Air Fryer Cinnamon Donuts (Printable)

Fluffy cinnamon sugar bites made quickly using an air fryer for a sweet, light indulgence.

# 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)

# How To Make It:

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 combined.
03 - Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just blended; avoid overmixing.
04 - Lightly grease your hands and shape the dough into 16 small balls, roughly one tablespoon each.
05 - Set the air fryer to 350°F and preheat for 3 minutes.
06 - Place the dough balls spaced apart in a single layer within the air fryer basket; cook in batches if necessary.
07 - Cook for 7 to 8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through until golden brown and fully cooked.
08 - While warm, brush each bite with melted butter.
09 - Mix cinnamon and sugar in a shallow bowl, then toss donut bites to evenly coat.
10 - Enjoy immediately to experience optimal texture and flavor.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • No deep fryer needed, no oil splatters on your stovetop or burnt fingers fumbling with hot grease.
  • Genuinely soft and fluffy inside, nothing like the dense hockey pucks I made the first time I tried homemade donuts.
  • Ready in under 20 minutes from the moment you decide you want donuts to biting into one still warm.
02 -
  • Don't overmix the dough—I learned this the hard way with a batch that turned out dense and cake-like instead of fluffy.
  • The butter brush step matters more than it sounds; it acts like glue for the cinnamon sugar and adds richness to every bite.
  • Shaking the basket halfway through cooking ensures even browning and prevents a few donuts from cooking faster than others.
03 -
  • Use an air fryer thermometer to verify your temperature is accurate; some models run hotter or cooler than the display says.
  • If your donuts brown too fast on the outside before cooking through, lower the temperature to 325°F and add a minute or two to the cooking time.
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