your air fryer to “Bake” mode or 330 degrees Fahrenheit and let the biscuits cook for 6 minutes. This time is just right for achieving a tender interior while developing a lightly crisp exterior.
Step 4: Prepare the Coating and Filling
While your biscuits are cooking, melt the butter gently and pour it into a bowl. Then, place your sugar into a shallow dish or a zippered plastic bag to make coating the donuts easier. Filling the jelly into a pastry bag fitted with a long pastry tip or star tip makes the jelly injection smooth and mess-free.
Step 5: Repeat Cooking for Remaining Biscuits
Once the first batch is golden brown, carefully remove them and repeat steps 2 and 3 with the remaining biscuits, ensuring all your donuts are perfectly cooked.
Step 6: Fill Your Donuts with Jelly
Take a sharp knife and make a careful hole in each donut without cutting all the way through. Insert the pastry tip and gently pipe 1-2 tablespoons of jelly inside, pulling the tip out as you release pressure to avoid overflow.
Step 7: Butter and Sugar Coating
Dip each filled donut into the melted butter, coating both sides, then immediately roll or toss it in the granulated sugar to create that classic sweet-crisp finish that makes these donuts irresistible.
Step 8: Final Touches and Enjoy!
Repeat the filling and coating process for all remaining biscuits. Let them cool for a moment if necessary, then dig in and enjoy your homemade treat with a healthier twist!
How to Serve Jelly Donuts: A Healthier Twist on a Classic Treat Recipe
Garnishes
To elevate this Jelly Donuts: A Healthier Twist on a Classic Treat Recipe, dust the tops lightly with powdered sugar or add a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar for an extra layer of aroma and warmth. Fresh berries on the side can also brighten the plate beautifully.
Side Dishes
These donuts pair wonderfully with a hot cup of coffee or tea to complement their sweetness. For brunch, serve alongside scrambled eggs or a fresh fruit salad to balance the indulgence with some freshness.
Creative Ways to Present
For a fun twist, arrange your jelly donuts on a rustic wooden board with small bowls of various jelly flavors for dipping or topping. Alternatively, stack them in a pyramid dusted with sugar and adorned with mint leaves to impress your guests visually and palatably.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you happen to have leftovers from this Jelly Donuts: A Healthier Twist on a Classic Treat Recipe, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. This keeps them soft without the sugar coating becoming soggy.
Freezing
You can freeze these donuts by placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet until solid, then transferring them to a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to one month and thaw at room temperature before serving.
Reheating
To bring back that fresh-baked experience, reheat donuts in your air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit. This refreshes the texture without melting the sugar coating excessively.
FAQs
Can I use a different type of jelly?
Absolutely! Feel free to experiment with strawberry, blueberry, grape, or even more exotic fruit jellies. Each flavor will give your jelly donuts a unique twist.
Is there a vegan option for this recipe?
Yes! You can swap the butter for a plant-based alternative and ensure the biscuits you use are dairy-free. Just keep in mind the texture might vary slightly.
Can these donuts be baked instead of air fried?
Yes, you can bake the biscuits in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10-12 minutes until golden brown, but the air fryer tends to give a crisper exterior with less oil.
How much jelly should I fill each donut with?
About 1-2 tablespoons of jelly per donut provide the perfect balance—not too little to miss the flavor and not so much that it spills out.
Can I prepare these donuts without a pastry bag?
If you don’t have a pastry bag, you can use a small zip-top bag with one corner snipped off or carefully spoon the jelly into the hole, but a pastry bag makes the process cleaner and easier.
Final Thoughts
This Jelly Donuts: A Healthier Twist on a Classic Treat Recipe has quickly become one of my favorite ways to enjoy a beloved dessert without the heavy feeling of deep frying. It strikes the perfect balance of simplicity and deliciousness, making it a perfect treat to share with family and friends. I hope you try it soon and find it as delightful as I do!
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Jelly Donuts: A Healthier Twist on a Classic Treat Recipe
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
Description
These healthier jelly donuts offer a delightful twist on the classic treat, using store-bought homestyle biscuit dough and an air fryer for a lighter, less greasy version. Filled with your favorite raspberry jelly, then dipped in melted butter and coated with sugar, these donuts are quick to prepare, perfect for a sweet breakfast or snack.
Ingredients
Donut Base
- 1 package of homestyle biscuits (such as Pillsbury Grands!)
Filling
- ½ cup raspberry jelly (or your favorite jelly flavor)
Coating
- ½ cup unsalted butter (melted)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Prepare the air fryer: Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with oil or use a parchment paper liner to prevent sticking.
- Arrange biscuits: Open the biscuit package and place four biscuits in a single layer into the air fryer basket, cooking in two separate batches.
- Air fry the biscuits: Cook on the ‘Bake’ setting or at 330°F for 6 minutes until golden brown.
- Melt butter and prep sugar: While the biscuits cook, melt the butter and pour into a bowl. Pour sugar into a shallow dish or zippered bag for coating later.
- Fill the pastry bag: Attach a long pastry or star tip to a pastry bag, fill it with jelly, and set aside for filling the donuts.
- Remove cooked biscuits: Carefully take out the golden-brown biscuits from the air fryer. Repeat the cooking for the remaining four biscuits.
- Create jelly cavities: Use a knife to pierce each biscuit creating a hole without cutting all the way through. Insert the pastry tip into the hole and fill with 1-2 tablespoons of jelly by applying medium pressure while slowly withdrawing the tip.
- Coat the donuts: Dip each filled donut into the melted butter, coating both sides thoroughly, then toss them in the sugar until fully coated.
- Finish the remaining donuts: Repeat the filling and coating process with the rest of the biscuits to complete the batch.
Notes
- Use parchment paper liners if your air fryer basket is prone to sticking.
- Adjust jelly filling quantity to taste; avoid overfilling to prevent leaking.
- Butter and sugar proportions can be adjusted for preferred sweetness and richness.
- Serve donuts warm for the best flavor and texture.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container; reheat briefly in the air fryer or oven to refresh.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
