Air Fryer Cinnamon Donuts (Printable)

Fluffy donut bites with cinnamon sugar, made fast and easy in the air fryer for a sweet snack.

# What You Need:

→ 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 whole 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 (for brushing)

# Steps:

01 - Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
02 - In a separate bowl, whisk the milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract until fully blended.
03 - Add the wet ingredients to the dry, stirring gently until just combined; avoid overmixing.
04 - Lightly grease hands and shape the dough into sixteen 1-tablespoon balls.
05 - Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for 3 minutes.
06 - Place the dough balls in a single layer in 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 warm, brush each donut bite with melted butter to enhance flavor and texture.
09 - Combine cinnamon and sugar in a shallow bowl, then toss the warm bites to coat evenly.
10 - Enjoy fresh for the best texture and flavor.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They're ready in under 20 minutes from start to finish, which means dessert doesn't require advanced planning or a time commitment.
  • No deep fryer, no oil mess, no kitchen smelling like a donut shop for three days—just air fryer magic and delicious results.
  • The texture is impossibly soft and fluffy inside with that perfect cinnamon sugar crunch on the outside that makes them vanish faster than you'd expect.
02 -
  • The timing between buttering and tossing in cinnamon sugar is crucial—if you coat them with cinnamon sugar before brushing butter, the sugar won't stick, and if you wait too long after buttering, they'll cool too much and you'll get a gritty texture instead of a cohesive coating.
  • Don't skip the halfway shake during air frying—those donuts on the bottom will cook faster and can burn while the ones on top are still pale, so that moment of shaking creates even, golden-brown results.
03 -
  • Keep a small bowl of melted butter on hand while cooking so you can brush each donut immediately as it comes out—that moment of contact is when the coating really sets.
  • If you want extra indulgence, dip them in melted chocolate or caramel sauce while they're still warm—it adds a dimension of decadence that feels completely justified for something this easy.
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