Air Fryer Cinnamon Donuts (Print View)

Fluffy bites coated in cinnamon sugar, cooked quickly in an air fryer for a sweet, golden treat.

# Components:

→ Donut Dough

01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/3 cup milk
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Cinnamon Sugar Topping

09 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
10 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
11 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

# Method:

01 - Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
02 - In a separate bowl, whisk milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract until blended.
03 - Add wet ingredients to dry and stir gently until just combined, taking care not to overmix.
04 - Lightly grease hands and shape dough into 16 small balls, approximately 1 tablespoon each.
05 - Preheat air fryer to 350°F for 3 minutes.
06 - Place dough balls in a single layer inside the air fryer basket, spacing slightly apart; cook in batches if necessary.
07 - Cook for 7 to 8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until golden and cooked through.
08 - While still warm, brush each bite with melted butter.
09 - Mix cinnamon and sugar in a shallow bowl, then toss warm bites to coat evenly.
10 - Serve immediately to enjoy optimal texture.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're ready in under twenty minutes, which means you can satisfy a donut craving without the planning or the oil splatters.
  • Each bite is impossibly soft inside with that perfect crispy-tender exterior that only the air fryer seems to nail.
  • Your kitchen stays clean and smells incredible without the guilt of deep frying.
02 -
  • Don't let your batter sit around after mixing—the baking powder starts working the moment it hits the wet ingredients, so you want those balls in the air fryer within a minute or two for maximum fluffiness.
  • The halfway shake is non-negotiable; skip it and you'll get one side golden and gorgeous while the other stays pale and sad-looking.
03 -
  • Invest in good ground cinnamon—it's literally half the flavor profile here, and stale cinnamon from the back of the spice cabinet will taste dusty and flat.
  • If your donut bites are browning too fast on the outside before cooking through, lower the temperature to 325°F and add a minute or two to the cooking time.
Return