Name: Mini Boston Cream Donut Holes (Air Fryer + Canned Biscuits)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 33 min
Ingredients: 1 can (16 oz) refrigerated biscuit dough; Cooking oil spray (as needed); 1 package (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix; 2 cups cold milk (or the amount specified on the pudding package); 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips; 1/4 cup heavy cream

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If you love Boston cream donuts but don’t want to spend time making dough from scratch, these Mini Boston Cream Donut Holes are the perfect sweet treat. Made with refrigerated canned biscuits, creamy vanilla pudding, and a rich chocolate topping, they deliver the familiar flavors of a classic Boston cream donut with much less effort.

The air fryer makes the biscuit dough golden on the outside while keeping the inside soft and fluffy. Once the donut holes have cooled slightly, fill them with creamy vanilla pudding and finish with a smooth chocolate glaze. Every bite brings together tender dough, sweet vanilla cream, and chocolatey goodness.

These mini treats are ideal for weekend breakfasts, brunch gatherings, birthday parties, holiday dessert tables, or an afternoon snack with coffee. Because they use canned biscuits and simple ingredients, you can prepare them without the time and effort required for traditional yeast-raised donuts.

If you’re looking for an easy air fryer dessert that feels bakery-inspired, these Mini Boston Cream Donut Holes deserve a place on your must-make list.

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love Mini Boston Cream Donut Holes

Quick and Easy to Make: Refrigerated canned biscuits save time because there’s no need to mix, knead, or proof homemade dough. You can focus on filling and decorating your mini donuts instead.
Classic Boston Cream Flavor: Smooth vanilla filling and rich chocolate topping recreate the flavors of a traditional Boston cream donut. The miniature size makes these treats especially fun to serve.
Made in the Air Fryer: Air frying gives the biscuit dough a lightly golden exterior without deep-frying it in a pot of oil. A light coating of oil helps the outside brown more evenly.
Perfect for Sharing: These bite-sized desserts are easy to arrange on a platter for brunches, family gatherings, parties, and holidays. Guests can enjoy a sweet treat without committing to a full-sized donut.
Easy to Customize: You can use prepared vanilla pudding, homemade pastry cream, or your favorite chocolate topping. Add sprinkles or a little powdered sugar to give the finished donuts your own touch.

What Makes Homemade Better?

Making Mini Boston Cream Donut Holes at home gives you control over the filling, chocolate topping, and overall sweetness. You can add as much vanilla cream as you like and choose a chocolate topping that suits your taste.

Using canned biscuits makes this recipe especially convenient. Traditional Boston cream donuts usually require yeast dough, rising time, frying, and several preparation steps. This shortcut version skips much of that work while preserving the combination of soft dough, creamy filling, and chocolate.

Homemade donuts are also easy to customize. Use a thicker pastry cream for a bakery-style filling, choose semisweet chocolate for a less-sweet finish, or decorate the tops with sprinkles for a party-ready dessert.

The best part is that you can make a small batch whenever a donut craving strikes, without making a trip to the bakery.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Mini Boston Cream Donut Holes Ingredients

Refrigerated Canned Biscuits: These form the base of the donut holes. Choose regular refrigerated biscuits rather than flaky-layer varieties for a more consistent texture. Larger biscuits can be cut into smaller pieces before air frying.
Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix: Instant pudding provides the sweet vanilla filling that gives Boston cream donuts their signature flavor. Prepare it according to the package directions, using the recommended amount of cold milk.
Cold Milk: Milk helps the pudding develop a smooth, creamy consistency. Whole milk generally produces a richer filling, although other suitable milk options can work according to the pudding package instructions.
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Chocolate chips create the rich topping that balances the sweetness of the vanilla filling. Semi-sweet chocolate is a good choice if you prefer a flavor that isn’t overly sweet.
Heavy Cream: A little heavy cream helps melt the chocolate into a smooth, glossy topping. Warm it gently rather than allowing it to boil.
Neutral Cooking Oil Spray: A light coating of cooking oil helps the biscuit dough brown in the air fryer. Use an oil spray suitable for your appliance and avoid aerosol sprays that the manufacturer advises against.
Vanilla Extract (Optional): A small splash of vanilla extract can enhance the flavor of the pudding or homemade cream filling. It is optional if your pudding already has a strong vanilla flavor.
Powdered Sugar (Optional): Powdered sugar makes a simple finishing touch if you want to decorate the serving plate. Use it sparingly so it doesn’t compete with the chocolate topping.

Step-By-Step Direction

Step 1: Prepare the Biscuit Dough

Open the refrigerated biscuit package and separate the biscuits. Cut each biscuit into smaller, evenly sized pieces, then gently roll them into balls.

Keep the pieces reasonably similar in size so they cook at approximately the same rate. Avoid packing the dough too tightly when rolling it.

Step 2: Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 325°F (163°C) if your appliance recommends preheating. Lightly coat the basket with a suitable cooking oil spray.

Arrange the dough balls in a single layer, leaving space between them so hot air can circulate. Cook in batches if necessary rather than overcrowding the basket.

Step 3: Air Fry Until Golden

Air fry the dough balls for approximately 5–8 minutes, checking them early because air fryers vary. Turn them partway through cooking if your appliance produces uneven browning.

The donut holes should look lightly golden and feel cooked through. If they brown too quickly but remain doughy in the center, reduce the temperature slightly and continue cooking until done.

Transfer the cooked donut holes to a wire rack and allow them to cool enough to handle.

Step 4: Prepare the Vanilla Cream Filling

Prepare the instant vanilla pudding according to the package directions. Whisk the pudding mix with the recommended amount of cold milk until smooth, then refrigerate it as directed until thickened.

Transfer the chilled pudding into a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. If you don’t have a piping bag, use a clean food-safe plastic bag and snip a small opening in one corner.

For a richer, more traditional pastry-cream flavor, you can substitute homemade pastry cream that has been thoroughly chilled.

Step 5: Fill the Donut Holes

Once the donut holes have cooled, make a small opening in the side of each one using a skewer or the tip of a small knife.

Insert the piping tip and gently squeeze in the vanilla pudding. Stop when the donut hole feels slightly heavier and the filling begins to approach the opening. Avoid overfilling, as too much cream can cause the dough to split.

Step 6: Make the Chocolate Topping

Place the semi-sweet chocolate chips in a heat-safe bowl. Warm the heavy cream until hot but not boiling, then pour it over the chocolate.

Let the mixture sit briefly before stirring until the chocolate melts into a smooth, glossy topping. If a few chocolate pieces remain, warm the mixture gently in short intervals, stirring between each one.

Allow the chocolate to cool slightly so it thickens enough to coat the tops of the donuts without running off immediately.

Step 7: Dip and Serve

Dip the top of each filled donut hole into the chocolate topping. Let the excess chocolate drip back into the bowl before placing the donut hole on a serving tray or wire rack.

Allow the chocolate to set slightly before serving. If you want a firmer chocolate coating, refrigerate the finished donut holes briefly.

Serve them once the chocolate has set and the vanilla filling is chilled. For the best texture, enjoy them fresh on the day you make them.

Serving Suggestions

With Morning Coffee: Serve these mini donuts alongside hot coffee or a latte for a sweet breakfast treat or midmorning snack.
As Part of a Brunch Spread: Add them to a brunch platter with fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, and other small pastries.
For Birthday Parties: Arrange them on a dessert stand for an easy-to-grab treat that guests of different ages can enjoy.
On a Holiday Dessert Table: Include them with cookies, brownies, and other bite-sized sweets for a festive spread.
With Fresh Berries: Serve strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries on the side to add a fresh, slightly tart contrast to the creamy filling and chocolate topping.
As an After-Dinner Dessert: Offer one or two donut holes after dinner when you want something sweet without serving a large dessert.

Tips for the Best Results

Choose the Right Biscuits: Regular canned biscuits generally produce a more consistent result than flaky-layer varieties. Cut the dough into similarly sized pieces so the donut holes cook evenly.
Avoid Overcrowding: Arrange the dough balls in a single layer with room around each piece. Good air circulation helps them brown evenly and reduces the chance of undercooked centers.
Check for Doneness: Air fryers differ in how quickly they cook, so begin checking at the early end of the suggested cooking time. The outside should be golden, and the center should be fully cooked rather than doughy.
Cool Before Filling: Let the donut holes cool before adding the vanilla pudding. Filling them while they’re very hot can warm the cream and make the finished dessert messy.
Let the Chocolate Thicken: Allow the chocolate topping to cool slightly before dipping. A thicker coating clings better to the donut holes and creates a more attractive finish.

Storage Tips

Refrigerator

Because these donut holes contain a milk-based vanilla pudding filling, refrigerate leftovers promptly in an airtight container. Keep them at 40°F (4°C) or below and follow safe food-handling practices. For the best texture, enjoy them within two days.

The biscuit dough may soften as it absorbs moisture from the filling, so these treats are best eaten fresh. Avoid leaving filled donuts at room temperature for more than two hours, or one hour when the temperature is above 90°F (32°C).

Freezer

Freezing fully assembled donut holes isn’t ideal because the pudding filling can change texture and the biscuit dough may become soggy after thawing.

For better results, freeze the unfilled, fully cooked donut holes in a freezer-safe container once they have cooled completely. Use them within about two months for the best quality.

Thaw the plain donut holes in the refrigerator or according to a suitable food-safe method, then warm them gently if desired. Add freshly prepared vanilla filling and chocolate topping after they have cooled.

Reheating

Reheating fully assembled, filled donut holes can cause the pudding to become warm and the chocolate topping to melt. For the best results, enjoy assembled donuts chilled or allow them to sit briefly outside the refrigerator before serving.

If you’ve frozen unfilled donut holes, warm them in the air fryer at approximately 300°F (150°C) for 1–3 minutes, checking frequently to prevent them from drying out. Let them cool completely before filling and topping.

Final Thoughts

These Mini Boston Cream Donut Holes are a simple way to enjoy classic bakery flavors without preparing traditional donut dough. Canned biscuits make the process easier, the air fryer gives the dough a golden finish, and creamy vanilla pudding paired with chocolate topping creates a delicious combination.

They’re a lovely option for weekend brunch, family gatherings, parties, or whenever you’re craving a small homemade dessert. You can even prepare the biscuit dough ahead of time and add the filling and chocolate topping closer to serving.

For the best results, cook the dough thoroughly, let the donut holes cool before filling, and serve them fresh for the most enjoyable texture.

If you make these Mini Boston Cream Donut Holes, consider saving the recipe for your next dessert craving. They’re a fun, easy way to bring a little bakery-style sweetness into your kitchen!

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