Air Fryer Cinnamon Donuts (Printable)

Soft donut bites coated in cinnamon sugar, prepared quickly with an air fryer method.

# What You'll 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 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)

# Directions:

01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
02 - In a separate bowl, whisk milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract until smooth.
03 - Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
04 - Lightly grease hands and form dough into 16 balls, each about 1 tablespoon in size.
05 - Set air fryer to 350°F and preheat for 3 minutes.
06 - Place dough balls in a single layer in the air fryer basket with slight spacing; cook in batches if needed.
07 - Cook for 7 to 8 minutes, shaking basket halfway through, until golden and cooked through.
08 - While warm, brush each donut bite with melted butter.
09 - Mix cinnamon and sugar in a shallow bowl; toss warm donut bites to evenly coat.
10 - Enjoy immediately for optimal texture and flavor.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They're ready in under 20 minutes from start to finish, so you can satisfy a sweet craving without the planning.
  • No deep frying means no oil splatters, no lingering grease smell, and way less guilt.
  • The air fryer does the heavy lifting, so you feel like a baker without needing actual baking skills.
02 -
  • Don't overmix the batter—I learned this the hard way when my first batch came out dense and rubbery instead of pillowy.
  • Brush them with melted butter while they're still hot; cold donuts won't absorb the butter, and the topping slides right off.
  • The cinnamon sugar coating is where the magic happens, so don't be shy—you want a visible, generous coat.
03 -
  • Shaking the basket halfway through ensures even browning so no donut ends up undercooked on one side.
  • Room temperature ingredients mix more smoothly than cold ones straight from the fridge, so let your egg and milk sit out for 10 minutes if you remember.
Go back